Why do you need to filter compressed air?
Compressed air is always contaminated
Contaminants
• Liquid oil - oil aerosols - oil vapor
• Dirt - microorganisms - pipescale
• Trace gases: carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrous oxide
How are the contaminants formed?
Added by the compressor installation through oil-lubricated compressors (oil), adsorption dryers and activated carbon filters (dirt), piping network, and vessels (pipescale)
Trash in, trash out: oil vapors from car exhausts and industrial processes, atmospheric dirt, and microorganisms get sucked in by the compressor. As with water, their concentration – and thus importance – increases significantly after compression.
What problems can the contaminants cause?
• Damaged production equipment, leading to inefficiencies and increased costs
• Air pollution, creating unhealthy work environments
• Pollution of the condensate
The Chicago Pneumatic solution
• Coalescing filters for oil aerosols/particles
• Oil vapor filters
• Dust filters
• Oil-water separators