Every air compressor has at least one air intake port. This is where air from around the air compressor is sucked in when the compressor is working and that port needs a compressor air intake filter.
The intake port allows free air to be taken into the compressor compression chamber, to be compressed into the compressor tank or the plant air mains.
Is the air that surrounds your air compressor pristine – squeaky clean?
Or is it like the air around most air compressors, full of crud like air-borne dirt, saw dust, metal swarf, moisture, maybe mold… how many impurities in the air can you think of?
None of these will do your air compressor any good when they are sucked into the compressor along with the free air. Further, much of this crud could end up in the air stream and from there into your air lines as it contaminates the air in the compressor tank or air lines.
In order to keep this crud out of your air compressor, pretty much all but the smallest air compressor’s intake ports are routinely equipped with some sort of compressor air intake filter. It’s purpose is to filter the intake air and t pass only filtered air to the compression area of the compressor.
And, just like the air filter in the automobile or truck, the intake filter will become contaminated over time.
If left unchecked and uncleaned long enough, the contaminates plug up the air paths in the intake air filter, forcing the compressor to work harder and harder to intake enough air to allow efficient air compression. This will cost dollars in terms of greater energy cost and more frequent compressor maintenance.
If plugged solidly enough, this simple device could cause your compressor to go off on safety thermal cut out. The air compressor may have to run for an extended period to get the tank pressure to the cut out pressure level, and during this lengthy run time the compressor motor could overheat and shut down the compressor. Maybe in the middle of doing an important jog, like spray painting, perhaps?
Does your air compressor come equipped with an air intake filter? If so, next time you need to use compressed air, consider removing this intake filter and check it.
If it appears plugged and it cannot be cleaned, replace it.. You will ease the work load of the compressor, and reduce your energy costs at the same time.
Do you have a question about your air compressor intake filter? Post it below and I, or another visitor to this site, will respond.
Compressor Air Intake Service Indicator
Compressed air filters are destined to fail!
After all, their purpose is to catch free water and debris as it transits downstream from your compressor, before that crud gets to the sensitive inner workings of your air tool, air valves or air cylinders.
The air passages in the element in the filter are quite small by design, with general purpose units being in the 5-40 Micron range, and with one Micron being one-millionth of a meter in length.
As a result, over time and depending on the quality of your compressed air, the element plugs up, and eventually will not allow enough air to pass through itself to run your compressed air-using application satisfactorily.
Norgren has just emailed me a blurb about their Service Indicator. ”
The service life (pressure drop) indicator found on top of coalescing or general purpose filters is green when the filter is new. As a pressure differential develops across the filter element with use, a spring biased red outer sleeve is pushed up.
When more red is visible than green, then the pressure differential across the element is in excess of 0.7 bar, and the element should be replaced.”
That’s a useful device. If I was specifying filters for a compressed air application, I would always select one with an element service life indicator. One small thing that makes maintenance of a compressed air system a whole lot easier.
When to use what type of compressed air filter?
There are general purpose air filters, coalescent air filters and activated charcoal air filters. When do you use which type? This contribution by Norgren, with my thanks.
Three main types of filters exist: the general purpose filter for water and particles, the coalescing oil removal filter for oil aerosols, and the activated carbon filter for the removal of oil vapors.
Use general purpose filters for main headers, branch lines, tools, cylinders, valves and valve circuits, air agitators, packaging machines, etc.
Use oil removal filters when sub-micron cleanliness or oil-free air is required, such as for the supply to fluidic devices, painting or coating processes, instrumentation, air gauging equipment, air bearings, and medical applications or areas where typical synthetic compressor oils may damage commonly used Buna rubber such as non-lubricated power circuits.
Finally, use activated carbon filters for systems where the oil vapors in the air are not acceptable, such as instrumentation, medical, or packaging systems where the compressed air may come into contact with the product, such as pharmaceuticals.