Why it is Necessary to Treat the Compressed Air of a Compressor

If air used for a car tire has moisture in it, this is not an issue. Moisture in consumable air for hospital patients, on the other hand, can be fatal. Treatment of compressed air cannot be underestimated.

In this article we are going to outline the reasons behind treating compressed air to rigorous standards and how you can best process compressed air for your specific needs.

Why Compressed Air Needs Treated

BOGE offers a range of compressors and accessories designed for every sector imaginable. The reason our engineers have designed these options is that we understand there is no “ones size fits all” solution to air compression. The same can be said for air treatment.

Food safety is drastically different from powering tools in an auto shop. Likewise, cleaning air in the textiles industry requires different specifications from compressed air needed in a dentist's office. For this reason, each application must have its own treatment option to guarantee that compressed air has the exact characteristics required.

You might think that all compressed air is the same and that the only real difference between compressors is that some produce greater flow rates than others. In reality, compressors and their treatment options produce air with differences in terms of oil particulates, dust, moisture, and micro-organisms. It's these differences that define their suitability for any given scenario.

The Consequences of Untreated Compressed Air

Let's look at what happens when compressed air remains untreated. In basic circumstances, like using air to power a pressure washer, you might not require much, if any, treatment.

But what about sensitive environments like in a hospital?

Imagine a scenario where a suite of air compressors is used to produce and deliver breathable air to patients in a life or death situation. If the air contains dust particulates because old compressors were used with no filtration, then patients will develop breathing difficulties and other complications.

The textiles industry in the Asia-Pacific region is huge and requires high quality compressed air to operate its machinery. But what if compressed air contains oil particles? This can easily happen with oiled compressors. The result is that clothing can be ruined, costing producers substantial amounts and in some cases requiring expensive equipment maintenance.

The same can be said for pharmaceuticals, food production, and manufacturing. If untreated air is used, it can be both hazardous and costly.

How to Treat Compressed Air Effectively

We can see then that compressed air should be treated to the standards required for each application. There are a number of ways to treat compressed air to desirable levels, and BOGE Singapore offers the leading technology in this area.

Options include:

• Dryers: We mentioned previously about the dangers of moisture in produced compressed air. Our range of dryers is a great way to remove any condensed air, ensuring that the resulting product has low humidity and contamination. Refrigerated dryers add cooling to this system. Higher temperatures create more moisture, so this combination is ideal for a range of applications. Find out more about our dryer and after cooler equipment, and we highly recommend choosing our adsorption dryers if you require breathable air.

• Filters: Filtration is essential in sensitive environments. Our filtration systems are among the most effective in the world. Depending on the model, each is designed to remove dust, oil, pollen, rust, or other pollutant particles that can find their way into compressed air. Our activated carbon filtration is a great and safe way to remove any odors or taste from compressed air as well.

• Separators: Protecting the environment is something to which BOGE Kompressoren is keenly committed. When filtering out pollutant particles such as oil or waste water, it's critical that such products are appropriately disposed of in a safe manner. Our Cyclone separators are a fantastic option for those adhering to strict environmental regulations and needing to dispose of air moisture and water. Alternatively, our oil-water separators separate pollutants like oil and then collects them so that they can be disposed of safely at a later date and with a minimum of fuss.