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Industrial Air Compressor Condensate Management

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Category: Blog
Published on Monday, 01 September 2014 09:20
Written by Super User
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Anyone who owns an air compressor understands the importance of properly maintaining their machine. A crucial tool in this process is a condensate management system. So long as these systems are functional, they are very important components of all air compressor systems because they separate the small amount of oil from the condensate that gathers in the air compressors. This allows the caretakers of the air compressor to perform simple, ecological, and economical disposal of any leftover waste.
Providing industrial sized air compressors to factories, construction sites, and other large jobs is something Air Center, Inc., knows how to do. With top of the line and state of the art Kaeser equipment available, they can fit you with the right air compressor to tackle any job.

Why You Need to Manage Your Condensates

Oil, water vapor, oxides, and other micro particles run through your entire compressor system along with the air you are trying to compress. These contaminants can cause harm to the internal parts of your system, such as rust, ruptures, and clogging. You need to remove these contaminants from your system through filters or dryers.

Disposing of Your Contaminants
In order to properly dispose of your condensates, you will need to reduce them down to the legal limits. Many separators automatically reduce oil to legal limits, but it is still necessary to check with your local municipality to determine what their individual legal limit is.

In the past, people would use a waste management company to come and remove collected condensate from their site. Today there are a number of different types of condensate management systems which can used independently within a company, and can separate almost any compressor fluid from the condensate. This allows the 98% of the condensate that is solely water to be disposed on site. The small percentage of remaining oil can then be collected and recycled, or disposed of at a much cheaper rate than what was possible before.

Energy Savings Using Refrigerated and Desiccant Air Dryers

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Category: Blog
Published on Monday, 08 September 2014 09:22
Written by Super User
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When you have a compressed air system it is important to ensure that there is not too much moisture in the machine. Too much moisture in your compressed air system could slow performance or even ruin the machine. For any maintenance concerns seek out a company like Air Center, Inc. Air Center is a full service compressor company and equipped to service any compressed air equipment.

What is a Refrigerated Air Dryer?
A refrigerated air dryer could be the most efficient solution to the problem of too much moisture. This type of dryer removes detrimental moisture from your compressed air system by cooling the moisture until it is compressed into droplets which are then drained away. Using this sort of system has several benefits that cut energy costs. Cycling and non-cycling refrigerated air dryers are available.

What is a Desiccant Air Dryer?
Desiccant air dryers are most common because they have been around longer than the newer energy saving dryers. These dryers use more energy by passing compressed air through a pressure vessel where the air is brought down in temperature so the water vapor does not condense.

Benefits of Using Both
A refrigerated air dryer works to reduce energy costs by using two heat exchanger; these exchangers use cold incoming air to cool the hot incoming air, which makes it possible to use a smaller compressor which reduces energy consumption. A refrigerated air dryer also takes part of the work load off of the desiccant dryer which saves on energy costs and gives the desiccant dryer an increased lifespan and greater reliability. Most compressed air systems do not come with a stand-alone refrigerated dryer.

Buying a Pre-owned Air Compressor vs Buying a New One

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Category: Blog
Published on Monday, 15 September 2014 09:24
Written by Super User
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When it comes to buying industrial sized air compressors, a pre-owned model often holds a lot more value than you might think. There are a number of different reasons why a pre-owned air compressor model is just as effective as a brand new one, and learning about this can give you an edge when you’re on the market. The air compressor experts at Aircenter, Inc. can also help you in determining which pre-owned models would best fit your specific needs.

Value of a Pre-Owned Model

  • Initial cost is almost always cheaper
  • Maintenance costs are the same compared to a brand new model
  • Many pre-owned models are still under warranty, reducing your buying risk
  • Most still contain all the necessary parts and accessories, and many even still have spares
  • Most pre-owned models  are still high-quality and not worn out due to the ruggedness of air compressors in general

What to Look for in a Pre-owned Air Compressor

  • Efficiency: is the machine still running at optimal efficiency
  • Missing parts: make sure your pre-owned model has all the right parts to run properly
  • Durability: take not of any signs of wear and tear on the machine
  • Maintenance: going along with efficiency, make sure that your pre-owned model does not have any glaring efficiency problems that would require above average maintenance costs

Some Air Compressor Emergencies and the Proper Ways to Handle Them

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Category: Blog
Published on Friday, 17 October 2014 13:27
Written by Super User
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When using an industrial air compressor on the worksite or in a factory, you’re probably going to run into an emergency every now and then. From break downs to malfunctions, air compressor emergencies are something that will have to be dealt with. Handling them in the proper way is the most crucial aspect when dealing with some of these breakdowns, and learning more about your industrial air compressor is the best way to start.

Preventative Maintenance

Performing routine, preventative maintenance on certain areas of your industrial air compressor will help solve problems before they occur. Some common places to check or functions to examine are:

  • Gauges – Making sure they are giving the correct readings at all times is important
  • Hoses – Checking for leaks routinely will help keep air pressure high. Listen for hissing sounds and check for lapses in pressure to make sure there aren’t any holes. Also, a good test is to take a light solution of soapy water and place it on the areas you think might have a leak. If bubbles start to form, then there is a leak in the line.
  • Hose Reels – Making sure the reels for each hose work will allow for multiple tools to function with the machine properly.
  • Pressure Tank – Similarly to the hoses, check for any leakage from the tank itself. Also check for structural damage such as dents or open parts as this may cause irregularities in the pressure inside the tank.

Handling Emergencies

To prevent anything hazardous from happening during an emergency, immediately shut off your machine. Perform the above maintenance steps to figure out where the malfunction is occurring. Use replacement parts where necessary and ensure that they are correctly installed to prevent the same issue from happening again.

For all of your air compressor needs Air Center, Inc. should be able to help.  Air Center stocks many air compressor parts and filters for major manufacturers, designs and installs compressed air systems, and employs technicians who are able to service any compressed air equipment.