Many industries utilize air for production purposes like mixing, pressurizing, atomizing and agitating applications. Applications include oil and gas, food, pharmaceutical, etc. By managing compressed-air systems and controlling airflow in such scenarios, users can improves production efficiency by up to 50 percent.
Compressed air flows as a result of pressure differential. This implies that pressure drop is the major cause of insufficient airflow. To maintain adequate airflow, much attention should be focused on the pressure losses that are caused by obstacles in the compressed air systems.
Common Obstacles to Proper Airflow
Obstacles in a compressed airflow system alter the pressure of the flowing air. As the push to optimize production continues, it becomes imperative for production personnel to always identify and combat such problems.
• Air Quality: Air cleanliness affects the required airflow. Atmospheric air contains a large amount of airborne contaminants ranging from dust, dirt, water vapor, and, in an oil related industry, oil vapor in the form of unburnt hydrocarbons.
In many applications, dirt and dust particles can pass through the air compressor and gradually form deposits on the interior surface of the compressor. As these deposits accumulate, friction increases and the compressor losses it ability to generate the required head for airflow.