One of the key issues you want to avoid when operating industrial air compressors is the buildup of condensate and moisture contamination in your compressed air. The most efficient and effective compressed air must be dry in order to power tools and other machines properly. However, many compressed air systems are vulnerable to the generation of excess moisture.

With that said, there are ways to avoid this. While many industrial air compressors will have their fair share of experience with excess condensate, you can adopt a regimen to greatly reduce these instances and boost the overall productivity of your compressed air generation.

The best way to go about this is to outfit your system with appropriate accessories, such as:

1. Filters

Filtering accessories such as water traps and regulators are incredibly effective at de-moisturizing air.  A water trap is a device that works by “trapping” moisture as the air [asses through the inlet valve. That trapped moisture is then released into a drain. Most filters work in a similar manner, sometimes performing additional purifying functions.

2. Air Dryers

There are many types of air dryers that can be used for industrial air compressors. The two main types are refrigerated air dryers and desiccant air dryers.

• Refrigerated Air Dryers: this air dryer is connected to your air compressor and works to control the temperature of the stored air. Most of the time, the ideal temperature lies somewhere between one and ten degrees (Celsius). The function of this air dryer is to bring the dew point lower so that the compressed air remains dry.
• Desiccant Air Dryers: these air dryers are very different compared to refrigerated air dryers, mainly in the sense that it is not a machine of its own. Rather, desiccant air dryers are tiny beads with extraordinary absorption capabilities. The beads are located in a pressure vessel, which the air has to pass through before being used.

On top of these options, there are other ways to reduce the moisture retention of your compressed air. Make sure you get in touch with the experts at Compresseurs Quebec to learn more about this topic!