What Is the Importance of Air Quality in a Pneumatic System?
Like humans, pneumatic systems need quality air to perform at their peak. Compressed air is often mixed with particles of dirt, dust, and oils that you would not want in your pneumatic system. Letting moisture into a compressed air system can shorten the life of pneumatic systems. If contaminated air enters the system, the entire system may need to be shut down to be repaired, costing you time and money.
In this article, learn about the importance of air quality in a pneumatic system, how to notice when your air compressor is not providing the right air quality, and how to improve air quality with Max Air MT Series actuators from BM Engineering.
How do valve actuators work?
When operating pneumatic valves, valve actuators help filter large dirt particles, compressor oil, and water particles from the air before passing through the filter. The compressed air in the valve actuation system will never come into contact with the product in the industrial valves, but letting bad air in can damage the system.
Actuators allow the valve to be automated without any human interaction. There is a wide variety of valve actuators, with pneumatic actuators using compressed air to generate the energy needed to operate.
How can air quality affect the valve actuation system?
The biggest issue with dirty air bypassing filtration is corrosion, which is caused by moisture corroding the system over time. As the corroded material comes loose, it can work through the components and cause many issues.
Particles can also cause significant issues over time, entering the system through dirty filters on the compressor. Particles can come from the air or the system itself as it ages and wears; the particles will affect the actuator air quality by becoming lodged into seals and can heavily wear rods and barrels, causing severe scoring, failures, and leaks.
Finally, there is the oil used to lubricate the compressor. When mixed with compressed air, the oil can become a containment that creates poor air quality, and like moisture, it can cause issues with the many orifices and control valves.
How to remove substances from an air compressor
Now that you know the importance of maintaining proper air quality, it is time to learn how to remove unwanted substances from your air compressor.
Removing dirt and other particles
An air filter fitted to the suction side of the compressor will help prevent particles from entering the actuator and wearing down the mechanisms vital to the actuation system. Maintaining these filters will ensure that only clean air enters your system.
Removing oil
Oil droplets can wreak havoc on the inside of your valve actuation system by entering via the condensation that flows through the air system. An oil-water separator will separate the oil droplets and drain them off in a receiver, creating cleaner draining water.
Removing water
Water can be removed with several methods, including an aftercooler. During the compression process, the air will reach high temperatures, thus increasing the amount of water in the compressed air system. The aftercooler works by lowering the air temperature and, in turn, reducing the water content, with whatever remains being drained away from the system.
The second method for removing water from your compressed air filter is with various dryers. A refrigerated dryer cools the air to near-freezing temperatures, reducing the water content and preventing condensation from forming. A desiccant dryer absorbs any water in the air as it passes through a pressure vessel full of desiccant material.
Find actuators at BM Engineering
With a wide range of actuators sourced from our top-quality manufacturers, you can be assured that your valve actuation system will provide clean air for the system with no unwanted particles or other substances bypassing the air compressor.
Find high-quality actuators from Max-Air Technology and fluid control valves from Bürket for your system. If you have any questions about our actuators or want to know more about valve actuation systems, be sure to contact us; a team member will be happy to help.
