FRLs are key in treating and conditioning downstream components to ensure high air quality in most pneumatic machinery. By Josh Cosford, Contributing Editor Often forsaken, the FRL appears in the bills of materials for commissioned pneumatic machinery, only to never be touched again or considered by the end-user. Even when penciled into the design of […]
Air Preparation
How can you get instant morning air with your compressed air system?
Many people realize that turning off their compressed air at night and on weekends saves energy and operating costs, especially if the system has a significant number of leaks. While you should try to minimize the leaks to less than 10% of your average flow, hitting the stop button when you go home can save […]
Knowledge is power in compressed air
A little bit of knowledge is said to be a dangerous thing, so the key to success is to get a lot of knowledge.Β Knowledge = Power when it comes to your compressed air system, or should we say it may lead to a βreduction in power.β A very big driver in causing companies to […]
Compressed air fail: Check valves
A food processor increased its production capacity and installed a rental compressor to feed the new load.Β Previous compressors were lubricated type with refrigerated dryers.Β The new compressor was a 200-hp oil-free variety with heatless desiccant dryer.Β A 1,060-gal storage tank was installed to work with the compressor, which operated in load/unload mode. A compressed air […]
Why is hot compressed air bad?
One of the byproducts of creating compressed air is heat, and lots of it.Β This heat is emitted by the compressors and air dryers, and must be removed from the compressor room or unpleasant consequences will result. A very common problem with air cooled compressors is making the assumption that the hot air exhausted from the […]
5 habits that make you a smooth compressed air system operator
There are some useful habits that always keep compressed air systems running smoothly.Β It pays to develop these and exercise them on a regular basis to avoid problems that may cause unplanned shutdowns, lost production and other challenges: Keep it clean βΒ Compressor rooms are like vacuum cleaners, the flow of air into the compressor cooling systems […]
Compressed air fail: Flow meter install finds extra funds
A food processing plant had installed a new variable speed drive compressor as extra capacity for their plant.Β Another variable speed unit of the same size had been running their system for a number of years.Β A compressed air auditor measured their system with data loggers and the readings showed that both compressors were unexpectedly […]
What type of of air prep is required for plant compressed air?
Here are some best practices to supply safe, clean and dry air to a machine or piece of equipment. Contributed by Pat Phillips,Β Product Manager, Fluid Power & Mechanical Products at AutomationDirect Plant-supplied compressed air often travels a long and varying path from the air compressor to where it is connected to a machine or piece […]
How do you start the compressed air audit process? 7 easy steps.
So you want to do a compressed air audit. Congratulations, you are taking a big, important step! Β Measuring your compressed air system is a very good way to start understanding the costs associated with your system β and what challenges you are facing with efficiency, pressure, air quality and reliability.Β If you are calling in […]
High-flow variant added to Aventics’ electropneumatic control valves
The intelligent use of an electropneumatic pressure regulator depends on the kind of application and the actual tasks involved. With a flow of 6500 lpm, the new EV12 pressure regulator from Aventics can be used as a standalone product, in the AS3 device series, or as a battery for block assembly. Pressure regulation tasks are […]
