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200+ Manufacturers Have Air Leaks Fixed Free Through “Fix-it-Now” Program In Chicagoland, Fluid-Aire Dynamics has been hard at work helping manufacturers save money and energy by fixing compressed air system leaks through ComEd’s Leak Repair Program. Last month, that work was recognized by ComEd. We are proud to have been recognized for the Most Projects Submitted in 2019 at the ComEd Industrial Systems Energy Efficiency Service Provider (EESP) Kick-Off event in February. Raj Raghavan, an Energy Advisor for the ComEd Energy Efficiency Program, says, “Fluid-Aire is a great group of people to work with. No matter who you interact with... Read more »

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Excess moisture in your compressed air system can cause problems both within the system itself and for the applications that utilize it. Appropriate maintenance and the use of air dryers can remove moisture from your air and extend the life of your system. What Causes Moisture in Compressed Air? Moisture is an inevitable byproduct of compressed air. All air contains a certain amount of water vapor. The volume of water held by the air varies with temperature and pressure; the higher the temperature, the more water air is able to hold. That’s why humidity tends to be higher in warmer... Read more »

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Do you know what size air compressor you need for your facility? Calculating compressed air requirements may seem complex, but it’s important to understand your needs before installing a new compressed air system. Here are four ways to calculate compressed air requirements for your facility. Why Proper Sizing for Compressed Air Systems Matters Air compressors come in a range of sizes and styles to suit a variety of needs. A small auto repair shop with a handful of tools will not need the same volume of compressed air as a large manufacturing facility using compressed air to run dozens of... Read more »

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Changing the oil on your rotary screw air compressor is important for the life of the machine and can avoid large repair costs. On top of checking it regularly to ensure it’s topped off, you should change it at regular intervals. The length of this interval depends on the type of oil being used in your machine. Rotary Screw Air Compressor or Rotary Vane Air Compressor** Standard Oil every 8000 hrs or 12 months Food Grade Oil every 2000 hrs or 3 months If you don’t change your oil as above a few things can happen to your compressor: Buildup... Read more »

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There are 2 key aspects to sizing your piping correctly: max system CFM requirements and minimum required operating pressure. Max CFM A study needs to be completed to determine what the max demand in the system (in CFM) is going to be. This needs to be a worst case scenario, with even momentary uses being considered Momentary uses of compressed air are considered any usage of your air for a period of time that is less than a minute. Examples of these momentary uses are; dust collector blow down valves, large air cylinder/ ram actuation, sometimes diaphragm pumps, and etc.These... Read more »

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Air leaks are very common in compressed air systems. The key is to know how to detect and fix them as the cost of even a tiny leak adds up to a large expense if left unattended.   How common are compressed air leaks? Compressed air leaks are widespread in all applications. Not only are they common, but they are time-consuming to find and fix. In the average manufacturing operation, 20-30% of the total energy consumption is compressed air. On average, 30% of that expense is due to compressed air leakage. How costly are compressed air leaks? Here are 2... Read more »

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What is the Optimal Temperature Range for a Compressed Air System? How does ambient temperature affect the performance of your air compressor? Temperature plays a bigger role in air compressor performance than you might think. Air compressors are often subject to temperature extremes, especially if they are installed outdoors or in a warehouse without temperature controls. Large swings in temperature can lead to air compressor overheating in the summer or freezing in the winter. Understanding the optimal operating temperature for your compressed air system will help you avoid heat- or cold-related damage to your air compressor and extend the life... Read more »

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Did you know that you could get leaks in your compressed air system fixed for free? Yes, free. This is not a trick! It’s a program from ComEd—and a benefit you’re entitled to as a ComEd client. Fluid-Aire Dynamics is an approved service provider under the ComEd Fix-It-Now leak repair program, a benefit provided for ComEd customers in Northern Illinois. Here’s how it works: Contact James Brevoort, Fix-It-Now Program Specialist, at (224) 775-1953 or james.brevoort@fluidairedynamics.com to sign up. Our technician finds leaks in your system using an ultrasonic detector, which can detect even the smallest air leak. If the leaks... Read more »

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This week’s discussion addresses what seems to be an unknown to most users of compressed air. Many calls come in from customers who say their compressor system no longer keeps up with plant demand. Of course, this could be due to many factors such as added production equipment, air leaks in the equipment and/or distribution piping, or the need of maintenance to the air compressor itself. To troubleshoot your plant pressure issues, we recommend beginning with the source of your compressed air. Is the compressor delivering its rated Actual Cubic Feet per Minute (ACFM)? ACFM is the air delivery rating... Read more »

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How does cold weather affect your compressed air system? Freezing winter temperatures can have adverse effects on your air compressor, air dryer, and compressed air system accessories. Here’s what you need to know about cold weather air compressor maintenance and operation. Most compressed air systems are designed to operate in temperatures above 40° Fahrenheit. In the winter months, if your system is not in a heated indoor environment, ambient air temperatures may drop below freezing. When this happens, your compressed air system may sustain both short-term and long-lasting damage. This happens because compressed air systems generate condensate, which can freeze... Read more »

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Used compressed air equipment can be a great deal for companies who need to control or reduce capital expenditures—an important consideration in times of economic uncertainty. Fluid-Aire Dynamics has dozens of reconditioned used air compressors and air dryers available now. Is buying used right for your company? Used Compressed Air Equipment vs. New: Which is Right for You? Should you buy new or used compressed air equipment? The decision is much like deciding between a new or used car. The new model will come with a full manufacturer’s warranty and all of the latest safety features and bells and whistles.... Read more »

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Why Do You Need One? Compressed air produced by any oil flooded compressor has contaminates. After the air is cooled by the heat exchanger and/or the dryer, the contaminants including water and oil condense and become a liquid. To properly dispose of this liquid, the oil needs to be removed from the water so that the water can be reintroduced to the municipal water system. This can be achieved through the use of air compressor oil separator. If you do not use an oil/water separator and you dispose of the liquid from your dryer by dumping it into your usual... Read more »

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Inline filters are used to keep your compressed air clean and free of particulates and oils that are passed from your compressed air equipment into your system. These filters can technically be placed anywhere in the compressed air piping systems. Some of the most common placements are the following: Directly after the commercial air compressor Before and after the air dryer (refrigerated air dryers, desiccant air dryers) Just prior to point of use (i.e. on each compressed air drop) All of the above Or any other way that is specific to your system’s needs Keep in mind, the better the compressed... Read more »

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How does pressure drop cost me money? Every compressed air user needs to understand the importance of minimizing pressure drop. Pressure drop is costing you money if, in order to maintain the desired pressure at your point-of-use, you have to run your air compressor at a higher pressure than the minimum pressure needed to keep your factory operating. It takes more energy to produce air at a higher pressure, and energy costs money. To put it in context: If a machine only needs 90 PSI to function properly, but you have to operate your air compressor at 120 PSI in... Read more »

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By Derrick Taylor, Director, Fluid-Aire Dynamics What is the best pipe material to use for a compressed air system? Manufacturers have many options when it comes to compressed air piping materials. As with most decisions, the choice in piping material comes down to tradeoffs between cost, performance, longevity and aesthetics. Here are some of the most common materials used for compressed air piping and the pros and cons of each. Plastic Pipe Plastic compressed air piping is cheap, lightweight, easy to install and non-corrosive. However, not all plastics are the same. If you are using plastic piping, it is important... Read more »

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Ever wonder how much motor grease is enough when pumping it into a motor? Or what type of grease is the best? We wondered the same so we invited in John Wojdyla from Timken, to educate us on bearing greasing. We took our previous knowledge and combined it with what he taught us to produce the below information. The challenge we face as an air compressor service company, is that we maintain many different brands of compressors that use different brands of motors, some of which are domestic and many that are European and Asian. To add to the confusion,... Read more »

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Time to Upgrade Your Compressed Air System? Your Energy Company Might Pay the Bill. Upgrading your compressed air system from a fixed-speed to a variable-speed drive (VSD) can deliver big savings on your energy bill. But did you know that your energy company may help you pay for the cost of the upgrade? You could get thousands of dollars back on the purchase of a VSD compressor or other energy-saving improvements for your compressed air system.  Understanding Energy Company Incentives for Compressed Air Systems  ComEd (Chicago and Northern Illinois), Xcel Energy (Minneapolis area), and many other energy providers nationwide all... Read more »

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Given how crucial compressed air supply is to manufacturing systems, unplanned downtime on your compressed air system can be a critical problem for your operations. Afterall, when your system goes down, your business shuts down, too. Not only do you have to pay to repair the system, but you’re losing valuable money you could be making by operating your business! Yet due to the amount of work compressed air systems go through (such as running continuously, generating heat, ingesting dirt, etc.), unexpected downtime is practically a given if you aren’t proactively caring for your system. Luckily, we have five easy... Read more »

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