General

Filters are an important part of your compressed air system. Installing the right type of filters and maintaining them regularly will ensure a consistent supply of clean air to your operations and reduce pressure drop. Filters start at the intake of the compressor and finish at the point of use. Dirty compressor intake filters will reduce compressor efficiency and allow dirt particles to enter the compressor, loading up the separator and oil filters, contaminating oil and possibly reducing the life of the air compressor. Filters downstream of lubricated air compressors will collect contamination in the piping such as rust and… Read more »

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Do you need an oil-water separator for your compressed air system? The answer is probably yes. An external oil-water separator is essential for proper maintenance of your compressed air system and compliance with environmental regulations for disposal of compressed air condensate.   What Is an Oil/Water Separator?  An oil-water separator (sometimes called a condensate separator) is exactly what it sounds like: a device that separates oils and lubricants from liquid water. The oil-water separator collects condensate from your air compressor, tank, filters and dryer, and removes the oil from the water prior to putting it down the drain. It also eliminates… Read more »

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Are you seeing excessive pressure drop in your compressed air system? The problem may be the layout of your compressed air pipes. The design of your compressed air distribution system can have a substantial impact on overall efficiency. An efficiently designed piping system will save energy and money and reduce wear and tear on your air compressor.  About Compressed Air Piping Systems Your compressed air distribution system consists of a series of pipes that convey compressed air from the compressor to the point of use. Most compressed air piping systems have multiple drops along their length to support different tools,… 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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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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Sometimes even the most hardworking technicians and service advisors can find it difficult to stay productive. We have come up with 8 tips using professional auto body shop information and feedback. Read and implement the following for in order to boost your productivity and make the most of your (and your team’s) work day.

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Did you know a whopping 85 percent of manufacturers report using social media as a content marketing tactic? They are using platforms such as SlideShare, YouTube and Facebook to create inspirational and educational content that indirectly promotes their businesses.

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As manufacturers, you’re constantly looking for ways to save money in order to grow our bottom line. This will allow you to grow your business. It is recommended that instead of taking a lot of resources out of one or two departments, manufacturers can grow their bottom line through several small cost cutting initiatives that add up to save large amounts of money.

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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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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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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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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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What are the main differences between refrigerated and desiccant air dryers? Refrigerated Air Dryers A refrigerated air dryer chills the compressed air to 33 – 40 degrees Fahrenheit at which water vapor is condensed into a liquid and is then expelled from the system via a water-trap and automatic drain. The cool dry air then is typically re-heated to around room temperature before exiting the dryer and going to your production lines. This helps reduce condensation on the compressed air piping. There are two types of refrigerated dryers; cycling and non-cycling. Non-Cycling Air Dryers: Non-Cycling air dryers allow the refrigeration circuit… Read more »

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Have you ever dusted yourself off with compressed air and ended up getting power washed with water instead?! Where did that water come from and does it belong there? As we learned in science class, the air we breathe contains water in a gaseous state. The compressed air industry expresses the amount of water in a system by dewpoint and relative humidity. The warmer the air, the more water the compressed air can hold. This is why we see so much more water in our compressed air on a hot summer day after it has rained. When we compress the… Read more »

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How does moisture effect your CNC machining centers? Does yourcompressed air system have the proper dryers or filtration needed to keep your machinery operating at peak efficiency? Solenoid valve and tool change-out problems on your CNC machines? If you are experiencing problems with solenoid valves and tool change-outs on your CNC machining centers, the problem could be that you are not supplying the CNC with clean dry compressed air to prevent rust and oil contamination. As you would know, when a tool change-out is being performed both the shank and the inside of the tool holder receive a blast of… Read more »

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Is Your Air Compressor Overheating? Do you experience excessive downtime due to your air compressors shutting down on high temperature? Does downtime cost your company money? Here are a few reasons your compressor may be shutting down with high temperature alarms; Dirty or clogged coolers (air/oil) Low on oil Clogged Oil Filter(‘s) and, or Air/Oil Separator(‘s) Faulty Thermal Valve Faulty HAT(High Airend Temperature) sensor Excessive ambient temperatures If compressor is ventilated, ducting may be undersized or need a booster fan Compressor oil may be varnishing causing excessive friction in the pump

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Now is the time to verify your equipment is in top running condition. Compressors generate a tremendous amount of heat on their own. Everything possible needs to be done to help them keep their cool. Your mission today is to take action to avoid any unnecessary shutdowns, motor failures, excessive condensate in your plant air, or other issues. Downtime is very costly. There are a few key areas to look at in regards to getting your equipment ready for the higher ambient temperatures. Below are a few bullet points of the most common things to look for. Safety First –… Read more »

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If you are shopping for a new air compressor, you might be overwhelmed by the different types and options. The first and most important choice you will make is whether to buy a rotary or a reciprocating compressor. Many people don’t know the difference between them, so let’s look at these two types. Reciprocating air compressors compress the air with pistons that move up and down inside the cylinders. Rotary screw air compressors have two rotors that turn in opposite directions. The air is trapped between thus causing compression to occur. Their manner of compressing air is not the only… Read more »

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Have you ever been down for what seems like “no reason whatsoever”? Even if you haven’t, ask yourself if you have you been doing regular service on your compressed air system. Servicing your compressed air system is important because it helps prevent downtime and having decreased productivity for reasons that could have been avoided. Air compressor maintenance is simple, necessary, and inexpensive in comparison to the downtime and repairs needed on a machine and/or system that hasn’t been maintained. So how often should your air compressor(s), dryer(s), and oil/water separator(s) (air compressor oil separator) be serviced and what does that… Read more »

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