Posted by Compressed Air Systems, Inc. on | Comments Off on How to Reduce Pressure Drop in Your Industrial Compressed Air System
Compressed air systems can develop instances of pressure drop throughout their lifespans, disrupting productivity and leading to inconsistent performance. However, with the right maintenance schedule, parts, and monitoring processes, businesses can minimize the risk of system pressure drop and reduce unscheduled downtime and performance inconsistencies. Learn more about the common causes of pressure drop, how your team or repair technicians can reduce pressure drop, and the benefits of a proactive approach.
What Causes Pressure Drop?
Maintaining a stable pressure level in a compressed air system requires an unobstructed closed loop or connective hose through which pressurized air can travel at a steady rate. Any changes to this environment, such as loose parts, obstructions within the system, and rough internal surfaces, can disrupt the flow of air. Disruptions to steady air compressor pressure come from two major categories:
Problems with air quality components which include air/lubricant separators, moisture separators, aftercooler components, filters, and dryers.
Problems with the distribution components, such as the tubing, couplings, hoses, pipes, or regulators.
A pressure drop may register when the compressor delivers insufficient air because of blockage, leaks, or other interruptions. This lowers the pressure within the system, and the compressed air regulation systems respond accordingly. The pressure changes can also result in a lot of wasted energy; in fact, this energy waste increases exponentially as the pressure conditions exceed the recommended pressure levels. If technicians notice restricted air flow within the system or changes in pressure levels that the system must accommodate, it’s time for an inspection or maintenance.
How to Reduce Pressure Drop
While it’s impossible to eliminate pressure drop within an industrial compressed air system entirely, it is possible to significantly reduce the risk and severity of any pressure drops. Frequent inspections, ongoing monitoring, and preventative maintenance can help your facility catch problems early on and prevent them from growing too large. Follow these steps to reduce pressure drop:
1. Inline Filtration
An inline air compressor filter is a device that is installed in the air line between the compressor and the point of use. It is designed to remove contaminants, such as dirt, rust, and moisture, from the compressed air before it is used. This helps to protect the equipment and tools that use the compressed air, and can also help to improve the quality of the finished product. Inline air compressor filters typically use a filter element made of paper, metal mesh, or synthetic media to remove the contaminants. They are also made in different size and flow rate, depending on the compressor and the application.
An inline air compressor filter can reduce pressure drop by using a filter element with a high dirt-holding capacity, a large filter surface area, and a low resistance to airflow. A high dirt-holding capacity means that the filter element can trap a large amount of contaminants before it becomes clogged, reducing the need for frequent filter replacement. A large filter surface area allows for more contaminants to be trapped, while also allowing for a higher airflow rate. A low resistance to airflow means that the filter element does not impede the flow of air too much, reducing the pressure drop across the filter. Changing the filter elements on a frequent basis will help keep the pressure drop low.
2. Inspect the Tubing
Tubing is a common source of problems that cause pressure drop. Loose fittings at the ends of the hoses, harsh bends in the hose, and even developing wear or holes can lead to pressure drop. The internal surface of the hose, especially if it’s rough or abraded, can interfere with pressure. Regularly check the tubing to ensure it’s airtight throughout its length and at any fittings. Look for cracks, detectable airflow, and rust formation (which can indicate developing damage and vulnerability).
3. Check for Any Worn Hoses
Examine hoses for leaks, especially developing leaks that may escape casual notice. Also, ensure hoses are arranged with as little external stress as possible.
4. Consider the System Connections
Connectors, valves, and other components should be tightly fit into place and in good condition without rust or cracks. Also, facilities with overly complex systems that have multiple connectors will benefit from a simplified system with fewer failure points.
5. Check the Regulators
The pressure regulators may be faulty and cause pressure drops without any damage to the actual system. Prevent air compressor regulator pressure drop by resetting the regulators and ensuring they’re taking accurate readings.
6. Check the Lubricators
It may be time to replace lubricators within the compressed air system to maintain the right flow rate.
The Benefits of Reducing Pressure Drop
Pressure drop poses a real risk of inhibiting high-quality performance and wasting a lot of energy. Consider these benefits of addressing and reducing pressure drop:
Improve System Performance
Boost your pneumatic system’s performance by stopping leaks and pressure drop. Your employees can use the compressed air system more efficiently, with fewer delays and errors. Completely addressing pressure drop issues can also reduce unscheduled downtime and costly parts replacement.
Reduce Maintenance and Unscheduled Downtime
Unplanned maintenance and repairs are expensive. Not only does your facility have to pay emergency rates, but you lose production hours. This can put you behind schedule or force you to pay SLA fees. But proactive monitoring and maintenance ensure you catch problems in a timely manner. The problems are smaller, less expensive to repair, and faster to resolve. Investing in newer or more resilient equipment can reduce downtime even more.
Lower the Operating Costs
Pressure drops, as well as the potential gaps and leaks causing the pressure drop, leads to higher operating costs and wasted energy. Addressing the problem reduces operating costs on a day-to-day basis. For every 2 PSIG pressure drop equals one percent less energy. Lowering your plant pressure 10 PSIG gives you a five percent energy savings.
Reduce Facility Emissions
Decreasing energy usage also has the broader effects of reducing your facility’s carbon footprint and energy waste. You will reduce your facility’s overall generation of greenhouse gases.
Start Reducing Pressure Drop With Support From Compressed Air Systems
Pressure drop is expensive, wasteful, and potentially damaging to your production levels. But resolving pressure drop with maintenance and monitoring is simple, cost-effective, and better for your company’s ESG goals. Turn to Compressed Air Systems for support in repairing, maintaining, and improving your compressed air systems. Contact us today for more information.
Posted by Compressed Air Systems, Inc. on | Comments Off on 5 Ways a Blower and Vacuum Can Help With Your Production
Industrial blowers and vacuums help regulate airflow in warehouses, factories, and other production facilities. One common application of blowers and vacuums is cleaning—using air to remove debris, dirt, water, and other contaminants. They also remove stale and contaminated air from industrial settings. But compressed air blowers and vacuums can serve other purposes, too.
Here are five ways a blower and vacuum can help with your production.
Modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) technology helps extend the shelf life of fresh food. It involves removing the atmospheric air inside a package and replacing it with a protective gas mix. This gas—usually consisting of nitrogen—maximizes the freshness of the product.
Though both MAP and vacuum packaging require compressed air and vacuum pumps, MAP differs because it doesn’t always have to remove oxygen from the packaging. Instead, MAP involves adjusting oxygen and carbon dioxide levels within the package to the required values. The vacuum pump makes the final seal to ensure the gases remain intact in the container.
Filling and Closing Machines
Vacuum systems have a pivotal role in the beverage industry. They help evacuate air and other contaminants to ensure consumers receive quality goods. Vacuuming also prolongs the shelf life of various products. Filling and closing machines use vacuum systems to seal:
Alcoholic drinks
Bottled water
Juices
Sports drinks
Nutritional supplements
Bottle Filling
The oxygen content in bottled beer must be kept low. That is why breweries employ different bottle-filling methods. They may flush the bottles with CO2 and fill them with beer using a long tube filler. However, this method uses a significant amount of CO2. Another method involves evacuating the bottles and flushing them with CO2, which minimizes CO2 consumption.
Packaging
Vacuum systems have a critical role in packaging. Generally, the pressure around a product has a mechanical impact on the product’s external shape. Therefore, the modified atmosphere packaging process is an ideal method across many applications, including food and beverage, pharmaceutical, and cosmetics processing. By packaging products in a modified atmosphere and removing oxygen, MAP encloses the product in a blister package, places it in a vacuum chamber, and evacuates it. After injecting it with the modified atmosphere, the package is sealed with a protective film.
Dairy Processing and Milking
Yogurt-filling machines require a vacuum pump to position the lids on multiple pre-filled yogurt containers at once. The machines have suction cups that pick up the lids, separate them, and place them in the right positions.
Milking systems have vacuums that attach to the cow udder and transport the milk. Compared to conventional oil-lubricated pumps, side channel blowers and liquid ring pumps do not use oil and thus have fewer maintenance needs. Side channel blowers in particular do not need water connections and are available with frequency converters.
Get the Right Blower and Vacuum for Your Application
Compressed air blowers and vacuum pumps are valuable devices that enhance or, in many cases, enable production. High-volume blowers and vacuum pumps are available in different varieties, so Compressed Air Systems is here to help you choose the right system(s) for your commercial or industrial application. Contact us today to learn more about our products and services.
Posted by Compressed Air Systems, Inc. on | Comments Off on Air Compressor Oil Water Separators: A Guide
Since 1963, Compressed Air Systems, Inc. has specialized in providing comprehensive, customized air compressor solutions for industries ranging from medical and pharmaceutical to electronics and aerospace. For your convenience, we have capabilities for in-house design consulting, equipment rentals, installations, and 24/7 maintenance services, with the goal of providing everything you need, be it a new turnkey system or repairs.
Additionally, our extensive equipment offerings include blowers, vacuum systems, nitrogen and process chillers, air compressors, and air compressor oil-water separators. In this case study, learn more about oil-water separators, how they work, and why they’re a vital part of an air compressor system.
What Is an Oil-Water Separator?
An oil-water separator assists in pulling water out of compressed air. As compressed air releases from the compressor’s storage tank, it often contains moisture that then condenses to create droplets of water. The oil-water separator will effectively eliminate the water droplets, which prevents them from building up. This reduces the risk of compressor damage, equipment contamination, and corrosion when utilizing the compressed air. Essentially, oil-water separators effectively extend the life span of your equipment.
Why Is There Water in the Compressor System?
An air compressor inherently captures water when it draws in air saturated with environmental moisture. When the air compresses, that moisture condenses, producing water droplets. Using compressed air that still contains water can degrade your tools and cause operational issues, like diluting paint in paint-spraying projects, for example.
What Is the Best Oil-Water Separator for Air Compressors?
Our air compressor oil-water separators are capable of maintaining as much as 98% efficiency down to half of the rated flow capacity. With varying weights, sizes, and capacities to best fit your individual application, we offer an extensive line of moisture separators and oil-water separators.
How Does an Oil-Water Separator for Air Compressors Work?
Oil-water separators utilize a coalescing principle or centrifugal design to remove condensate from an air compressor. The airflow in coalescing separators moves from inside the filter element to the outside, removing water droplets through the filter cartridge. Centrifugal oil-water separators rely on rotary motion, pushing the air, water, and other particles like dust to accelerate radially outward and through a filter element like polyethylene. This allows the water and other particulates to externally drain and collect in a bowl.
Where Do You Put the Oil-Water Separator on an Air Compressor?
The proper installation location for the oil-water separator is downstream from the compressor on its discharge line, as near as possible to the compressor itself. The separator relies on gravity to drain the water into the compressor tank, so installing it high on the discharge line is ideal and will help prevent condensate from entering the airstream.
How Does a Desiccant Air Dryer Work?”
In addition to moisture separators, desiccant air dryers remove moisture from incoming air to improve compressor air quality. Desiccant air dryers, which are similar in design to water trap filters, rely on dual pressurized tanks and small desiccant beads to absorb water droplets from the air. They switch back and forth between drying and regeneration cycles. Pressurized air moves through the desiccant bead vessel to remove droplets until the air reaches the optimal dew point, at which time it releases. A heating process after that depressurization then eliminates moisture from the beads, and vessel repressurization occurs to prepare for the next drying cycle.
How Do You Dispose of the Condensate/Water From an Air Compressor?
Oil is a lubricant for a compressor’s internal components. Since 1972, the EPA has enforced regulations on air compressor condensate to reduce drinking water pollution. According to the EPA, wastewater from an air compressor should not exceed 40 parts per million of oil. Typical air compressor condensate contains oil at roughly 300 parts per million, so an oil-water separator is necessary to:
Meet EPA regulations for your facility
Avoid penalties
Prevent end-product contamination
Decrease environmental impact
Air Compressor Oil-Water Separators From Compressed Air Systems
Oil-water separators are important components for air compressors to not only safeguard your system but also to avoid contamination and EPA violations. Compressed Air Systems of Tampa, Florida, is backed by nearly 60 years of experience in delivering high-performance air compressor solutions, and our team is ready to help. For more information, you can contact us directly or read our guide on moisture content in compressed air.
Posted by Compressed Air Systems on | Comments Off on Oil-free Air Compressors
What is an Oil-Free Compressor?
When selecting an air compressor, it can be difficult to determine which type of compressor will be best for your application. While many factors play into this decision, users must ultimately decide whether an oil-lubricated or oil-free air compressor is the appropriate solution for their specific need.
In the oil vs. oil-less air compressor debate, many companies are beginning to recognize the benefits of using oil-free compressor models over their standard oil-lubricated air compressor counterparts.
Oil-Free Air Compressor Advantages
Oil-free air compressors offer a number of advantages over oil-lubricated models. Without standard oil usage, oil-free compressors provide significant cost-savings on filter costs and used oil disposal. While the gearbox takes a long-term lubrication solution, oil-free compressors eliminate the need for oil changes or fills during maintenance cycles. Additionally, because the oil-free compressors do not require increased force, they reduce related energy costs.
Even with these differences, oil-free compressors don’t sacrifice efficiency and can typically unload within two seconds at about 18% full load horsepower.
How Oil-Free Air Compressors Work
Oil-less air compressors work a little differently than oil-lubricated compressors, as they don’t require a lubricant to cool air. Instead, they go through a six-step process to compress and cool the air, as follows:
Intake Oil-free air compressors draw in air from the outside via an unloader valve. The air then passes through one or more filters to filter out any particulates, such as dust or dirt.
Initial Compression Once the air is drawn in through the unloader valve, it passes into a chamber where oil-free elements compress the air while keeping it free from lubrication contamination.
Initial Cooling The air is cooled for the first time at this stage to avoid unnecessary heat damage to internal compressor components. In pumps operating with two stages, air may also be compressed at a much higher PSI. Intercoolers also come equipped with filters to remove any condensation that rises from the cooling process.
Second Compression Once cooled, the air returns to the main chamber, where it experiences a high-pressure compression process.
Second Cooling Once fully compressed, the air passes through an aftercooling stage. This stage further cools the air into a form in which it can be properly stored.
Automatic Detection Oil-free air compressors offer an automatic refill technology. Sensors monitor the level of air within the storage tank, and the compressor will turn on and begin the process of refilling the tank with pressurized air once the stored air reaches a pre-set level.
Oil-Free: The Right Choice for Dentists
Dental offices are a prime example of an application that has greatly benefited from the use of oil-free air compressors. While some dentists fear that an oil-free compressor will be too loud for use in an office, noise suppressors can be fitted to the filters to cut down on the noise generated by the compressor. Oil-free air compressors also tend to be lighter and smaller, so they are better suited for use in small spaces, such as a patient area.
Some oil-free compressors can generate the same pressure and airflow as their oil-lubricated counterparts, and it’s important for dentists to choose the correct model. However, oil-free compressors are chosen in many medical applications for one primary reason—they drastically reduce the risk of lubricants contaminating the air supply.
Contaminated air can be extremely harmful to patients, so the benefits of oil-free models in this type of work cannot be understated.
Common Applications for Oil-Free Air Compressors
Of course, dentists aren’t the only professionals seeing benefits from oil-less air compressors. These compressors have also been shown to benefit a wide range of other applications, in industries such as:
Automotive Workers in automotive applications will benefit from reduced exposure to oil-contaminated air. In addition, oil-free compressors have been proven to provide high-quality finished paint jobs, and the less frequent maintenance cycle of an oil-free compressor ensures that processes run smoothly.
Chemical In chemical manufacturing and processing, product purity is an utmost priority, so using a purer supply of air is ideal. Oil-free compressors are also safer, since there is less risk of lubrication contamination reacting badly with other chemicals. With no need for oil changes or fills, there’s also less waste involved.
Electronics Electronics manufacturing often requires extremely sanitary conditions to ensure that products are fabricated contaminant-free and of the highest quality. The uncontaminated compressed air from oil-free compressors contribute to the ultra-clean conditions required by these processes.
Food & Beverage Air contaminated even slightly by lubricants can affect the end quality and flavor of food and beverages. In food and beverage manufacturing, oil-free compressors contribute to a healthier, cleaner final product.
Oil & Gas Oil-free compressors only require monthly maintenance to check parts for wear and don’t need oil changes or top offs, which contributes to error-free control systems and processes. The cleaner air provided by oil-less air compressors also contributes to increased safety and better quality final product in these applications.
Pharmaceuticals One of the most sensitive manufacturing processes, pharmaceutical relies on high-quality cleanroom conditions to guarantee the health and safety of its patients. Oil-free compressors contribute to pure production, reduced contamination risk, decreased waste, and more efficient overall processes.
Textiles Efficiency is a key factor in textile production, so the reduced maintenance and repair costs associated with oil-free compressors have been a boon for this industry. Oil-free compressors also contribute to higher textile quality and reduced wastage.
Learn More
In business since 1963, Compressed Air Systems offers a wide range of air compressors, vacuum systems, and blowers. We also run our own installation, service, and rental departments. Backed by 55 years of industry experience, our team can help you address any compressed air challenge you may face.
Posted by Compressed Air Systems on | Comments Off on Top Tips for Energy-Saving Air Compressor Maintenance
Globally, the air compressor market is quickly growing due to the versatility and cost-effectiveness of air compressor units. Between 2020 and 2028, the market is expected to grow at a rate (CAGR) of 3.4% annually. However, despite the wide adoption of air compressors, many businesses don’t prioritize air compressor maintenance, resulting in increased expenses due to costly repairs or replacements and the associated downtime. Air compressor maintenance offers you many benefits, such as time savings, safety enhancements, and reduced production costs due to less energy consumption. See our guide to inline clean air treatment here.
Top 5 Energy Saving Tips
Regardless of your specific industry or application, a well-maintained air compressor plays a vital part in reducing energy consumption. Here are five top tips you can implement to increase the energy savings from your air compressor:
Cost Saving Advice: Hoses, Fittings, and Waste
Check your fittings regularly, ensuring they create a tight seal. Loose fittings are a significant cause of leaks in air compressor units. If the fittings seem corroded or worn out, you should repair or replace them immediately. Consider inspecting hoses since they act as the system’s key connection points, and any damage to the hose could disrupt the entire system. Hoses usually get damaged during cold weather or bent, resulting in corrosion or cracks. Additionally, drain your unit’s receiver tank to avoid suboptimal operation due to a lack of storage capacity.
Apply Proper Controls to Multiple Compressor Units
Click to Expand
Proper controls maintain steady system pressure and ensure that only the required compressor units are brought online. This eliminates the inappropriate use of compressed air and ensures each unit is operating at peak efficiency. The controls are also helpful in turning off compressor units that are not needed or not being used.
Ensure Piping & Storage are Properly Sized
The problem with most systems is the lack of adequate storage and piping. When sizing piping, it should optimize the transfer of compressed air at the desired flow and pressure to the point of use. Having wider piping from two to three inches can minimize the pressure to around 50%. On the other hand, reducing the distance traveled by air can lower pressure by about 30%-40%. Having the wrong storage size can result in issues with production or increased costs due to wasted energy.
Change Your Air Filters Regularly
Air filters should be inspected monthly and replaced regularly. Drops in pressure as little as two psi can cost about 1% in compressor horsepower efficiency. Regular inspection and replacement maintain air quality and reduce the chance of pressure dropping. There are several point-of-use and air-line filters in a typical system, which should also be maintained regularly.
Reduce the Operating Pressure to the Lowest Possible Setting
A common rule for most compressors indicates that every 2-psi reduction in system operating pressure can result in 1% in compressor energy-saving efficiency. Continuously adjust the pressure setting to reach the lowest possible setting without compromising performance. Additionally, centralized systems using multiple compressors can be set to run using a central controller. Turning down the pressure on your compressor even 10 PSIG is a 5% savings in electrical costs.
Contact Compressed Air Systems for More Advice
Maintaining your air compressor is essential to ensure daily operations and equipment continue running without interruption. At Compressed Air Systems, we are proudly celebrating nearly 60 years of delivering superior equipment design and engineering, custom turnkey installations, compressed air leak detection and elimination, air compressor rentals and services, and more. We have partnered with Kaeser to create a long and productive business partnership as a proud supplier of Kaeser air compressors. Get in touch with us today for more information about our services.
Posted by Compressed Air Systems on | Comments Off on Compressed Air Applications
Air compressor systems are popular installations that can handle a wide variety of packaging, pumping, and material handling tasks. Compressed air is a reliable medium for transferring power to control equipment throughout manufacturing and non-manufacturing processes. Learn more about the applications of compressed air systems and how Compressed Air Systems, Inc. can help you build, rebuild, or optimize your system.
Compressed Air Systems
Compressed air systems give facilities access to pressurized air. These systems include a motor-powered mechanical device that compresses input air to a set pressure level for use in a variety of applications. In industrial compressed air systems, the compressed air passes out of the motorized unit into pipes throughout the plant. Depending on the applications and unique needs of the facility, the air system may also include a drying component that removes humidity from the air before it’s distributed.
Compressed Air Applications
Compressed air is used extensively throughout commercial and industrial processes. However, it is also vital in applications beyond manufacturing. Common industries that rely on compressed air include:
Agriculture. Compressed air is used for pneumatic tools, vacuum packing equipment, and conveying equipment, as well as general farming equipment.
Construction. Compressed air provides power for pneumatic tools and equipment on active construction sites.
Food and beverage. This industry uses compressed air for bottling and packing processes that preserve goods, conveying and product handling processes, and fluid pump systems.
Mining. The mining industry relies on compressed air to power drilling tools and provide processing power for filtering and separating applications.
Recreation. Amusement park rides and ski lifts use air-powered brakes, and hotels and other large-scale facilities use compressed air to control elevators. Other recreation-related applications include cleaning sensitive equipment, efficient sewage disposal, sprinklers for landscaping, and more.
Service industries. The service industry includes a wide range of services such as dry cleaners, hospitals, and more. These facilities use compressed air for climate control and laundry machines. Hospitals also use air compressing systems to control respiration systems for patients.
Key applications for compressed air include:
Air knives
Bottle filling
Fluid pumps
Food filling machines
Nitrogen generation
Packaging
PET bottle blowing
Product handling
And more
Working With Compressed Air Systems
No matter what processes you use compressed air for, it’s important to invest in a system you can rely on. At Compressed Air Systems (CAS), we’re the leading provider of reliable compressed air systems. We specialize in creating custom solutions for facilities across multiple different industries. Our services include:
Compressed air audits and leak detection
Compressed air leak elimination
Equipment and system rentals
Rotary screw rebuilds for motorized compression units
Turnkey design, development, and builds for compressed air systems
We serve clients throughout the following industries:
Manufacturing and Industrial
Medical
Aerospace
Electronics
Fleet Maintenance
Plastics
Food and Beverage Processing
For specialized air compression systems that interact with consumable goods such as pharmaceuticals, beverages, and food, we build our systems to comply with the FDA’s Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA).
To learn more about the applications of compressed air, or for more information about our capabilities, contact us today.
Posted by Compressed Air Systems on | Comments Off on The Importance of Having a Backup Compressed Air System
For companies that rely on compressed air to do business, it’s essential to have a backup compressed air system in place. If your primary system goes down, you’re looking at downtime, reduced production, and potentially irritated clients who will take their business elsewhere. The recent supply chain shortages can cause additional delays as you wait for a new compressor or spare part. By simply having your backup compressor ready to go, you can eliminate that downtime and keep your customers happy while you wait for your primary system to get fixed or replaced.
The Importance of Backup Compressed Air Systems
There are several reasons why you’ll be grateful for your backup compressed air system. It’s not only for emergencies—you can also use it to help with fast turnaround expectations, load sharing, and more:
Reduced Downtime: Instead of waiting for your primary system to be repaired or replaced—something that could take weeks or months if you’re waiting for a part—you can minimize the financial impact of downtime by having your backup system ready to go.
Saved Costs: When you invest in a backup system, you save money in the long run because you won’t lose production if your primary system goes down. You won’t have to pay employees overtime to meet deadlines.
No Project Delay: You can switch to your backup compressor almost instantly, allowing for smooth continuation of the project you’re working on. You can run your backup compressor while you wait for any necessary replacement parts to come in.
Seamless Scheduled Maintenance: Instead of facing downtime during routine or emergency maintenance, you can plan to run your backup compressor during that time. That reduces the pressure on the maintenance technician to work too quickly, and it allows you to schedule maintenance when it’s convenient for you and the maintenance team.
Load Sharing: Instead of letting your backup compressor sit unused and wondering if it will work correctly when you need it, keep it in action. Spread the workload over both machines with a timer to ensure even load sharing, and schedule maintenance for each while the other is in operation.
Increased ROI and Production: No downtime means no wasted time. Production stays on schedule so you can meet deadlines and keep clients happy. Your backup compressed air system pays for itself over the years with increased production.
Operate Multiple Pieces of Equipment: On a tight deadline, a large projection, or in anticipation of orders to come, you can speed up production by using both systems at once to operate multiple pieces of equipment.
Compressed Air Systems: Your Partner for Air Compressor Systems
Since 1963, Compressed Air Systems has specialized in air compressed air, blower, and vacuum systems for clients in a range of industries, including food and beverage, medical, industrial, aerospace, CNC machining, plastics processing, woodworking, electronics, and more. With a 30,000-square-foot facility in Tampa, Florida, we sell, service, and rent pneumatic tools and equipment, and we offer compressed air audits, leak detection, and more.
If you need a backup compressed air system, we can help. Our customer care team is friendly and responsive, and we’re prepared to answer any questions you might have. Contact us to learn more about the benefits of having a backup system or to request a quote.
Posted by Compressed Air Systems on | Comments Off on Dental Air Compressors: Choosing the Right One
Every day, dental practices rely on air compressors to provide safe and comfortable services to their patients. However, new air compressors can be a serious investment for most practices, making it essential to select the right one for your office.
Three main factors go into choosing the right air compressor for your dental practice:
Power: Most dental offices require compressors to operate between one and five horsepower to efficiently run their equipment
Pressure: Each dental tool necessitates a specific amount of pressure to run properly, and air compressors must provide enough pressure to safely operate all your tools simultaneously
Production: Make sure your compressor choice exceeds your practice’s required cubic feet per minute (CFM) or liters per minute (LPM) ratings to ensure it can easily handle your dental equipment and accommodate new additions as necessary.
What to Consider When Choosing a Dental Air Compressor
The above considerations govern selecting the compressor with the right physical attributes for your practice’s needs. Some of the most important decisions that factor into optimizing your air compressor’s power, pressure, and production levels include those concerning:
Size
You should consider both the size of your practice as well as the desired size of the air compressor in relation to it. Most dental air compressors measure output in one of two ways:
Cubic feet per minute (CFM)
Liters per minute (LPM)
Dental chairs typically require 50 LPM or 2 CFM of air per chair. Additionally, you should account for the number of personnel who regularly use your equipment, as too much simultaneous use could strain a system that’s not prepared for it.
Use of Oil
Most dental environments benefit from using oil-free compressors. Oil-based compressors risk contaminating surrounding fluids, which could imperil patient health. Oil-free air compressors also require less maintenance and upkeep because they work with less volatile substances.
Power
Most compressors rate power output either in kilowatts (kW) or horsepower (HP). 1 kW equals 1.34 HP.
This power range governs a compressor’s ability to pump air. Dental air compressors come in a range of power ratings, but for most dental offices, compressors with 1–5 HP (~0.75–3.7 kW) get the job done.
Motors
All dental air compressors run on motors. The motor runs the compressor, and the compressor has one or two pistons depending on the model.
Pressure
All dental tools have specific pressure requirements. Many measure their pressure requirements in bars, which equal ~14.5 psi each. Most dental applications use pressures of 5 bars, but to avoid straining your equipment, it’s usually a good idea to generate slightly more pressure than each tool requires.
Dental Air Compressors from Compressed Air Systems
Compressed Air Systems offers a full suite of air compressors designed for dental applications. Our products include:
Scroll dental air compressors
Reciprocating dental air compressors
Oil-free compressors
Quiet and noise-free models that result in greater patient comfort
Custom-sized air compressors
Custom horsepower options
Essential Tools for Dentists Everywhere
At Compressed Air Systems, we know that at the center of each well-functioning dental practice is a good air compressor. Air compressors make patient care safe, comfortable, and efficient.
If you would like to learn more about our range of dental air compressors or other compressed air systems, contact us today.
looking at downtime, reduced production, and potentially irritated clients who will take their business elsewhere. The recent supply chain shortages can cause additional delays as you wait for a new compressor or spare part. By simply having your backup compressor ready to go, you can eliminate that downtime and keep your customers happy while you wait for your primary system to get fixed or replaced.
