Air Compressor Filter Element

1.Air Compressor Filter Usage and Maintenance

Compressed air filtration plays a hugely important role in any compressor installation. Having a high-quality air compressor filter will protect your system from particulates, dirt, dust, solid particles, and oil. Harmful contaminants like these can cause damage to your equipment and downstream machinery, wearing down parts and causing blockages.

Without a filter, contamination can even affect your manufactured product, causing loss of production and inevitably landing you with a hefty bill. Therefore, it is essential that high performing filters are used. Poor quality filters may offer a reduced performance, leading to large pressure drops and increasing your energy bill.

2.How does an air compressor filter work?

Air line filters work by straining air to trap solid particles and separate liquids from compressed air. To clarify the process, it helps to identify the main components found in an air compressor filter:

Inlet: The air compressor intake or inlet is where air enters the filter. There is an internal cap that forces air downward into a spiral. It’s important to get the right size inlet rather than using a filter smaller than the line.

Filter cap: This component directs airflow through the filter. You can tell the direction of the air by the arrow on the outside of the filter, which also prevents you from installing it backward.

Air path: This is the actual path the air follows as it spins like a cyclone and passes through the air filter itself.

Filter discharge: This orifice allows air to leave the filter, and it should match the inlet size. If the filter discharge is too small, it will restrict the flow of air.

Filter element: The filter itself is what takes contaminants out of the air, catching particulates over time. Eventually, filters become clogged and must be cleaned or replaced.

Filter bowl: The bowl is the biggest part of the filter that you can see. It is connected to the cap and is threaded or twisted and locked into place.

Filter quiet zone: The contaminants, water and oil collected by the filter all end up in the quiet zone at the bottom of the filter. You will usually find a barrier hanging from the filter bottom, preventing debris from being reintroduced into the air.

Drain: Collected contaminants and debris have to be drained. Many filters must be drained manually, but others have float-operated or electric auto drains.

In the first stage of filtration, compressed air passes through a mesh filter. This creates a clumping effect where the larger particles are trapped by the filter, and the water condenses into bigger droplets then travels to the separation chamber.

The compressed air slows down, allowing particulates to condense on a pad with honeycomb-like qualities. This facilitates the movement of droplets to the drain. After entering the drainage system, droplets are discharged through the drain valve. This stage of filtration removes a majority of the oil, large particles and water droplets.