What Does A Compressed Air System Consist Of?

 

Compressed air systems can vary quite dramatically. However, there a few general components that should be considered essential to the successful operation of a compressed air system.

Air Compressors

The core component of any compressed air system is the air compressor itself, which compresses intake air and generates the energy required to power any equipment. There are a wide variety of air compressors available on the market, although three of the most popular for industrial applications include rotary screw, centrifugal and reciprocating compressors.

Compressed Air Filtration

Air contains a lot of potentially harmful particulate that can damage a system or even contaminate the end product. This makes compressed air filtration essential. Generally, air should be filtered at the point of intake before compression and again later in the system to remove any particulate, oil or lubricant. It’s important to note that different industries demand different levels of air filtration; the food industry, for example, requires very high levels of air filtration in comparison to a general engineering facility. However, every installation has to be assessed on its own requirements and merits.

Air Cooling

Compressing air also increases the temperature of air, which makes it essential to cool the air down again. Using an aftercooler also makes drying air easier, as the moisture in air condenses as it cools down and can be removed prior to the compressed air being dried.

Air Dryers

Compressed air dryers are responsible for drying compressed air and, although they are responsible for using a lot of energy, are an essential part of any compressed air system.

Compressed Air Filtration (again)

Following the drying of compressed air, the air is sent through a second round of filtration in which small particulate and oil is removed according to the levels and classifications determined by the user and the industry guidelines the user has to adhere to.

Distribution and Pipework

Once the compressed air has passed through the filtration, cooling and drying processes, it needs to be carried to whatever equipment it is powering. The pipework responsible for this distribution needs to be well maintained to avoid damage, freezing, cracks and leakages. Air Pressure in any system can be reduced significantly due to any of the aforementioned. Additionally, compressed air can lose a lot of pressure when travelling through pipework. In new systems, any potential pressure losses attributable to system design are usually calculated into and accounted for in the initial Compressed Air System design. In older systems where pipework has been added at various points in time, however, consideration has to be given to the significant cost implications of generating compressed air at a higher pressure than is actually required to overcome the losses encountered through poor design

Feeder Pipe

Before reaching its final destination, the compressed air is filtered and isolated through a feeder pipe, which is directly connected to the equipment that the air will be powering. Via