Moisture is always present in atmospheric air, even if you can’t see or feel it. These tiny droplets of condensation can eventually make their way into your compressed air system.

However, since compressed air systems only use dry air to perform tasks, moisture can cause problems within the system. This is the reason why it’s important to remove it from compressed air. 

Compresstech Resources, Inc. has been providing a wide range of air instrumentation products that allow smooth operations by ensuring proper application of air. With the help of air dryers and appropriate maintenance, you can effectively eliminate moisture from the air and extend the life of your compressed air system. 

Curious to know the problems caused by moisture in your system? Read on to be informed and learn solutions that can help you get rid of them.

 

Problems Caused by Moisture in Compressed Air Systems

 

As previously mentioned, excess moisture on the air can lead to a number of problems for your air compressor and its parts.

• Moisture can cause erosion. Since metal components negatively react to oxygen and water, it can lead to rusting. This can ultimately lead to failure in the pipework, leaks, and restricted air in processes where it is needed.
• Moisture can also block control air lines. This prevents instruments from properly reading or measuring air.
• Moisture can prevent proper lubrication to air tools, damaging them in the process.
• In cold temperatures, moisture can transform into ice. This ultimately clog filters and block intake or drain valves. And in rare instances, it can even crack pipes and other system components.
• Moisture can cause product spoilage and negate product integrity
• Moisture can negatively impact system performance.

While it’s true that moisture can’t be helped, you can prevent most of it from damaging your air compressor. This can be done in gradual stages in which you use both filters and dryers to remove liquid moisture and water vapor respectively. Read on to learn how to use these methods.

 

4 Tips to Remove Moisture from Compressed Air

 

1. Drain the Air Compressor Tank

The first step in removing moisture is to release the excess water from your air compressor.

Typically, the drain valve is found at the bottom of the tank. You should regularly open it to let the water and oil out of the system. This prevents moisture from damaging the inside of the tank, thus keeping your lines and tools in perfect condition.

If you’re having difficulty reaching the drain valve, you can install a drain extension kit for easy access. You can even get an auto drain valve to automatically release excess liquid on a regular schedule.

Overall, draining the water from your air compressor is a crucial step in preventing moisture.

 

2. Use a Water Separator Filter

The next stage of moisture removal is mechanical separation.

You can do this by using a water separator filter to remove as much moisture from the air as possible. This filter is designed to eliminate large amounts of air through centrifugal force. As such, it can usually remove between 40-60% of the water from the air. 

 

3. Consider a Refrigerated Air Dryer

Depending on your application, the two-stage filtration may or may not be dry enough. So, if you still need further moisture removal, you should consider investing in air dryers.

One type of air dryer is refrigerated. It works much like your air conditioning system in which it cools the air inside your system. This causes any moisture present in the air to condense. It also automatically removes excess water vapor through a water trap and an automatic drain valve. 

Thus, a refrigerated air dryer only leaves dry compressed air with a dew point between 33°F (0.05°C) and 40°F (4.5°C). This is already ideal for most industrial compressed air applications.

WE RECOMMEND: The Armstrong Air Dryer is an energy efficient air treatment machine that can be used for various applications. Visit our shop to learn more about this product that combines flexibility and efficiency.

 

4. Invest in a Desiccant Air Dryer

However, if your business requires extremely dry air or subfreezing temperatures, a refrigerated air dryer is not enough. You should invest in a desiccant air dryer, instead, to meet these requirements. 

This type of dryer removes water from the air by using activated alumina or molecular sieve desiccants, hence the name. To put it simply, desiccants chemically bond with water through a process called adsorption. This effectively removes moisture from the system since the water adheres to the surface of the desiccant.

Depending on the model, a desiccant air dryer can maintain consistent dew points of -40°F/°C down to -100°F (-73°C). The result is extremely dry air in your air compressor.

WE RECOMMEND: Choose Ingersoll Rand if you are looking for an energy-efficient and highly reliable desiccant air dryer. Check out this product to learn more about its specifications.

Moisture can cause a lot of problems in your compressed air systems including erosion, clogged filters, and damaged tools. Fortunately, with these 4 ways in mind, you can prevent water from damaging your air compressors.

 

ALSO READ: 5 Types of Compressed Air Line Filters For Your System

 

Want to achieve extremely dry air for your industrial applications? Compresstech Resources Inc. offers air treatment solutions that allow filtration of moisture, oil, and even solid particles to ensure the production of quality compressed air.

We are one of the leading suppliers of air compressor for sale in the Philippines, serving different industries for over 34 years. You can rest assured that you’ll only find top-notch equipment from us. Contact us today to avail of our products!

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