Let's take a look at the different types of permanent magnet screw air compressor filters and some common questions that will help you choose the right filter for your compressor system.

Compressed air is not inherently clean, just like its surroundings, and the air in a compressor system is filled with a variety of particles, aerosols and vapors that can contaminate final processes and products and cause injury to machinery and other equipment.

That's where compressed air filters come in! Through a powerful filtration system, the quality of compressed air is improved while increasing the efficiency of the system. Keep in mind that the number and type of filters required will depend on the air quality required for your application or process. Now let's look at the different types of filters and some common questions that will help you choose the right filter for your compressor system.

Compressed air filter type

First, what is a compressed air filter? The answer is simple. It is an auxiliary compressed air device that helps to remove any unwanted and potentially harmful pollutants from compressed air; As mentioned above, these pollutants can be aerosols, particles, or vapors. Particulates are tiny solid particles such as dust, dirt, metal particles from pipe corrosion and pollen. Aerosols are small droplets (i.e., oil and/or water, depending on the type of compressor), while steam is a liquid that has been converted into a gas.

Compressed air filters are divided into three categories: condensing filters, steam removal filters and dry particle filters. While each type ultimately produces the same result (removal of contaminants), each of the three types works in a different way:

Condensed filter

Condensing filters remove water, oil and aerosols from the air while preventing contaminants from re-entering the air. These filters can also remove particles from compressed air, trapping them in the filter medium, but can cause pressure to drop if not replaced regularly. Condensing filters remove most contaminants well, reducing particulate concentrations to 0.1 micron and liquid concentrations to 0.01 PPM.

Steam removal filter

Steam removal filters work by adsorption. They typically use activated carbon particles, carbon cloth or paper to remove lubricant aerosols. Steam removal filters work well after condensing filters because they can capture and remove gaseous lubricants that will pass through the condensing filter.

Dry particle filter

Drying particle filters are usually used to remove desiccant particles after adsorption dryers. Dry particle filters work in the same way as condensed filters.

After understanding the filter type of air compressor, what kind of filter is suitable for the existing compressor? Do existing filters need to be replaced?

What filter is suitable for my air compressor?

Not all compressed air applications are created equal! Different applications require different levels of filtration, so to choose the right type of filter for your compressor system, you need to really understand your application. For example, if compressed air is used for power processes in the pharmaceutical or food and beverage industries, you will most likely need a higher quality of compressed air than if you use compressed air to drive pneumatic tools or fill tires.

Also, consider how important energy efficiency is to your device! Lower energy consumption leads to lower electricity bills. Hepa filters produce very clean air (for example, removing particles smaller than 0.01 micron) while minimizing pressure drop.

Do I need to replace the compressed air filter?

Determining when the filter needs to be replaced depends on the working time of the air compressor and the compressed air quality required; A drop in pressure may also indicate the need for a filter change. When considering whether to replace the compressed air filter, please consider the following issues:

> Is the service life of the device expired?

> Does an air audit show that air quality is below acceptable limits?

> Does the pressure drop exceed acceptable levels?

> Does the pressure drop exceed the manufacturer's point of change?

A yes to any of these questions is a sign that it's time for a new filter. Many also consider replacing the filter element before a recommended pressure drop or air quality problem occurs, because the added energy cost of reducing the air pressure may be higher than the added energy cost of replacing a new filter.

Source: Atlas Copco Power Technology Department -- Air Compressor network