The Behavior of Compressed Air
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In the 1960¨s few air systems were equipped with dryers. Specially dried air was uses mainly for special applications such as machine controls, laboratory apparatus and special instruments. Drying techniques were developed, introduced, and refined.
Drying considerably to the cost of the compressed air. Drying equipment was added only when the cost of the process, the surface preparation, or the machinery warranted the special equipment. Eventually, various levels of water free, oil free, and filtered air became available to all industries at costs mached to the requirements.
Problems With Compressed Air
Compressed air is adaptable to more types of plant operations than any other type of power transmitting method. The main problem has always been that the atmospheric air which is being compressed is full of misture. The high temperatures in the compressor creates corrosive oil decomposition products. Dirt is concentrated by the compression process and rust particles are created inside compressed air pipwork system.
One cubic foot of air at standard temperature and pressure can contain 2.5% water vapor at saturation and over a billion microscopic particles. This mixture of moisture, dirt, active bacteria, ions, gas molecules, and reactive fumes must be thoroughly dried, cleaned, and treated before it is used by sensitive pneumatic equipment. Otherwise, the corrosive and abrasive particles would damage the air pipework, the equipment being operated by the air, the products, or the painted surface.
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