Product Training

Compressed Air System Pollution Compressed Air Purification

Product Line Industrial Filtration Technology

Status: March 2012

Atmospheric Pollution
Why is compressed air purification needed?
Ambient air does not only consist of. Oxygen 21% Other gases 1%

Nitrogen 78% You will also find

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Atmospheric Pollution
.Pollution!

Particles and Aerosols

Submicroscopic Perceptible Vapour, fumes, smoke Oil Vapor Tobacco Smoke Soot Pigments Dried Milk Grains of Salt
Gas Molecules

Perceptible under microscope Dust Mist

Visually Perceptible Spray Droplets, Grains

Water Clouds Coal Dust Cement Dust Human Hair Spores Pollen Flour Bacteria Drifting Sand 10 100 1000 10000

Viruses 0,001 0,01 0,1 1

Particle Size [ m ]

Atmospheric air can contain 150 Mio. particles per m.

80% of these are < 2m and are not retained by a compressor suction filter!
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Gaseous Components
Pollution
Carbon dioxide (CO2)

Typical concentration range

6002000 mg/m 150 mg/m 0,010,08 mg/m 0,0020,01 mg/m 0,020,05 mg/m

Main source

Carbon monoxide (CO)

Nitrogen oxide (NOX NO, NO2) Sulphur oxide (SO2) Ammonia (NH3) Ozone (O3)

Internal combustion engines and combustion processes in industry and energy production plants

Agriculture, biogas
Develops from precursors like NOX or NMVOC (non-methane volatile organic compouns) through photochemical processes

0,030,1 mg/m

Humidity, Water Vapor, Dewpoint

Atmospheric air always contains a certain amount of water vapor

Water vapor is always invisible do not mistake vapor for fog or mist Fog/mist = fine droplets of water in the atmosphere near or in contact with the earth Aerosol = Suspension of solid particles or liquid droplets in a gas

Humidity, Water Vapor, Dewpoint

Atmospheric air is a composition of several gases + water vapor.

Percentage portion of each component depends e.g. on the water vapor content

Water vapour content at

25C 70% R.H
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Oil Liquid / Aerosol / Vapor

Oil carry over 3mg/m

Intake air Compressed air + oil Compressed air 70 to 100C Compressed air ambient +10C Condensate Oil

Oil injected screw compressor

Oil carry-over to compressed air system depending on:

Type of compressor (e.g. piston, screw, oil-free) Efficiency of air/oil separator Compressor age and condition Type of oil (mineral, synthetic)
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Oil Liquid / Aerosol / Vapor

How oil free is the air from oil free compressors?
Ambient air contains some hydrocarbons. The concentration vary, based on the location:
Ambient
Rural Average (mg/m) < 0.001 Quality Class acc. to ISO8573-1 1 (0)

Sub urban
Light industrial City Industrial area with major hydrocarbon industry

0.01
0.01-0.03 0.01-0.10 0.1-0.2

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1-2 2 2-3

Even oil-free compressors need purification to remove hydrocarbons, water and particles
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System Pollution
NOX NH3 O3 VOC CO SO2

CO2

Compressor Compressed Air

Atmospheric Air
Particles H2O

VOC SO2 NOX NH3 CO2

NOX

CO2 O3 CO VOC VOC

NH3

at 1bar abs pressure:

Atmospheric Concentration

at 8bar abs pressure:

8 x Atmospheric Concentration + H2O

Acids + Bases Bacteria 10 Agglomeration

System Pollution
Without Filtration + Purification
Corrosion + contamination Material damage Production downtime High maintenance cost High operating cost (p) Creation of scrap New equipment required

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Compressed Air Purification

Particles Particulate Filter Oil (aerosol) Coalescence Oil (vapor)
Hydrocarbons

Water (liquid) Cooler

Water (vapor) Dryer

Other gaseous contaminants

Filter

Activated Carbon Filter

System Solution (e.g. ALG)

Separator Adsorber

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Questions ?

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