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CHECK LIST-USGUIDE5 - CostSavingsGuide - 08-2008 - 50-37106 PDF
CHECK LIST-USGUIDE5 - CostSavingsGuide - 08-2008 - 50-37106 PDF
A Guide to
Cost Savings
System Pressure:
100 psig
Maintenance Complete
Compressor Maintenance
Reference Library
Effective Compressor Maintenance
P reventive maintenance is the solution to
keeping your compressed air system in top
condition. While the life cycle of any industrial
air compressor typically exceeds ten years, proper
maintenance is crucial to maintain performance
and efficiency.
Compressors can be divided into seven
sub-assemblies; Pump or Airend, Motor, Drive
Problem Solved™ Train, Lubricants, Controllers, Coolers, and
Filters. Because these sub-assemblies are expen-
Problem: My compressor is running too
hot. sive components, they need to be maintained
Solution: Clean cooler and check for on a regular basis. In addition, the benefits of
any airflow restrictions. For water-cooled using genuine filters and maintenance parts
units, check water flow, pressure, and and replacing them when needed should not be
quality. Check the oil level and add more
underestimated. Any contaminants not trapped
lubricant if required. Ensure that the area
in the filter will eventually damage machinery
is properly ventilated and correct excessive
ambient temperatures. and equipment. Proper filtration and the use of
quality fluids is more cost effective than repairing
Problem: My air pressure at the point of damaged equipment.
use is too low. Compressor technology continues to
Solution: Check for correct pressure set-
improve and therefore change. Using
ting on amount of pressure drop across
factory-trained personnel and following OEM
the dryer, filters,and piping systems. Your
compressed air demand may be exceeding recommendations increases the reliability and
current capacity and you will need to add provides the optimum performance from your
more compressor capacity. Check for air compressed air investment. Today manufacturers
line leaks and inappropriate use first. also offer a variety of warranty programs which
may help you plan and perform maintenance
Problem: My filter service life is too short.
activities.
Solution: Use only genuine OEM parts.
Generic filters may not meet performance In addition to component maintenance, your
criteria such as micron rating, contamina- attention to proper ventilation, ambient tempera-
tion capacity, and pressure drop. In high ture and contaminant levels also goes a long way
dust environments, consider using special in avoiding problems in your compressed air
prefilters, alternate location, or duct inlet
system.
and cooling air from clean location.
Lubricant
Coolers
Airend
Drive Coupling
Motor
Maintenance Checklist
Pump or Airend Drive Coupling Filters
Piston/Pump Direct Drive Air
9 Check the inlet and discharge valves 9 Verify that the direct drive system is Any contaminants not trapped in the
for sticking due to carbon deposits. perfectly aligned. filter will eventually damage machinery
9 Check for excessive air through the 9 Check frame and mounting block for and equipment.
crank case breather indicating worn “settling” which may cause misalign- 9 Use proper micron rating as specified
piston rings. ment and coupling damage. by OEM.
9 Check for low oil pressure indicating 9 Check drive coupling for contamina- 9 Check pressure differential and, if
worn bearings. tion and signs of wear and tear. necessary, carefully “counter flow”
Recommended Rebuild: 5,000-10,000 Hours compressed air through the filters to
Gear
clean them.
Rotary Screw Airend 9 Check spray bar for excessive
contaminants and plugged orifices. 9 Check for worn/damaged seals.
9 Check for mechanical seal leakage.
9 Check for wear and “backlash”. 9 Check structural integrity.
9 Check for inlet valve wear.
9 Ensure proper lubrication. 9 Replace after filter has been cleaned
9 Check for excessive bearing “play”. 2 or 3 times.
Recommended Rebuild: 50,000-100,000 Hours Lubricants
Lubricant Filter and
Lubricants cool, seal, lubricate and
Motor Lubricant Separator
remove contaminants from a compressor.
9 Grease motor bearings with the right 9 Use only genuine replacement parts.
type of grease. 9 Use proper grade (see manual).
9 Change when maximum pressure
9 Replace bearings on a conservative 9 Drain existing lubricant before differential is reached or at each lubri-
schedule. refilling. cant change, whichever occurs first.
9 Check amp draw to prevent motor 9 Draw routine oil samples to
determine maximum lubricant life. Coolers
overload.
9 Check for visible contamination and
9 Ventilate compressor room and limit 9 Use synthetic lubricant for maximum
clean regularly.
ambient temperature to increase service life.
9 Keep clean and dry.
motor life.
Desiccant Dryers
Problem Solved™ Desiccant dryers are used for applications where
Problem: What are the parameters for sizing extra dry air as low as -100°F pressure dew point is
dryers? needed. Desiccant (1/8 to 1/4 inch spherical alumi-
na) adsorbs moisture onto its porous surface, which
Solution: There are many parameters affect- needs to be de-sorbed periodically by purge air.
ing dryer sizes. Always check your instruction Depending on the purge design, desiccant dryers are
manual for proper sizing. Some general rules categorized in two major groups, heated and heat-
of thumb are to go up in size when you have less (cold-regenerated). Both designs feature twin
lower air pressure and higher ambient and air pressure vessels filled with desiccant, connected
with piping. Compressed or purge air is alternately
inlet temperatures than the rated conditions.
directed through the towers via switching valves.
You may get away with a smaller size if you
have opposite conditions. Membrane Dryer
Membrane dryers use the selective porosity of
Problem: I have water and/or oil at the point of special fibers to “permeate” water vapor to the
use. What should I look for? outside, drying the compressed air flowing through
it. They are completely maintenance free, however
Solution: With refrigerated dryers check sepa- require reliable pre-filtration. See pre-filtration and
rator/drain traps and look for contaminated drain check list for desiccant dryers.
condenser. Desiccant dryers require prefiltration
to maintain dryer performance and periodical
desiccant change. Check drain trap operation
and proper filter sizing. Ensure that system is
designed for peak flows (i.e. surge conditions).
Separator
Thermal Storage
Electric Demand Drain
Maintenance Checklist
Refrigerated Dryers 9 Ensure that ambient air does not contain Control System
traces of ammonia or acidic substances. Control systems consist of either reliable
Condenser Unit Water and ammonia can create an acid solid-state timers or a PLC.
Clogged condensers account for most dryer that destroys copper heat exchangers.
problems. 9 Both provide means to manually step
through a complete operating cycle and
9 Periodically clean the fins with com- Desiccant Dryers
verify proper valve sequence.
pressed air or a bristle brush to ensure Filtration
enough refrigerant is transformed into a Purge Mufflers
Pre-filtration is essential to protect the
liquid state, for proper heat removal in desiccant from oil and bulk water. 9 Check purge mufflers for excessive
the evaporator. Do not bend or damage desiccant dust, indicating desiccant
the fins of the heat exchanger during 9 Check pressure drop across filters and
breakdown. Replace when necessary.
cleaning. change filter cartridge when pressure
drop exceeds 8-10 psid. 9 Check purge line for obstruction and
Separator/Drain excessive pressure drop.
9 Check drains for proper operation and
The most critical area for dryer performance
is proper drain function at the separator.
rebuild them at least once a year. Heater and Temperature Controls
Separated water needs to be discharged Desiccant 9 Check operation and temperature set-
from the system frequently to avoid re- Desiccant is very sensitive to oil as well as tings of thermostat (typically between
entrance into the air system. “dusting”, which occurs when subjected to 350-450°F) to avoid heater element
excessive air flow through the dryer. burn out. Check safety temperature
9 Check separator and drain function reg-
switch for proper operation.
ularly by monitoring discharge amount. 9 Sample desiccant (drain port on bottom
On an average day a 100 cfm dryer of tower) and examine for proper size Blower
discharges about 6 gallons during a (dusting reduces size) and discoloration,
9 Service blower motor per instruction
3 shift operation. Even the best drain indicating oil contamination.
manual. Grease or replace motor
needs to be serviced or rebuilt at least 9 Replace desiccant every 2 to 3 years. bearings as necessary.
once a year.
Valving 9 Clean or replace blower air inlet filter.
Controls Proper valve operation is critical for
Controls are very reliable and typically do desiccant dryer operation. Membrane Dryer
not need any adjustments. No maintenance needed. However, check
9 Check diaphragms and seals of switch-
9 Check pressure switch setting if requirements for pre-filtration and drain
ing and check valves for wear and
condenser fan is not running during full traps and service per instruction manual.
replace at least once a year. A higher
load operation. than normal pressure gauge reading on
Heat Exchangers pressure vessels during “purge” cycle
Most modern heat exchangers are non- can indicate excessive leaks.
fouling and do not require any 9 Periodically check for dew point if dryer
pre-filtration or cleaning. is not equipped with a dew point
monitor.
Isolation Valve
Maintenance Checklist
Air-cooled Aftercoolers 9 Check pressure drop regularly or use 9 Periodically clean off excessively
an electronic filter monitor to indi- large contaminants, which did not
9 Clean heat exchanger fins with com-
cate optimum element replacement. pass through the drain.
pressed air or a bristle brush. Be
careful not to damage or bend fins. 9 Check drain function periodically. 9 Annually rebuild drains. Drains can
open up to 250,000 times a year.
Water-cooled Aftercoolers Vapor Adsorbers
Activated carbon is often used to 9 Ensure drain is installed per instruc-
9 Check for proper water pressure and
remove unpleasant tastes or smells. tion manual. Vent lines are often
inlet/outlet temperatures.
These filters always need to be installed necessary to provide reliable
9 Check heat exchanger on water and operations.
downstream of a dryer and an extra fine
air side for fouling. Mineral deposits
oil removal filter. 9 Never feed more than one drain line
on water side negatively influence
9 Check for any liquid water, which into drain.
heat transfer. Clean or flush with
special cleaning solvent if necessary. renders the carbon ineffective. Condensate Management System
9 Carefully open drain valve and check 9 Ensure that condensate is properly
Moisture Separator with Drain
for smell. Change cartridge when treated before being discharged into
9 Check separator filter element for smell is detected or on cartridge sewer systems. Failure to do so
pressure drop. style filters after 1000 hours and could result in severe fines.
9 Check drain for proper function. on “tower” style filters after 10,000 9 Most oil-water separators are gravity
Rebuild mechanism if necessary. operating hours, whichever occurs feed devices which have replace-
first. able filter bags or elements. Check
9 Check that air flow does not exceed
rated flow. Excessive air flow can In addition, on carbon “tower” style instruction manual for maintenance
damage filter elements and reduce filters, a fine after-filter to remove schedule.I
filtration performance. carbon dust needs to be installed.
9 Do not install an extra-fine filter as a Condensate Drains
“catch all” right after an aftercooler.
9 Check for clogged strainer installed
It cannot remove the contaminant
ahead of drain. Note that a high-
load at this point and will create
quality drain does not require a
significant pressure drop.
strainer.
Evaluating a Compressed
Air System