Troubleshooting Particle Contamination

in Compressed Air Systems

LASER PARTICLE COUNTERS

Maria Sandoval with Trace Analytics

 Trace Analytics, LLC
o Compressed Air Testing Since 1989
o ISO 17025:2017 Accredited
o Test to ISO 8573, ISO 14644, ISO 14698, and more!
o Has members and contributors on food and beverage
committees
o ISO 8573 committee
o ISBT Gases committee
o 3-A Sanitary Standards Committee
o State-of-the-art equipment that allows us to analyze
hundreds of samples a day
o Work with clients around the world

TRACE ANALYTICS, LLC | MARIA SANDOVAL| MARIA@AIRCHECKLAB.COM | 1-800-247-1024 X 5

 One cubic meter of untreated compressed air
contains almost 200 million dirt particles, water,
microbes and oil.

• Where is the particle contamination

coming from?

• What does your spec limit require?

• How do you test?

• How do you know your test

methods are compliant?
Illustration Credit: https://www.chreed.com/the-importance-
of-changing-your-compressed-air-filter-elements/
 Who defines and guides the food and
beverage industry in compressed air quality?

TRACE ANALYTICS, LLC | MARIA SANDOVAL| MARIA@AIRCHECKLAB.COM | 1-800-247-1024 X 5

Particle Contamination: What’s next if you reach alert or alarm levels?
PARTICLES
o Sampling point contamination
o Materials:
• Piping
• Poor choice of fittings, unions, and
valves
• Connecting metals of different hardness
• Improperly applied tape, dope, or solder
• Bad seals / o-rings

TRACE ANALYTICS, LLC | MARIA SANDOVAL | MARIA@AIRCHECKLAB.COM | w: 512-263-0000 ext. 5

PARTICLES
o Sampling point contamination
o Materials:
• Piping
• Poor choice of fittings, unions, and valves
• Connecting metals of different hardness
• Improperly applied tape, dope, or solder
• Bad seals / o-rings

TRACE ANALYTICS, LLC | MARIA SANDOVAL | MARIA@AIRCHECKLAB.COM | w: 512-263-0000 ext. 5

 Particle Purity Classes

ISO 8573-1:2010 Purity Classes ISO 14644-1:2015

Particles Water Oil
Liquid, Aerosol, &
By Particle Size
Class By Mass Vapor Pressure Dewpoint Liquid Vapor
(max. # of particles per m3) See Note 3 See Note 2
0.1<d≤0.5 0.5<d≤1.0 1.0<d≤5.0 micron mg/m3 °C
micron micron micron >5 °F g/m3 mg/m3
0 As specified by the equipment user or supplier, and more stringent than Class 1
1 ≤20,000 ≤400 ≤10 none ≤-70 ≤-94 - ≤0.01 §
2 ≤400,000 ≤6,000 ≤100 none ≤-40 ≤-40 - ≤0.1
3 - ≤90,000 ≤1,000 none ≤-20 ≤-4 - ≤1
4 - - ≤10,000 none ≤+3 ≤+37 - ≤5
5 - - ≤100,000 none ≤+7 ≤+45 - -
6 - - - 0 – ≤5 ≤+10 ≤+50 - -
7 - - - 5 – ≤10 - - ≤0.5 -
8 - - - - - - ≤5 -
9 - - - - - - ≤10 -
X - - - >10 - - >10 >5
Note 1: Shaded areas indicate classes for which Trace Analytics methods apply. Others require techniques outside of Trace Analytics scope.
Note 2: ISO 8573 Oil includes aerosol, vapor and liquid oil. Liquid oil is typically sampled when wall flow is present, contamination is suspected, or results
are greater than 5 mg/m3. Trace Analytics does not provide liquid oil or water testing.
Note 3: For Particle Class 1 & 2 (0.1 - 0.5 µm range only), a laser particle counter is required. Rental of this equipment is available on a reservation basis.

TRACE ANALYTICS, LLC | MARIA SANDOVAL | MARIA@AIRCHECKLAB.COM | w: 512-263-0000 ext. 5

 PARTICLE TESTING
We can test for particles in your compressed air or gas lines
in a variety of different ways.
Trace can test to ISO 8573,
ISO 14644 and custom quality specifications…

1 2 3

Gravimetry Microscopy Laser Particle Counter

For ISO 8573 classes 6+ To meet ISO 8573 Classes 3-5, we will size Trace offers 2 particle counters:
and bin particles. 0.5 microns and up. § Handheld Setra – range 0.3µm-25µm
For mass concentration specification limits
For pure O2 lines when LPC cannot be used § Benchtop Aerotrak – range 0.1µm-10µm

TRACE ANALYTICS, LLC | MARIA SANDOVAL | MARIA@AIRCHECKLAB.COM | w: 512-263-0000 ext. 5

 PARTICLE TESTING
We can test for particles in your compressed air or gas lines
in a variety of different ways.
Trace can test to ISO 8573,
ISO 14644 and custom quality specifications…

1 2 3

Gravimetry Microscopy Laser Particle Counter

For ISO 8573 classes 6+ To meet ISO 8573 Classes 3-5, we will size Trace offers 2 particle counters :
For mass concentration specification limits and bin particles. 0.5 microns and up. § Handheld Setra – range 0.3µm-25µm
For pure O2 lines when LPC cannot be used § Benchtop Aerotrak – range 0.1µm-10µm

TRACE ANALYTICS, LLC | MARIA SANDOVAL | MARIA@AIRCHECKLAB.COM | w: 512-263-0000 ext. 5

 PARTICLE TESTING
Laser Particle Counters for Rent
AeroTrak* 9110 Setra 8000 PROS:
§ 0.1µm – 10µm § 0.3µm – 25µm o Direct measurement on process gas
o Accurate
o Can count particles down to 0.1
micron*
o NIST traceable calibration docs

CONS:
o Short sampling time – may not be
representative of process
o Bulky

TRACE ANALYTICS, LLC | MARIA SANDOVAL | MARIA@AIRCHECKLAB.COM | w: 512-263-0000 ext. 5

Particle Contamination: Select In-Field Troubleshooting Tactics with an LPC
 CYCLE PURGE

TRACE ANALYTICS, LLC | MARIA SANDOVAL | MARIA@AIRCHECKLAB.COM | 1-800-247-1024 X 5

 FILTER ORIENTATION
Coalescing Air Filter –
“Critical” To Install Perpendicular to Ground

TRACE ANALYTICS, LLC | MARIA SANDOVAL | MARIA@AIRCHECKLAB.COM | w: 512-263-0000 ext. 5

 FILTER ORIENTATION
Coalescing Air Filter –
“Critical” To Install Perpendicular to Ground

TRACE ANALYTICS, LLC | MARIA SANDOVAL | MARIA@AIRCHECKLAB.COM | w: 512-263-0000 ext. 5

 PRESSURE REGULATOR MOVEMENTS
Set pressure valve to required pressure.
Purge.
Take sample.

Changes in pressure will release large particles.

TRACE ANALYTICS, LLC | MARIA SANDOVAL | MARIA@AIRCHECKLAB.COM | w: 512-263-0000 ext. 5
Particle Contamination: On-site real time particle data
 LPC Language

Σ m3 = cumulative total

Cumulative total shows the amount of particles

that were found at that size OR GREATER

Δ m3 = differential total

Differential total shows the counts which are at

least that size in diameter and up to, but not
including the next size.

TRACE ANALYTICS, LLC | MARIA SANDOVAL | MARIA@AIRCHECKLAB.COM | 1-800-247-1024 X 5

 LPC Language

TRACE ANALYTICS, LLC | MARIA SANDOVAL | MARIA@AIRCHECKLAB.COM | 1-800-247-1024 X 5

 LPC Considerations

o LPCs are only for particulate testing

o Water and oil testing must use a separate analysis and measurement
o Purchasing LPCs can be cost prohibitive
o Rental options are available
o LPCs require yearly calibration
o LPCs are very sensitive instruments intended for controlled
environments
o Do not differentiate between liquids and solids
o Water can skew results

TRACE ANALYTICS, LLC | MARIA SANDOVAL | MARIA@AIRCHECKLAB.COM | 1-800-247-1024 X 5

Particle Contamination: Does sample time matter and what does it mean to extrapolate the data?
 How Trace Analytics Can Help

o ISO 17035 Accredited Laboratory to A2LA

o LPC fleet of handheld and bench LPCs available for
rental
o Provides training and handles calibration of
equipment
o Can combine particulate results with water and oil
testing
o Expert team of customer service reps to help you
troubleshoot available Mon-Friday

TRACE ANALYTICS, LLC | MARIA SANDOVAL | MARIA@AIRCHECKLAB.COM | 1-800-247-1024 X 5

 How Trace Analytics Can Help

oData qualified and reported on

an ISO 17025:2017 report

oThe goal of real-time

troubleshooting is not to PASS
but to remediate the problem
and ensure high quality and
safety.

TRACE ANALYTICS, LLC | MARIA SANDOVAL | MARIA@AIRCHECKLAB.COM | 1-800-247-1024 X 5

HAVE QUESTION WE DIDN’T COVER?
Reach out to our team of experts.

TRACE ANALYTICS, LLC | MARIA SANDOVAL | MARIA@AIRCHECKLAB.COM | 1-800-247-1024 X 5