BACK TO BASICS:
AIRFLOW TROUBLESHOOTING
STRATEGY
any industries utilize air
for production purposes
like mixing, pressurizing,
atomizing and agitating
applications. Applications
include oil and gas, food, pharmaceutical,
etc. By managing compressed-air systems
and controlling airflow in such scenarios,
users can improves production efficiency
by up to 50%.
M
Compressed air flows as a result of
pressure differential. This implies that
pressure drop is the major cause of
insufficient airflow.
To maintain adequate airflow, much
attention should be focused on the
pressure losses that are caused by
obstacles in the compressed air systems.
86
PECM Issue 32
Common Obstacles to Proper Airflow
In addition, the type of compresssor also
affects proper airflow.
Obstacles in a compressed airflow system
alter the pressure of the flowing air. As the
push to optimize production continues,
it becomes imperative for production
personnel to always identify and combat
such problems. A turbine-driven air compressor, for
example, utilizes more lubricating oil
and cooling water for operation than an
electrically driven compressor.
• This infers that a turbin-drive compressor
is more susceptible to lubricating oil and/
or cooling water seepage.
Air Compressor Type and Operation:
The air compressor can also be an
obstacle to air flow. Air compressors
make use of lubricating oil for sealing
and lubrication, and uses cooling
water (mostly applied) for cooling.
During operation, cooling water and
lubricating oil may seep into the
compressed air as a liquid or aerosol.
The resultant leakage causes similar
contamination problems as the
condensed oil and water vapors.
•
Air Quality: Air cleanliness affects
the required airflow. Atmospheric air
contains a large amount of airbourne
contaminants ranging from dust, dirt,
water vapor, and, in an oil related
industry, oil vapor in the form of
unburnt hydrocarbons.