Greener Upgrades blog series #18
Considerations for sizing a temporary compressed air package
Introduction
Choosing the right compressed air system is crucial for ensuring optimal performance and efficiency in various industrial applications. From pharmaceuticals and petrochemicals to automotive manufacturing and offshore wind, there is a critical need for a reliable and effective compressed air package. This blog looks at key considerations when specifying a compressed air solution.
What quality of compressed air do you require?
Compressed air has its own International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) standards, specifically ISO 8753-1. An oil-free environment is essential for many industries and applications, including pharmaceuticals, food and beverage production, and automotive manufacturing. However, for some applications, oil-flooded air compressors are acceptable, usually found in construction projects for tasks such as sandblasting.
Is oil-free always 100% oil-free?
- Class 0: Class 0 is the cleanest form of oil-free air, guaranteeing 100% oil-free air with no contamination in the system.
- ISO Class 1: This indicates a slight level of contamination, which needs to be filtered out by a filtration system. This poses a risk, as failure of any air compressor components could contaminate the system. High maintenance is required, yet system failure avoidance cannot be guaranteed.
All Aggreko oil-free air systems are Class 0 certified to ensure no contamination to people, processes, and the end product.
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Is the air flow/volume consistent or variable?
If the air flow is variable, it is important that the system can scale compressed air demand accordingly. An ‘air on demand’ compressed air system allows compressors to communicate with each other and automatically switch off or on as required, therefore saving energy.
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Considering pressure dew point
This is the temperature at which water vapor condenses into liquid. Understanding the correct pressure dew point is essential to ensure your system does not reach it.