An air compressor can be best defined as a pneumatic device that is used for converting power into potential energy that is stored in the form of pressurised air. They are available in different types including rotary screw compressor, centrifugal compressor, reciprocating compressor and axial compressor.
An air compressor serves a variety of functions including providing high-pressure air for gas cylinders, running pneumatic tools and carrying out industrial processes. To ensure that an air compressor functions properly, you have to maintain it regularly. It is important to know about a few things related to air compressor service.
Apart from drilling applications, an air compressor plays an important role in oil and gas operations. When a machine is used for such important tasks, you cannot afford to have it plagued with technical issues.
To ensure that your air compressor lasts for a long time and delivers top-notch performance over the years, you have to follow a maintenance schedule. You need to be well aware of the steps and procedures one needs to follow to maintain an air compressor.
Here are 6 important tips for maintaining your air compressor:
Go Through the User Manual
While this is one of the most basic tips pertaining to the maintenance of any electronic device or appliance, most people miss out on following it. Most people buy an air compressor, have a quick glance at the manual, put it away carelessly and then forget about it.
As soon as you buy an air compressor, go through the manual provided with it carefully to get a good understanding of the device. If you face a minor issue with the compressor, you can fix it easily by referring to the manual.
Filter Replacement
The more you use it, the more the air compressor intake filter collects dust, dirt and other junk material. A dirty or unclean air filter would not allow the air compressor to function properly. It will compel the compressor to work on higher energy levels and that will create unnecessary pressure on it.
Dirty air filters consume a great amount of energy and are difficult to maintain. While you must clean them regularly, there would come a time when you would have to replace them. It is advisable to replace the air filter once every year.
Fasten the Nuts and Bolts
The vibration caused in the compressor results in its various components moving vigorously. After being used regularly, the nuts and bolts in an air compressor would become loose. Before you use an air compressor, you must check whether the nuts and bolts are tight or not.
Checking each and every fastener is a good way to determine whether the device needs any adjustments. You can use basic tools for this purpose. You must remember not to over-tighten any of the nuts or bolts.
Get The Temperature Just Right For Optimal Performance
The air compressor intake filter often functions in very hot conditions. And in the worst-case scenario, excessive heat might cause an explosion or fire.
As a precaution against moisture condensation in the cylinders of water-cooled compressors, it is important to keep the water temperature at least 10 degrees Fahrenheit above the input air temperature.
As a corollary, cooling water outlets shouldn’t be warmer than 120F (approximately 49C). Never turn on a compressor while the cooling water is running, and turn it off when the compressor is off, to maintain safe operating temperatures.
Water jackets of reciprocating compressors may also be used to control the temperature in a room, provided they are regularly inspected and cleaned.
Lubricate Anything That Needs It
You need to utilise lubricants with properties appropriate for your service circumstances if you want your air compressors to function properly. To rephrase, the quality of two apparently identical lubricants might vary greatly depending on the formulation used.
The most effective lubricants are crafted using a well-balanced formulation strategy, which involves selecting the finest possible base stocks and developing a unique additive package to address the challenges faced by air compressors. Using a lubricant that has been specially made with base oils and additives to prevent rust and corrosion is one way to deal with these issues.
Drain Out Condensate
Compressed air leads to the formation of moisture. Inside the compressor, it gets accumulated as condensate. Inside the air compressor, you will find a moisture tank. This particular component pulls the water out of the air that is moving outside. Because of this, the air continues to remain dry.
When moisture is present in compressed air, it could bring down the quality of paint applications. Complex procedures are involved in the maintenance of condensate tanks that have not been drained out. You must remember to drain out the moisture tank regularly.
Change the Oil
Air compressors are of different types and not every variant needs oil. However, if your air compressor requires it, you must ensure that it gets a fresh supply of oil regularly. When an air compressor is used in a humid area, the viscosity of the oil will lose rapidly and the machine will not receive adequate lubrication.
When an air compress is not lubricated properly, there will be friction in the metal and the components will not work optimally. This is the reason why you need to keep checking the quality of the oil from time to time.
Check the Air Compressor Shutoff System
The safety shutoff mechanism in air compressors contributes to their internal protection. When a compressor gets deprived of pressure or turns too hot, this mechanism gets activated. You must know there is a problem when it is supposed to be activated but doesn’t work.
Sometimes, humid conditions can lead to issues with the air compressor shutoff system. There are several other issues that it could get affected by. You could go through your user manual to get a good idea about how to look after the air compressor shutoff system.
While an air compressor is a very useful device, you need to do a lot of things to ensure it is maintained properly. If you are looking for some help in maintaining your air compressor, you should get in touch with www.kaishan.com.au.
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