Using an air compressor sometimes itself is a task when you are facing back-to-back issues. Whether you are using an air compressor at home or in a factory, a problem can lead to delays and, ultimately, loss. Having moisture in your air compressor can lead you to multiple questions, but the first that comes is “what causes moisture in the air compressor?”, merely you are looking for the reasons.
Our atmosphere contains moisture, and the compression process takes it out. Mainly, it is one of the most important components for any industry to utilize, and not all compressors work at the same pace or can produce moisture-free air.
One of the main causes can be an excessive amount of condensation if this is not the case with you. Multiple other factors mentioned below play their role in it, which can be life and cost savers for you.
A basic principle of the moisture in compressor:
On a basic rule, an air compressor naturally produces moisture as a byproduct, and somehow a small amount of water vapour is always present in every single volume of air. Just like that, temperature and water both have their effects on the amount of water that the air can hold.
Likely, hot or humid summer air can produce enormous amounts of surplus water in compressed air systems. Winter cold can reduce evaporation, causing moisture to build up even under low humidity.
As per the working of the air compressor, it compresses air under high pressure and considering that the pressurized air holds less water than the vapors, and as it goes up, the water vapors condense back to their liquid state.
When trying to settle down, this moisture air condenses in the compressor, and that’s where the situation arises.
What causes moisture in air compressors?
As we talked about one reason that is condensation, talking about that most air compressors come equipped with blowers, or you can name dryers that work on the basic principle of cutting down the condensation, so that’s the first thing to keep in mind.
Other than that, here are some reasons or causes of moisture in an air compressor:
1. Problems with the equipment:
The main cause of the moisture could be the damaged air compressor because of the accumulation of moisture in it. Now, why does this happen?
The accumulation of water or droplets mainly leads to moisture, which we don’t know initially and ultimately damages the machinery.
The more moisture concentration, the more rapidly it will burst out. With respect to that, the damage will affect the machine’s working, and the machine will remove less water.
2. Inappropriate sized compressor:
As the working of an air compressor is dependent on its size, so are the issues. If you are using a small size unit in an industry, it is evident that it will get damaged quickly compared to the one specialized for such purposes.
Moreover, when you utilize a piston air compressor for an extended duration, it generates more heat, causing it to wear and tear. Like the cause, you can solve this issue if you make yourself a purchase of a separator or separation system.
3. Environmental factors:
There is a basic difference between humid air and condensed air. The dry air contains a significantly high amount of water vapors. The condensation process will take the space where the problem arises in the air compressor.
For the solution, you need to put your air compressor where it doesn’t face extreme humidity or having a dryer can serve you in the best possible way.
4. Uncleaned hoses:
Irrespective of all other issues, we often neglect the clogged hoses/pipes in an air compressor. Mainly in the places with excessive usage of the air compressor or even when you are not using an air compressor for long.
The dirt from the environment can somehow also clog the pipes which will lead to condensation and then build moisture in the compressor.
5. Conditioning of inlets:
Air compressors create water depending on the conditioning of the inlets. Suppose you don’t maintain or remove this water.
In that case, it overburdens the inlets, which can be the cause of the moisture accumulation, as it will rust the pipes and dissolves the lubrication of the compressor.
When an air compressor is all chilled, it sometimes also can’t hold the water vapour, and the accumulation can be a major problem for the food factories or the ones producing a product on a daily basis.
Conclusion
Moisture in an air compressor seems to be a minor inconvenience but results in excessive damage and wear and tear. With that, there come numerous issues with it, when your air compressor is exposed to being damp all the time, mainly corrosion, rust etc.
An air compressor’s performance and the construction get affected by such conditions, so cleanliness and maintenance are always required whether it’s in use or not.
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