Since the majority of pneumatic instruments and processes can not tolerate hot compressed air, compressors are normally supplied with aftercoolers and moisture separators. Aftercoolers are heat exchangers that utilize either water or ambient air to cool the compressed air. As the water and lubricant vapors within the compressed air cool, a significant amount condenses into liquid. The amount of condensation is dependent upon the temperature of the air when it leaves the aftercooler. Following this stage, the condensed water is collected and removed by the moisture separator, and discharged through a drain valve.
Additional condensation is generated downstream when the compressed air cools further.
When Removing Water Plant maintenance personnel and system designers must determine the air quality requirements for their specific compressed air applications. For instance, outdoor locations during the winter months require compressed air to be dried to a lower dew point than indoor, heated locations. An oversight within any of these issues can result in misapplied purification equipment, inefficient system operation, high operating and maintenance costs and even unnecessary capital expenditures. Selecting Purification Systems Condensed water, lubricant, water and lubricant vapors and other contaminants are removed with a variety of purification equipment used in combination. Coalescing filters are the most common form of compressed air purification.