The drawbacks of using rubber hoses to distribute compressed air
A rubber hose solution is something a temporary fix. We see this a lot in smaller facilities and workshops. People who rely on it are looking for something cheap and easy to set up. But it is our belief that they are neglecting actual cost efficiency and performance in favor of convenience.
If their workload increases, or they want to expand their facility, the rubber hose compressed air distribution method will not serve them well.
Here’s a few of the widely known problems with using rubber hoses:
- Rubber hoses aren’t designed to fit snugly on connectors and connecting points. A small amount of constant leakage occurs.
- Rubber hoses create safety hazards. The material cannot withstand highly pressurized air. It could burst and injure the operator, or anyone within the vicinity of the compressor room.
- Condensation and moisture build-up in the rubber hose will interfere with your equipment and your processes. It will also increase friction, which results in pressure drops.
- Rubber hoses don’t come in the right sizes. You will have trouble increasing the volume of compressed air you can distribute.
- Over time the hoses degrade rapidly and may introduce an odor into your products or processes.
Get a specialized compressed air piping kit instead
By avoiding having to compensate for pressured drops (i.e., raising discharge pressure at the air compressor end) the plant benefits. A 1 bar reduction in discharge pressure requirements on the air compressor can equate to a 6-10% reduction in energy consumption. This is direct cost savings.
Properly sized pipes need to be used to maximize pressure and flow while keeping energy costs as low as possible. Choosing the right size can only be done once your application’s compressed air demand is measured and analyzed.
What the pipe is made of matters too. Pipes are made from aluminum, copper, plastic, and other materials. Each material has its advantages and disadvantages and for any workshop or plant owner who intends to increase their productivity and their cost savings should consider consulting with someone who understands this.
And the future needs of your facility should be included in the design and planning. Making a final decision based solely on present day flow requirements could lead to difficulties and unexpected expenses in the future.
A degree of expertise and specialization is required when designing and installing the best compressed air piping for your workspace.
That’s why Atlas Copco R&D has produced a compressed air piping kit that is designed specifically to address all the concerns we’ve mentioned above. Read more about the AIRnet compressed air piping system here.
Or visit this page for FREE guides and reading materials that will inform your compressed air piping decisions.
You can also get in touch with us through the page and request that a team of our experts in the UAE visit your facility for a FREE inspection and consultation.
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