Summertime has landed in Pakistan along with the heat and high humidity (as high as 90% in some areas) - both of which can take a toll on people and machines. High temperatures combined with additional condensate in the air can cause strain on performance – unless you’re prepared. That’s why it’s important that facility and maintenance managers take time now to prepare for the increased strain your machines will face in coming months.
With summer here and temperatures and humidity on the rise, your compressed air system will experience additional water loading on the air treatment equipment. There is 650% more water in the air at the highest summer compressor operating conditions compared to winter months. That’s why it’s critical to prepare your air compressors for some of the most challenging conditions they’ll face. Here are a couple of quick, easy steps you can take to ensure your compressed air system is ready for summer.
1. Clean air and oil filters
Having a clean air conditioning filter is essential to keeping your home cool along with a properly working AC unit, and the same holds true for your air compressor; a compressor runs cooler and uses less energy when air filters are clean. Dirty, clogged filters can lead to pressure drops, which causes the compressor to run at higher levels to accommodate the demand. Filter performance can also be affected by additional moisture, so it’s important to follow regular maintenance schedules and add supplementary checks for seasonal changes.
2. Check ventilation
3. Check drains
Higher humidity (especially in coastal country) in the summer causes more condensate to come out of the drains. Make sure drains are clear and in working order so they can handle the increased flow. Because the condensate is sometimes mixed with compressor oil, the water should be treated before being released directly into the drain. Check the treatment units’ filters and separation tanks to make sure they are still operational. It’s a good idea to have a replacement service kit nearby to eliminate any downtime during maintenance.
4. Clean coolers
Imagine running in the summer heat with a sweater on; it’s going to impact the way you sweat and how your body regulates its temperature. The same is true for your air compressor. Blocked or clogged coolers can cause an air compressor to overheat on hot summer days. Get ahead of this before it becomes a problem by making sure coolers are clean and in good operational condition.
5. Tweak water cooling systems
On water-cooled compressors, adjust the temperature of the water entering the system to compensate for increased ambient temperatures and to ensure that it is adequate for summer conditions.
6. Check VSD
If you are using a variable speed drive (VSD) compressors, make sure to replace the cubicle filters of your VSD units which would protect the VSD drive from overheating with dust build up, in order to avoid failures and machine breakdown in summer.
Taking a few extra steps to make sure your machines are ready for summer means that they’ll reward you by continuing to work hard for your process.
Atlas Copco provide our clients with solutions for all service needs for compressed air system, if these items on your to-do list take precedence, simply reach out to Atlas Copco. We’ll be happy to assist and make sure that your compressor is ready for the summer.
