Compressed air quality testing equipment

Measuring moisture was a real challenge for a long time and, if you are using a very old compressed air dryer, there is a good chance that it does not feature an accurate moisture content sensor.

A very inexpensive option to use is a moisture indicator, which can be installed anywhere in your system downstream from an air dryer (up to the point of use). A color change from blue to pink indicates that the moisture level is on the rise. It is important to note that this is only an indication and not an accurate measurement. 

On the other end of the spectrum in terms of cost is the chilled mirror technology, which is also the most accurate but also very sensitive. Here, a chilled mirror and an optoelectronic mechanism are used for detecting condensation on the mirror’s surface. 

These devices are not only expensive but also require frequent cleaning, a trained operator, and periodic calibration to maintain their high level of accuracy. As a result, they are not used for continuous moisture measurement and have also become an increasingly less popular option for audit purposes.  

There are various technologies that allow you to measure the oil content in your compressed to ensure that you are in compliance with the applicable air quality standards. 

The final technology you can employ is gas chromatography, a process often used in analytical chemistry to test the purity of a particular substance, such as compressed air in this case. This is the only method that can be used to ensure that you are in compliance with even the most stringent air quality requirements. 

Particles are counted optically, e.g. with a laser. This laser monitors a sampling of the air. However, it is very important to get the sample right, especially when a very high air quality has to be achieved (ISO 8573-1 class 1).