Air Compressor Design
- ACB North handle the design, planning, installation and ongoing maintenance of your compressed air installation.
- Getting the design right is important for creating a cost-effective and efficient installation.
- All of our engineers are factory-trained experts in air compressor technology.
Designing a compressed air system is complicated, there’s no denying it. There are a lot of factors to get right and a lot of elements that need to be properly thought through. Firstly, there’s the application. A compressor system that’s designed for the chemical and pharmaceutical industry will have completely different requirements to one designed for the food and beverage industry, for instance. Then there’s the output to consider; a system that produces more compressed air than needed will be un-resourceful and expensive, getting the size right is an important factor in creating an efficient and cost-effective system.
ACB North is here to handle every compressor concern you may have, from design and planning to installation, audits, maintenance and repair. But, if you want to think about compressor design yourself and get some ideas, here are a few essential factors to consider to get you started:
Compressed air quality
ISO 8573-1:2010 specifies purity classes of compressed air with respect to solid particles, water vapour and oil. These qualities are measured and are then ranked into classifications. 6 classes are outlined in the International Standards document, the “cleanest” being Class 0 and Class 1. Class 0 air is the cleanest choice and is specified in certain industries that require completely pure air for health and safety or hygiene reasons. Class 1 is technically an oil-free solution but the specifications allow a very small quantity of contaminants to be present.
The type of air quality you want to achieve will be dependent on your industry requirement and the purpose of your compressed air output. This will affect the type of compressor system you will choose, i.e. oil-free or lubricated, and will also play a huge part in your choice of downstream equipment including filtration, water separation, drying and other air treatment products.
Air compressor type
Each type of compressor technology has its own unique set of advantages and disadvantages, meaning a specific compressor type will likely be more suited to your requirements. When choosing a type, there are many technologies to choose from, some of the most popular include rotary screw compressors, rotary vane and reciprocating. Important factors to consider here are how much pressure and airflow you need and whether you have a constant or fluctuating demand.
Control system
You should also think about how you will control the system and what important information, functions and other capabilities you would like included. You may want to receive alert messages as well as warning signals and other safety procedures or you may want to have access to information and data to maximise the efficiency of your operation. Compressor control systems should always be thought about during the design and planning stage of installation. You can find out more about multi-controller management systems here.
Condensate removal
Condensate including dust, dirt and oil particles that are removed from compressed air needs to be properly disposed of in a safe way that is in line with industry regulations. Safe and proper condensate management mustn’t be treated as an afterthought. In fact, the Duty of Care Law 1991 actively requires safe treatment and disposal of any harmful waste that such persons or businesses produce. Therefore, condensate management is an integral part of the compressor system and should be carefully considered and planned as part of the overall system design.
If you’re looking to install a completely new compressor installation, or even if you want to make modifications or optimisations to your current installation, ACB North is here to help. We are an experienced air compressor distributor specialising in servicing, repairing, installing and maintaining your complete compressed air operation. To enquire about compressor design, speak to one of our expert engineers on 0114 398 4488 or use our ask an expert contact form.
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