4 Advice to Choose a inline compressed air filter

Compressed air systems require air filters to get best results and meet clean air requirements. To determine which air filtration system, you should refer to your equipment manufacturer's specifications for flow rate and cleanliness requirements. This can sometimes be vague and very confusing; it's important to have someone walk you through the steps needed to determine these factors so you can be assured your system is running as efficiently as possible. Let's talk about how to select the right compressed air filter.

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In this article, we'll how discuss the steps it takes to pick the right compressed air filter for your system:

1. ISO Requirements and the Right Air Filter for You
   
2. How to Pick the Right Filter
   
3. Compressed Air Schematic
4. Talk to the Compressed Air System Experts

ISO Requirements and the right Air filter for You

When it comes to air filtration, there are some standards that can be referenced to make this process easier. Many manufacturers provide vague descriptions when discussing the kind of air your system needs "Clean, dry air required" - there is more to it. Fortunately, some manufacturers use ISO standards to provide clarity for air cleanliness. The ISO chart below will help you when selecting an air filtration package:

If it looks daunting - we understand and are here to help. Generally speaking, the ISO standard provides different classes to each category; addressing particulates, water content, and oil content. If your application or equipment does not call out air cleanliness specs, a good rule of thumb is class 4 across all three categories as a minimum requirement. Many applications may require higher quality air when meeting class 2 or better becomes the most effective target when building or improving your overall air system and components.

How to Pick the Right Air Filter

Picking the right air filter depends on a few things: the flow rate, port size, your system's requirements as mentioned above, and the contaminants you need filtered out for your application to perform as intended. We have a variety of filter options and packages available for compressed air systems such as water separators, oil coalescing filters, and activated carbon filters.

Give us a call or an and we can answer all the questions you have about your unique situation.

Compressed Air Schematic

Our compressed air schematic walks you through the location for dryers and air filtration needed for your air system. Fine-tuning your air system to meet the needs of your equipment requires thoughtful consideration to equipment-air cleanliness requirements, work area location in the air system, and flow demands.

The Tsunami Air System Schematic is available for download and can be kept easily accessible for when these system changes are necessary. Fill out the form below for your printable download copy: 

Talk to the Compressed Air System Experts

Tsunami is here for you while you are on your compressed air filter journey. For over 40 years, Tsunami has set the industry standard for quality compressed air filtration and drying solutions. From start to finish, we walk you through the air filters we have, what your system requires, and work together with you to solve any problems or concerns with your air. We know our air filters inside and out, and can give you recommendations for the proper package to fulfill your filtration system needs. If you need somewhere to start before we chat, we recommend checking out our site and taking a look at our compressed air schematic.

Inline compressed air filters are vital for having clean air for your applications and pneumatic tools. However, it can be difficult when trying to decide. Understanding the contaminants in your air supply and which filter types can remove them is the first step in selecting the right inline air filter for your system.

In this article, we'll answer the following questions:

1. How Does Compressed Air Become Contaminated?
   
2. What are Inline Air Filters Used to Remove?
   
3. How do Inline Air Filters Work?
4. What is Considered Optimal Air Quality?
   
5. Choosing the Right Inline Compressed Air Filter Setup for Your System

How does Compressed air become contaminated?

A poor air supply can be caused by multiple sources. For example, compressed air can become contaminated from dirty ambient air, humidity, oils leaking from the air compressor, corroded air lines, and even from the air filter itself. Understanding the contaminants and their origin is a good starting point for shops experiencing poor air.

The majority of the contaminants found in an air system are:

• Liquid water
• Water vapor (humidity)
• Oils
• Oil vapor
• Dust
• Dirt
• Aerosols

The dust and tiny particles in the ambient air around you are the same contaminants that can enter your system while it is running. Contaminants are different-sized microns and can cause varying kinds of damage depending on their form.

Compressed air can also become contaminated from oils within the air compressor, corroded air pipes, and poorly maintained air filters.

Compressed air filters pull out the bulky contaminants - like dust particles, particulates, oils, and liquid water - to prevent equipment damage and maintain air system performance.

Are you interested in learning more about hydraulic driven air compressors? Contact us today to secure an expert consultation!

What are inline air filters used to remove?

Inline air filters for air compressors effectively remove liquid water, oils, oil vapors, dust, dirt, aerosols and other bulky particulates. There are three types of air filters designed to remove certain contaminants:

1. Water separators
2. Oil Coalescing filters
3. Activated Carbon Filters

1. Water Separators

Water separators are designed to remove large particulates and liquid water.

2. Oil Coalescing filters

Oil coalescing filters pull out oil vapors, small and fine particulates, and bulk oils from the air stream.

3. Activated Carbon filters

Activated carbon filters eliminate odors, tastes, and remove aerosols from the air flow.

How do inline Air filters work?

Each of the three filters - oil coalescing, water separators, and activated carbon - are designed to target specific kinds of contaminants. To get the clean, dry air needed for your application it may require one, two, or even three air filters. This is dependent on which contaminants should be filtered out for your system to work the way it's intended.

These filters work by removing contaminants at a specific micron size: microns are particles that cannot be seen by the human eye. Depending on the amount of air filters installed on a system, the contaminants of different micron sizes filtered out can help the air become clean and dry, or just clean. There are ISO regulations that detail the class, particle sizes, and the pressure they can withstand. This is important to refer to when choosing the right compressed air filter for you.

What is considered optimal air quality?

Air quality requirements are different for every system. There isn't a one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to filtration for equipment - air quality requirements are different for every system. The way to find the filtration required for your air compressor system, is by reading the fine print on the machine and consider the application it is being used for.

There's also a set of standard ISO -05 regulations required for some industries.

It's important to know the filtration needed for specific air systems so they operate at their highest efficiency and do not dysfunction prematurely from not having the right inline air filter.

Download our air system schematic to understand how each air filter pulls out contaminants and how they pair with the most common air dryers.

choosing the right Inline Compressed Air Filter setup for your system

There are a few considerations to make before purchasing an inline compressed air filter package:

1. The specific air requirements for your machine or application
2. The ISO requirements of your system or industry
3. The desired outcome of the product or process
4. Other air treatments in place, such as drains, dryers and other filters

We recommend some initial investigation of your compressed air needs and cleanliness goals. Here's a guided checklist to get started on selecting the right inline compressed air filter:

• Refer to the list above to determine the air cleanliness goals and needs for your system.
• From there, determine the air demand of your system (10 CFM, 25 CFM , 50 CFM etc..) so the filters can be sized properly. Note: Purchasing larger filters does not mean cleaner air, they will only add cost to your operations.
• Finally, make sure to choose an air filter that is of higher quality and fits your maintenance schedule. Investing in cheaper products will only add headaches to your operations as they need to be replaced more often.

Ensuring Optimal Performance with the Right Inline Compressed Air Filter

Selecting the right inline compressed air filter is a crucial step towards ensuring the efficiency and longevity of your pneumatic tools and applications. As we’ve explored, understanding the variety of contaminants in your air supply and the specific requirements of your system is fundamental. Inline air filters, ranging from water separators to oil coalescing filters and activated carbon filters, each play a distinct role in purifying your air supply.

Remember, the key to achieving optimal air quality lies not just in selecting the right filter type, but also in considering factors such as your system’s specific air requirements, ISO standards, and the desired outcome of your product or process. It’s not a one-size-fits-all situation; each system requires a unique combination of filters to meet its specific needs.

In conclusion, we recommend conducting a thorough assessment of your compressed air needs and cleanliness goals, followed by consulting with a compressed air professional. This approach ensures that you invest in a high-quality, appropriately sized filter setup that aligns with your maintenance schedule, leading to enhanced system performance and reduced operational costs.