Compressor Maintenance - Compressed air is an inevitable part of any industrial segment starting from aircraft and automobiles to dairies, fish farming, and textiles. It runs tools and machineries, provides power for material handling systems, and ensures clean, refreshing air in polluted environments. As compressed air system is crucial for industrial and commercial operations, the maintenance of compressor is vital too.
The contemplation of using compressor to transmit energy began to take root in the 1800s. The metal manufacturing plants were getting bigger and trying to reduce their reliance on stream. In the 1820s, a plant powered by compressed air and water was built in Wales. The first success at transmitting energy, on a large scale, by compressed air, took place in the Alps in the 1850s.
There are number of steps to be followed for the maintenance of a compressor. They are summarised below:
1. The compressor must be turned off before servicing. 2. The cleanliness of the compressor oil must be maintained. The oil must be changed according to the manufacturer's suggestions. Besides, high quality oil must be used in the compressor and sampling must be carried out every month. 3. The other maintenance issues of a compressor are to retain the cleanliness of air inlet filters, keep the motor belts tight and to lessen leakages in the compressor.
The negligence on the part of the maintenance of the compressor may poison the entire air system, which may subsequently lead to various other problems. The pressure of the compressor must be at its highest level for its efficient functioning, as the leaks in distribution piping and contaminated dryer heat exchanger may cause the lowering of pressure at the time of operation. Moreover the malfunctioning of compressor air dryer may bring water in the pipelines. So it is necessary to change the compressor air dryer whenever required. Then the improper pressure switch setting may lead to excessive load per hour ratio. This can be rectified by adjusting the setting in accordance to the manufacturer's requirements. Further, another vital problem of compressor which is caused due to its improper maintenance is restricted air flow, lowering of the level of oil and its flow of oil too. The restricted airflow can be remedied by clean cooler exterior and checking of inlet filter mats. The level of the oil can be maintained by checking the level regularly and adding oil if necessary. Finally, the restricted flow of oil can be rectified by removing the restriction or changing necessary parts.
The above lines clearly delineate some basic problems of compressor and how it can be rectified and properly maintained for its efficient functioning.
Compressor Maintenance
