The importance of compressed air servicing
November 2018
When it comes to maintaining a reliable and efficient compressed air system we often come back to the importance of following the OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers) recommended maintenance schedule and using genuine spare parts. In this blog post we have a look at some real examples of what we have actually seen happen when servicing has been neglected.
Have you ever considered what impact regular servicing, as well as the replacement consumables you choose have, on the on-going efficiency and reliability of your compressed air system? Compressed air is often a critical source of power to many businesses. If the compressed air system fails the consequences could be detrimental, from; long periods of downtime to loss of production and all of the associated costs this creates. Maintaining the reliability of your compressed air system is therefore vital when it comes to ensuring it delivers compressed air when and where you need it.
Below we have collated just three real examples of what we have seen happen when recommended service schedules have been neglected:
Example 1; broken drive coupling
example 1 - broken drive coupling
What are the possible reasons this happened?
There may be a number of possible causes to why a drive coupling would break such as; too frequent stop/starts, too frequent load cycle changes, lack of maintenance and the screw compressor airend seizing.
What can happen as a result?
The drive coupling breaking caused the compressor to shutdown.
How could this have been avoided?
Drive couplings should be inspected at every service. They have a maximum life in terms of operating hours and once this has been reached, they do need replacing.
Example 2; poor oil quality
example 2 - poor oil quality
What are the possible reasons this happened?
There may be a number of possible causes as to why oil quality would be poor such as; a high volume of condensate in the oil, too cold running which means the condensation can’t evaporate, infrequent running cycles, extreme humidity or lack of routine servicing.
What can happen as a result?
Poor oil quality can lead to excessive oil carryover, filter blockages, internal corrosion as well as lack of lubrication. This would create wear and could ultimately cause rotating equipment - such as the screw compressor airend- to seize.
How could this have been avoided?
Aside from correct sizing of the compressor and correct control mode selection, poor oil quality could be avoided by following the recommended maintenance schedule and oil sampling.
Example 3; blocked filter/coolers/dirty environments
example 3 - blocked filter / dirty environment
What are the possible reasons this happened?
Blocked filters may occur for a number of reasons including; lack of regular routine servicing, extreme - dirty - environments as well as poor compressed air efficiency which leads to less compressed air being available.
What can happen as a result?
Overall blocked filters can lead to overheating. The effective oil life significantly reduces as well as downtime due to over-temperature shutdowns. Higher internal temperatures will also place additional stresses on internal components/seals etc.
How could this have been avoided?
If the environment is extremely dirty then finding a better location may help in avoiding blocked filters, however frequent servicing would also be crucial.
Recommended maintenance schedules
One of the most important requirements of an industrial compressed air supply system is maximum availability. This is not only achieved by using the very best and most efficient components, but also by following the prescribed service and maintenance schedule. The above examples demonstrate what can go wrong when an OEM’s recommended maintenance schedule is not followed.
To ensure your compressed air equipment operates at the peak of its performance at all times and provides maximum production reliability, it is important to follow the manufacturer’s prescribed maintenance schedule. There are a number of checks which should be completed, and consumables which should be changed by a qualified Service Technician at prescribed maintenance visits which are key to the ongoing reliability and efficiency of your compressed air equipment.
It is also important to choose genuine OEM parts which have been designed, engineered and tested to ensure they are fit for purpose.
Enquire now
Is your compressed air system ready for a service? Phone 0800 447 820 or fill in the form below and we will get in contact with you.