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.
