In today’s production environment, compressed air is widely used to automate processes, provide motive power, and package products. A clean, dry, reliable compressed air supply is essential to ensure manufacturing facilities maintain efficient and cost…

A tour of any modern manufacturing facility will uncover the extensive use of compressed air. 

Production managers and quality managers may not be aware of the potential hazards associated with this common utility. Untreated, compressed air entering a…

The four main types of compressed air dryers are refrigerated, chemical, desiccant, and membrane. It is important to understand how each drying technology works to learn which is best for your application. 

Refrigerated dryers work by cooling the air…

Several filtration techniques are used in the downstream sector of the oil and gas industry to ensure that samples are free of impurities for on-line process analyzers. These techniques include slipstream or bypass filtration, slipstream with coalescing…

Contaminants in samples are reported to be a major cause of problems with on-line analyzers used in the downstream sector of the oil and gas industry. On-line process analyzers such as gas and liquid chromatographs, ion chromatographs, laser optic instruments…

Compressed air is used in a broad range of applications in the food processing industry. These applications include mixing of ingredients, cutting, sparging, drying of product, transporting and propelling food through processing systems, and packaging…

In many food processing and wet processing applications, the presence of moisture in electrical cabinets, motor housings and related equipment can lead to a variety of costly problems including premature component failure and poor product quality. In…

Many instruments and controls operating in hazardous industrial environments require instrument grade compressed air to ensure effective operation. Without clean, dry air, quality control and process control systems may be subject to damage from water…

Compressed air is used in a wide range of industrial applications. Proper compressed air treatment is necessary to protect equipment and avoid production downtime and maintenance. In almost all applications throughout a manufacturing plant, the use of…

Compression of helium by an oil-sealed rotary screw compressor releases as much as 4,000 parts per million by weight (ppm) of liquid and vapor oil impurities into the helium gas. Any helium gas used for cryogenic applications must contain less than 0…

Compressed air is used throughout industrial manufacturing, often for applications that cannot be replaced by electricity. The drive to reduce energy consumption and costs creates a dilemma for manufacturing facilities with regard to compressed air treatment…

Snap open a bottle of beer and you will see, hear and feel the familiar fizz and bubbles. These sensations are the result of carbon dioxide (CO2), a colorless, odorless, non-combustible gas. While the main natural carbonation of beer occurs during the…

Many companies, including those in the food and beverage, pharmaceutical, cosmetics, manufacturing and electronics industries, recognize the negative effects on quality created by oil contact with their product during production. Product rejections and…

Often nicknamed manufacturing’s fourth utility alongside electricity, gas and water, compressed air is used in over 90% of the world’s manufacturing facilities. As with the other utilities, it is a critical cog in production processes. Its proper application…

ISO (International Standards Organization) is the world’s largest developer and publisher of international standards. There are three ISO standards that relate to compressed air quality and testing — ISO8573 Series, ISO12500 Series, and ISO7183…

Is your manufacturing plant's compressed air purity validated? Perhaps the methods you are employing to check the purity or quality of the air in your facility are only indicative? Is there a difference?

The answer to this last question is yes. There…

Compressed air is used throughout industrial manufacturing, often for applications that cannot be replaced by electricity. The drive to reduce energy consumption and costs creates a dilemma for manufacturing facilities with regard to compressed air treatment…

Is your manufacturing plant's compressed air purity validated? Perhaps the methods you are employing to check the purity or quality of the air in your facility are only indicative? Is there a difference?

The answer to this last question is, yes.…

ISO (International Standards Organization) is the world’s largest developer and publisher of international standards. There are three ISO standards that relate to compressed air quality and testing — ISO8573 Series, ISO12500 Series, and ISO7183…

Often nicknamed manufacturing’s fourth utility alongside electricity, gas and water, compressed air is used in over 90% of the world’s manufacturing facilities. As with the other utilities, it is a critical cog in production processes. Its proper application…

Many companies, including those in the food and beverage, pharmaceutical, cosmetics, manufacturing and electronics industries, recognize the negative effects on quality created by oil contact with their product during production. Product rejections and…

Many different published Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs) exist for compressed air used in food plants. Locating and making sense of them can be challenging. Employing the most critical elements from the published GMPs significantly reduces the risk…

Biogas is renewable energy stored in organic materials, such as plant matter and animal waste, known as biomass. Sources of biomass fuel include agricultural residue, food waste, sewage, energy crops, landfills and animal waste. Anaerobic digestion is…

Several technologies are available to remove condensed water and water vapor from a compressed air distribution system including aftercoolers, coalescing filters, air dryers, pressure reduction, water traps, and drip legs. This discussion will focus on…