Month: February 2009

The answer to this question when it comes to powering a compressed air tool is that it really depends on what it is you want to operate.  If you have some tiny die grinder or very small air nozzle, the answer might be yes, it would work to an acceptable level.

Being a company that supplies compressed air operated tools for a wide variety of applications means we have product that spans a large range of air consumption requirements. And, to the novice user, it may seem like they can simply plug anything into any size compressed air hose and it should work, right?   Well, this is not so.

In many conversations I have with customers, I compare compressed air and its flow to electricity with the following concepts:
1. Pressure = Voltage
2. Flow (SCFM) = Amperage
3. Compressed air line size = Wire gauge
4. Restrictions to flow = Resistor
5. Receiver tank = Capacitor

The reason I attempt to draw the above parallels is that it seems more folks are familiar with electricity. So, we try to go from the known to the unknown.

By increasing the wire gauge (pipe size), eliminting the resistors in the system (restrictions) and including a capacitor in the circuit (receiver tank), you can make the overall function of the compressed air system and the end use items all work much more efficiently and effectively for your application needs.

If you find yourself stuck in an application where maybe you have less than desirable performance, give us a call or send us an e-mail. We will be glad to help walk you through the trouble-shooting procedure. Who knows, the solution to your problem might be as simple as removing that 1/4″ quick connect fitting from your compressed air line or changing an undersized hose.

Besides having a fairly wide ranging catalog of compressed air products, we do have lots of experience we can draw upon to help you understand the right mindset and direction to take when things may not go so well right off the bat.

Neal Raker
Application Engineer
nealraker@exair.com

It’s the sound of your compressed air leaking from your pipe joints, couplings, tube and pipe fittings, filters, regulators and quick disconnects. But here is the secret – you can’t really hear it unless it is a very large leak!

Step number two in Six Steps to Optimization is:
     1. Measure your air consumption
     2. Locate and fix any compressed air leaks in the system
     3. Upgrade your end use blow off applications with engineered products
     4. Turn off the compressed air when not needed for production
     5. Use intermediate storage of compressed air near the point of use
     6. Control the pressure at the point of use to minimize consumption

Not fixing your compressed air system leaks can cause your system pressure to fluctuate and affect your equipment negatively. It may cause you to run a larger compressor than necessary for your compressed air needs and raise your total costs. Or it could cause your cycle and run times to increase which leads to increased maintenance to the entire system.

The best tool for locating these pesky little leaks is an Ultrasonic Leak Detector which converts the ultrasonic sound of a pressurized leak to an audible tone. It is an important tool to begin locating and fixing compressed air leaks. These leaks can contribute to 25% of your compressor capacity if left unattended!

EXAIR’s Ultrasonic Leak Detector is a great tool to begin an air leak program and get these costs under control. It allows you to locate the leaks you would never hear otherwise. It is easy to operate and is low cost.

For mor information about a leak detection program go to the Compressed Air Challenge Factsheet

Kirk Edwards
Application Engineer
kirkedwards@exair.com