Identify Real Compressed Air Savings Through EXAIR’s Efficiency Lab

Published on by Tyler DanielLeave a comment

Many customers may not have the means to test the air consumption of their blowoff solutions. With compressed air being the most expensive utility in a manufacturing facility, it’s important to identify places where you can save money on your overall operating costs. EXAIR manufactures a wide variety of products intended to help you reduce your compressed air usage. If you’re not able to accurately measure the consumption in your own shop, we invite you to send the products to EXAIR for testing. With EXAIR’s Award-Winning Efficiency Lab, just simply box them up and send them to our warehouse in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Once we receive it, our engineers will complete some in-depth testing to determine the compressed air consumption, sound level, and force that your current solution provides. With this information, we’ll be able to compare it to an EXAIR Engineered Solution. This way, we ensure that you receive the best, safest solution possible also capable of saving money through reduced air consumption and improved efficiency.  We’ll send you back a comprehensive report that’ll help you to make the best decision for your company.

I’ve recently been working with a customer that sent in one of the nozzles they’re using across all their CNC machines. They wanted us to test it out and see if we’d be able to offer them something that could reduce their overall compressed air usage. The nozzle was one of the cheap plastic varieties and was attached to a commonly used modular hose. This type of modular hose is not designed for operating under high pressures. These hoses are more suitable for liquid coolant or air that is at or below atmospheric pressure.

After testing, we found that at 80 psig the nozzle consumed 3.85 SCFM and produced a force of 1.92 oz. We also noticed that after 60 psig, the nozzle began to leak due to a poor seal where the nozzle met the brass hex. The EXAIR nozzle most suitable to replace this was the 1108SS. At just 2.5 SCFM at 80 psig, replacing the plastic nozzle with an engineered solution saves them 35% of their overall consumption for this blowoff. With close to 1000 of these nozzles in operation, the air savings can add up quickly!!

In addition to increasing efficiency, replacing these nozzles also greatly increases overall worker safety. The sound level is reduced from 73 dBA to just 58 dBA and EXAIR’s nozzles also adhere to OSHA 1910.242(b). The plastic nozzles could be dead-ended, posing a hazard that can result in costly fines. These fines are assessed per infraction, so having multiple non-compliant nozzles can easily get very expensive if you’re subject to an unannounced visit by an OSHA inspector.

If you think you may have an opportunity to improve upon your existing blowoff methods, give us a call. We’ll be happy to take a closer look and have you send the product back to EXAIR for a quick trial in our Efficiency Lab. You’ll be glad you did!

Tyler Daniel, CCASS

Application Engineer

E-mal: TylerDaniel@exair.com

Twitter: @EXAIR_TD

Compressed Air Wet Receivers and Condensate Drains: Keeping your Systems Running Clean and Efficient

Published on by Jordan T ShouseLeave a comment

Compressed air systems are the backbone of countless industries and operations, from powering tools to cleaning, cooling and drying products in process. But behind the scenes, components like the wet receiver and condensate drain play pivotal roles in ensuring these systems deliver clean, reliable air. If you’re involved in facility management, maintenance, or just curious about how compressed air systems tick, understanding these elements can make all the difference. Let’s break it down!

What is a Wet Receiver in Compressed Air Systems?

In a compressed air setup, a receiver is a storage tank that holds pressurized air after it’s been compressed but before it’s distributed to the point of use. A wet receiver, specifically, is positioned downstream of the compressor but before the air dryer or major filtration stages. This means it stores “wet” compressed air—air that still contains moisture, oil, and other contaminants picked up during compression.

The “wet” designation comes from the fact that the air hasn’t been treated yet. As air is compressed, it heats up, and when it cools in the receiver, moisture condenses into liquid water. The wet receiver acts as a buffer, smoothing out pressure fluctuations and giving that moisture a place to settle before the compressed air moves further down the line. Think of it as a staging area that helps protect downstream equipment from surges and contaminants.

Condensate Drain

As air cools in the wet receiver, water vapor turns into liquid condensate—often mixed with traces of oil and dirt. If this condensate isn’t removed, it can corrode the receiver, clog pipes, or damage tools and equipment downstream. The condensate drain is the unsung hero that gets rid of this unwanted liquid.

Typically mounted at the bottom of the wet receiver , the drain can be manual, automatic, or timer-based:

  • Manual drains require someone to open a valve periodically.
  • Automatic float drains open when enough liquid accumulates.
  • Electronic timer drains release condensate at set intervals.

No matter the type, the goal is the same: keep the system dry and free of buildup.

A well-maintained wet receiver and condensate drain mean cleaner air, longer equipment life, and lower operating costs. Wet air can cut tool efficiency by 20% or more, while corrosion from neglected condensate can force early replacements for all downstream equipment. On the flip side, a little attention to these components keeps your compressed air system humming—and your bottom line happy.

Next time you hear the hiss of a pneumatic tool or the hum of a compressor, think about the wet receiver and condensate drain. They’re not flashy, but they’re indispensable.

Jordan Shouse
Application Engineer

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Twitter: @EXAIR_JS

Photo: Blue Air Receiver Attribution – CC BY-ND 2.0

Laminar vs. Turbulent Flow

Published on by jasonkirbyLeave a comment

EXAIR frequently distinguishes between laminar and turbulent flow when addressing our blow-off products. I will succinctly explain the differences between these two types of airflow, with the aim of enhancing our collective understanding. In any blow-off application, laminar airflow proves to be significantly more efficient in minimizing pressure drops, effectively displacing products, and lowering noise levels compared to turbulent airflow.

Laminar flow refers to a type of airflow characterized by a consistent velocity and direction throughout the entire volume of air in a specified area. Essentially, this means that the air movement near a solid surface occurs in straight lines that run parallel to that surface.

Laminar airflow is effective in minimizing turbulence; however, the presence of devices or materials on the surface can inadvertently generate swirls within the workspace. Turbulent flow is inherently chaotic and can interfere with tasks that necessitate a dust-free environment, potentially resulting in contamination. Additionally, obstructions such as items left within enclosures can contribute to this undesirable situation.

An excellent illustration of an EXAIR product that provides laminar airflow is the Super Air Knife. This innovative tool presents a highly efficient method for cleaning, drying, or cooling components, webs, or conveyors. It generates a consistent sheet of laminar airflow that exerts a uniform force throughout its entire length, ensuring effective performance across all applications.

Turbulent airflow is defined by its chaotic and irregular fluid dynamics, contrasting sharply with laminar flow, where fluids glide in orderly, parallel layers. In turbulent conditions, both the speed and direction of the fluid fluctuate continuously, resulting in the formation of eddies and swirls throughout the flow.

If you have questions about laminar or turbulent airflow, please do not hesitate to reach out.

Jason Kirby
Application Engineer
Email: jasonkirby@exair.com
Twitter: @EXAIR_jk

Heavy Duty Dry Vac System: Overview

Published on by John BallLeave a comment

EXAIR manufactures a range of industrial pneumatic drum vacuums geared towards cleaning up the messes you’ll find in just about any environment.  They are safe, quiet, and do not have any moving parts or electric motors to wear.  These are workhorses with a long history of durability and reliability. The Industrial Housekeeping Products offer systems suitable for use with dry materials and wet materials, as well as one capable of handling both.  In this blog, I will cover our Heavy Duty Dry Vac System. 

For dry materials, a common issue generated by the dust is premature electrical motor failure.  In many electrically powered vacuums, the motor bearings will fail and wear out.  Typically, this results in a loud screeching noise.  EXAIR’s Heavy Duty Dry Vac System has NO moving parts to wear out, doesn’t require maintenance, and needs nothing but a source of compressed air to operate.  A static-resistant hose is standard which prevents painful shocks when working with dry, dusty materials.  The Heavy Duty Dry Vac is constructed of hardened alloy steel designed to provide superior abrasion resistance.  It is able to produce a powerful vacuum with a level of -60” H2O (-15 Kpa) at 80 PSIG (5.5 bar).  So, it can be used with sandblasting material, garnet, and steel shot.  The bag filter is efficient and durable to keep the dust inside the drum while allowing the air to escape.

Depending on your application and the volume of material you need to vacuum, we provide three different sizes; 30-gal, 55-gal, and 110-gal drums.  Each drum uses the same Heavy Duty Vacuum which uses only 68 SCFM (1,924 SLPM) of compressed air at 80 psig (5.5 bar).  We offer different packages for each drum to help accommodate your application.  We have the standard package which will include the drum lid with the required hardware, a side latching lever lock, a shutoff valve, a filter bag, 10 feet (3 meters) of static-resistance vacuum hose, hose hanger, 20 feet (6 meters) of compressed air hose, a pressure gauge, and aluminum chip wand.  We then move up to the Deluxe package, which will include everything in the standard package plus a drum dolly, heavy-duty aluminum tools, and a toolholder.  The next package is the Premium package, which includes everything in the Deluxe package plus a steel drum.

From March to May 2025, EXAIR will be giving a complimentary gift for qualified orders when purchasing any of EXAIR’s Industrial Housekeeping Systems, including the Heavy Duty Dry Vac System.  You will receive a model 6492 Vac-U-Gun Kit, a $174.00 value, for free.  The Vac-U-Gun can easily be converted from a blow-off gun into a vacuum gun by simply switching the generator inside.  For U.S. and Canadian customers, EXAIR offers a 30-day unconditional guarantee to try these out.  You will not be disappointed.  If you need more details, you can contact an Application Engineer at EXAIR.  We will be happy to hear from you. 

John Ball
Application Engineer
Email: johnball@exair.com
Twitter: @EXAIR_jb