We’ve spoken about the importance of creating a compressor maintenance strategy. We’ve also highlighted the importance of using genuine parts and lubricants. But what actually happens in a compressed air system service?
With production reliant on compressed air, it's useful to know what to expect from a scheduled compressor service. The purpose of routine servicing is to keep it reliable and ensure it has a long operating life.
The exact service schedule details will depend on:
- The type of air compressor – oil-lubricated or oil-free, rotary, scroll, screw, piston etc.
- The make and model – CompAir, Hydrovane, BOGE, Atlas Copco, HPC, Mattei, ABAC and so on.
- The level of service is being carried out - major or minor.
- The current hours run.
Regardless of this, there are some common things checked, serviced & replaced.
Air compressor checks
- The service engineer will check the machine is running correct and there are no major issues with the compressor.
- As well as examining the internal components, the external panels are checked for mechanical damage.
- Checks for oil and air leaks can often show if there are any extra issues the engineer needs to know about.
- The engineer will examine the fault history of the machine using the controller.
- Oil and air filters get changed. The filters prevent particles from entering the compressor and causing internal damage. A filter may seem a small component, but it is far from insignificant. As soon as the condition of the filter starts to deteriorate, so does its performance in preventing contamination.
- The oil level is either topped up or changed, depending on the service. Lubricant in the air compressor has many jobs including cooling and sealing. The oil does degrade over time which is why it gets replaced. The replacement oil must match the specification required. For example, some food production companies used food-grade oil. It is also important the correct amount of lubricant gets added. Overheating can happen from too little oil, and damage to compression elements and valves with too much oil.
- Depending on the type of compressor, the oil separator will either get cleaned, inspected or replaced.
- If belts are fitted, they may need changing as they wear over time which reduces efficiency and can lead to the belt breaking.
To read on about downstream equipment checks and what the engineer does before leaving site, read the full blog on our website: https://www.directair.co.uk/news/what-happens-in-a-compressed-air-system-service/
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