A Guaranteed Solution to
Food Grade Compressed Air

General Systems

It is often believed that the compressed air purification equipment required is dependent upon the type of compressor used. In fact, the contamination in a compressed air system (dirt, water and oil) comes from many sources such as, the ambient air, compressor lubricants, corrosion of the distribution piping and microbiological growth in the warm, moist air. A common misconception is that by installing an 'oil free' compressor there is no need for downstream filtration. However the term 'oil free' simply means that oil is not used in the compression chamber and therefore does not come into contact with the air being compressed. Even with an oil-free compressor, filtration will be required to remove dirt, condensed water and oil vapour drawn into the compressor intake as well as dirt present from the distribution system.

Coalescing Filters

Aerosols (droplets) of oil and water are removed using coalescing type filters which have the additional benefit of removing solid particulate to very low levels (as small as 0.01micron in size). In a typical oil lubricated compressed air system, up to 99.5% of the liquid removed by coalescing filters is water.

Adsorption Filters

Oil vapour will pass through the coalescing filter just as easily as the compressed air itself. Oil Vapour Removal (OVR) filters provide a large bed of activated carbon adsorbent for the removal of oil vapours and provide final protection against oil contamination.

Refrigeration Dryers

Refrigeration dryers provide water vapour removal with a pressure dewpoint of +3°C. Ideal for general purpose compressed air and air not in direct contact with food.

Adsorption Dryers

Adsorption dryers provide water vapour removal with a pressure dewpoint of -40°C (-70°C optional). A compressed air dewpoint of less than -26°C will inhibit the growth of microorganisms within the compressed air system.

Microbiological Filters

Where HACCP has established a risk, specific filtration is available to provide sterile compressed air. Steam sterilisable High Flow Tetpor filters provide absolute removal of microorganisms.

Compressed Air and its purification

Compressed Air and Gas sampling

Airchannel recommends that regular analysis of your compressed air and gas system as part of a complete air quality program will increase long term system efficiency and will reduce costs. All of our technicians are qualified to carry out the following in line with the food grade code of practice:

• Air quality testing
• Ultrasonic air and gas leak detection
• Particle counting
• Pressure and temperature testing

This state of the art test uses samplers based on slit to agar impaction. The units sample air or compressed gas for the presence and enumeration of viable micro-organisms. These samplers operate by drawing in air or gas at a fixed flow rate. A volume of 1 cubic metre is sampled during a calibrated period (typically 1 hour). The air or gas accelerates to a sufficiently high velocity to give maximum validated recovery of impacted organisms on the agar surface during this period of time. After appropriate incubation, the growth on the plated medium can be interpreted not only quantitatively but also from a real time occurrence of contamination. This can prove invaluable in pinpointing which event during a manufacturing process has raised the environmental bioburden above acceptable limits. Once identified these areas can be scrutinised and appropriately addressed. Benefits of Slit to Agar Impaction.

• Tried and tested technology
• Effective capture method with a validated rate of recovery
• Pinpoint isolation timing
• Reduced risk of double impingement