Compressed air is not inherently clean. Just like the surrounding environment, the air in the compressor system is full of various particles, aerosols and vapors. These particles, aerosols and vapors will contaminate the final process and products, and Damage to machines and other equipment.
This is where the compressed air filter comes in! Through a powerful filtering system, the quality of compressed air is improved and the efficiency of the system is improved at the same time. Keep in mind that the number and type of filters required will depend on the air quality required by your application or process. Let us now look at the different types of filters and some common problems that will help you choose the right filter for your compressor system.

Compressed air filter type
First of all, what is a compressed air filter? The answer is simple. It is an auxiliary compressed air device that helps to remove any unwanted and potentially harmful pollutants from the compressed air; as mentioned above, these pollutants can be aerosols, particles or vapors. Particles are tiny solid particles such as dust, dirt, metal particles and pollen produced by pipe corrosion. Aerosols are small droplets (ie oil and/or water, depending on the type of compressor), while vapors are liquids that have been converted into gases.
Compressed air filters are divided into three categories: coalescing filters, steam removal filters and dry particle filters. Although each type ultimately produces the same result (removal of pollutants), the three types have different modes of action.

● Coalescing filter
The coalescing filter removes water, oil and aerosols from the air while preventing pollutants from entering the air again. These filters can also remove particulates from compressed air and trap them in the filter media, but if they are not replaced regularly, they may cause a pressure drop. Coalescing filters can remove most of the pollutants very well, reducing the particle concentration to 0.1 microns and the liquid concentration to 0.01 ppm.

● Steam removal filter
The working principle of the steam removal filter is adsorption. They usually use activated carbon particles, carbon cloth or paper to remove lubricating oil aerosols. Vapor removal filters work well after the coalescing filter because they can capture and remove the gas lubricant that will pass through the coalescing filter.

● Dry particle filter
Dry particle filters are usually used to remove desiccant particles after adsorption dryers. Dry particle filters work in the same way as coalescing filters.

What filter is suitable for my air compressor
Not all compressed air applications are the same! Different applications require different levels of filtration, so to choose the right type of filter for your compressor system, you need to really understand your application. For example, if compressed air is used for power processes in the pharmaceutical or food and beverage industries, you will most likely need higher quality compressed air than using compressed air to drive pneumatic tools or fill tires. Also, consider how important energy efficiency is to your equipment! Lower energy consumption leads to lower electricity bills. High-efficiency filters can produce very clean air (for example, to remove particles smaller than 0.01 microns) while minimizing pressure drop.

Do I need to replace the compressed air filter？

● Whether the service life of the equipment has expired
● Does the air audit show that the air quality is below acceptable limits?
● Whether the pressure drop exceeds an acceptable level
● Does the pressure drop exceed the manufacturer's change point
Answering "yes" to any of these questions indicates that it is time for a new filter. Many people also consider replacing the filter element before the recommended pressure drop or air quality problem occurs, because the energy cost of lowering the air pressure may be higher than the energy cost of replacing the new filter.