Intake Filters

Air filters are provided on compressor intakes to prevent atmospheric dust from entering the cylinders and causing scoring and excessive wear. The two most common types of elements in use are the VISCOUS IMPINGEMENT and the OIL BATH. Both types are illustrated in figure 11-10.

Figure 11-10.-Compressor intake filters.

In the oil bath type, air must pass through an oil seal that removes dirt particles, and then pass on through a wire mesh element, which is saturated by oil carry-over. Any remaining particles of dirt are removed by the wire mesh element. Captured dust particles settle to a sump at the bottom of the filter housing. Oil bath filters are recommended where dust concentrations are present in the atmosphere.

The viscous impingement filter consists of a wire mesh filter element, which is coated with oil. Air passing through the filter element must change directions many times, causing any dust to adhere to the oil film.

Silencers

Silencers are similar to mufflers and function simply to eliminate objectionable compressor suction noise. Figure 11-11 illustrates a standard

Figure 11-11.-Intake silencer.

intake silencer. Some compressors are equipped with the temperature between stages to that of the lowcombination filter-silencer units that have the filter pressure cylinder intake. Actually, intercooling has elements contained within the silencer housing. three purposes: to increase compressor efficiency, to prevent excessive temperatures within the compressor cylinders, and to condense out moisture from the air.

_Intercoolers 

When air is compressed to 100 psi without heat the final temperature is about 485F. Most intercoolers are either the shell and tube, loss, radiator-type heat exchangers. Figure 11-12 The air-to-water heat exchangers or the air-cooled increase in temperature raises the pressure of the air under compression, thus necessitating an in-illustrates a typical water-cooled inter-cooler. The crease in work to compress the air. After the air is air-cooled type is shown in figure 11-3. discharged into the receiver tank and lines, the temperature falls rapidly to near that of the Aftercoolers surrounding atmosphere, thereby losing part of the energy generated during compression. The ideal Moisture carried in air transmission lines is compressor would compress the air at a constant undesirable because it causes damage to airtemperature, but this is not possible. In multistage operated tools and devices. AFTERCOOLERS are compressors, the work of compressing is divided installed in compressor discharge lines to lower the between two or more stages, depending on the final air discharge temperature, thus condensing the discharge pressure required. An INTERCOOLER is moisture and allowing it to be removed. Also, the used between the stages to reduce the temperature cooling effect allows the use of smaller discharge of compression from each stage. Theoretically, the piping. A water-cooled aftercooler is illustrated in intercooler should be of sufficient capacity to reduce figure 11-13.

Figure 11-12.-Typical water-cooled intercooler.

Figure 11-13.-Typical water-cooled aftercooler.

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