02 February 2024
Compressed air may contain impurities such as solid particles, moisture and oil aerosols or vapor. High-quality air compressor line filters stop these impurities from contaminating your end products or damaging your equipment. The design of the filter housing and cartridge is optimized for minimized pressure drop at maximal flow, thus saving energy cost. With every line filter comes the right type of filter cartridge.
Why is the quality of line filter cartridges important?
A good air compressor line filter offers the perfect balance between highly efficient filtration and minimal pressure drop. For each type of contaminant, the right quantity of carefully selected filter media makes all the difference.
Line filters need to withstand the challenging conditions and pressure differences in a compressed air system. A stainless-steel core will offer the strength and corrosion resistance needed for a long service life.
What happens if filter cartridges are not replaced on time?
Timely line filter cartridge replacement ensures continued air quality and energy efficiency. If the cartridge is not replaced at least yearly, the filter may get clogged, causing a drop in air pressure. The longer this is left unattended, the more dramatically it can increase your energy costs and CO2 emissions.
Compressed air filters have a delicate channel structure. If this is allowed to degrade, contaminants such as oil will find their way through. As a result, air purity is compromised.
How do you know when it’s time to replace the air filter cartridge?
Line filters have service indicators that alert you when the pressure drop exceeds a preset value. This is a clear sign that the filter element is saturated and needs to be replaced.
On Atlas Copco’s Next-gen InPASS filters, a smart indicator shows an accurate read-out of the filter’s running hours, pressure differential and maintenance status. It can even send out an alert to a remote device.
What about manual inspection and cleaning of the filter?
Degradation of filtration material is a microscopic process that can’t be checked with the naked eye. Manual cleaning will destroy the delicate fiber layers, resulting in worse performance than before. Instead of saving money, your costs will increase and air quality will no longer be guaranteed.
Is it important to use genuine filter cartridges from the equipment manufacturer?
A non-genuine filter cartridge is not designed especially for your line filter and will therefore not be a 100% match. If it is cheaper, that probably means it is made with less or inferior filter material with a shorter lifespan. A less than perfect fit may cause leakage and increased pressure drop. Filter cores that are not built to withstand high pressure differences may collapse during operation.
Genuine filter cartridges are factory tested for optimal filtration. After each service intervention, they will uphold the initial air purity the filter was designed to deliver.
Because filtration is critical, Atlas Copco has assembled a dedicated team of experts working in close collaboration with research institutes. The ISO-certified quality of our extensive filter range is validated by independent certification bureaus.
