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Failing to treat compressed air can cause serious harm, which can be analyzed mainly from the perspective of the main pollutants present in compressed air, including water, oil, dust, and bacteria. 1. Water: Since air already contains water, this water is incorporated into the compressed air product after compression by a compressor. If nothing is done to address this issue, and assuming a compressor discharge pressure of 8 barA, the dew point of the outlet pressure will normally be around 60°C TD. Once the compressed air enters the subsequent pipelines and cools down to room temperature, a large amount of water will condense out. Impact of water: ① It may carry away the lubricating oil in pneumatic equipment, resulting in reduced efficiency of the equipment or even damage to it ; ②Contamination of drugs due to direct contact with medications ; ③Stains caused by corroded pipelines contaminate the drugs ; ④During powder transportation, this can lead to a range of problems such as poor flow and blockages. 2. Oil: Oil contaminants have always been a challenge in compressed air purification; they arise either from the oil used for lubricating the compressor itself or from hydrocarbon contaminants present in the ambient air. If left unaddressed, they can have a severe impact on the system and production processes: ① Oil vapors that accumulate in storage tanks can form flammable substances, posing a risk of explosion ; ②Just a drop of oil can alter the condition of the orifices in a pneumatic valve, causing the sealing rings of the valve to swell, which leads to delayed operation or malfunctioning, and even blockage – potentially shutting down the production line ; ③The vaporized oil mist forms organic acids that cause corrosion to equipment and instruments ; ④It causes rusting of the system pipes; the accumulated rust can block the pipelines or contaminate subsequent systems ; ⑤It can directly contaminate drugs, and it easily causes problems such as poor powder transfer and blockages during the transfer process. 3. Dust: The dust present in compressed air is mainly brought in from the ambient air; if left untreated, it can also block pipelines, contaminate drugs, and affect the operation of pharmaceutical equipment ; 4. Microorganisms: Also introduced from the ambient air, their most direct hazard is contaminating or spoiling drugs, thereby severely affecting their quality.
Generally, even after water removal, oil separation, and purification of the air, filtration is still required.
Water and oil removal are the most important, but sterilization and dust removal are also quite crucial in the pharmaceutical industry. The level of cleanliness depends on the industry.