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I would like to ask forum members: What factors determine the quality requirements for compressed air used in conducting airtightness tests on chemical processing containers and pipelines? Especially the oil content in compressed air. Which processes and which product requirements require the elimination of residual lubricant contamination? Are there any devices or products for which clear relevant standard specifications exist for the production process? I’ve encountered many cases where chemical plants require the use of oil-free air when pressurizing containers after major repairs; there are also many places that don’t impose such strict requirements, and still many others who don’t even know whether they need oil-free air or not. The compressed air rental market offers two types of products: oil-free air compressors and oil-injected air compressors, with the former costing significantly more to rent than the latter. Many small rental companies in the market purchase used, damaged oil-driven air compressors at low prices from the second-hand market, in order to compete on price for maintenance and pressure testing projects in chemical plants. Places that inherently require oil-free machines have thus been subjected to oil contamination from compressed air.
It’s best to use oil-free versions; otherwise, grease will accumulate on the pipe walls, and it may even be necessary to remove that grease