Pharmaceutical Industry

INSTRUMENT QUALITY AIR – Oil Free is Preferred

The Instrument Society of America definition of "Instrument Quality" Air is:

• A maximum oil content of less than one part per million (by weight);
• The particle size in the air stream must be less than 40 microns; and
• The dew point must be 18ºF below the minimum temperature to which the air is exposed

AirNow oil free centrifugal compressors supplied with an associated refrigerated or desiccant dryer is an excellent choice for  supplemental or temporary source of clean dry instrument quality compressed air.  It should be noted that +40 degree dewpoint refrigerated dryers can be employed where ambient conditions are expected to be above 60 degrees F. Where ambient temperatures are expected below 60 degrees F, – 40 degree desiccant dryer can be utilized to ensure air being supplied meets or exceeds Instrument Air standard in low ambient operating conditions.

Instrument air quality is required in pneumatic process control systems, laboratories, powder coating, spray painting, packaging machines, automated production equipment ect.

PLANT AIR

The extensive use of compressed air in industry is second only to the use of water.  This air is used for tools, forges, hoists, conveyors, instruments and a host of other uses in the 100-125 PSIG range.  Needless to say, the loss of a plant’s compressed air supply can put a manufacturing facility completely out of production.  This is where the AirNow Fleet of Oil-Free high capacity rental compressors takes over. AirNow only rents the inherently oil-free Ingersoll-Rand CENTAC centrifugal plant air compressors, sizes ranging from 1,800 to over 21,000 CFM. We can normally have the equipment on the way within 24 hours of a call.  Our skid mounted units require only power hook-up, cooling water, a small amount of control air to start, and a discharge line to carry the compressed air to the plant system.

For example, a large Midwest foundry experienced a major explosion in their plant air system severely damaging the compressor house and shutting down the foundry.  The AirNow Compressor Fleet received the call at 4 p.m. for five (5) C-25’s.  The first two compressors arrived the next day.  Twenty-four hours after the call all five Centacs were on site and one was running!  Of course, AirNow cannot always promise this rapid service, but it is a good example of the effort we put into serving our customers’ needs in times of emergency. 

AirNow Compression Services has supplied plant air to refineries, glass plants, automobile assembly plants, appliance manufacturers and electric utilities just to name a few. 

PROCESS AIR

Compressed air is supplied in high volumes to facilitate the production of a wide variety of products. Typically this compressed air supply is required to be oil free, clean and dry as the air contacts the product during the manufactureing process. Process applications are typically continuous in nature with flow rates that can exceed 25,000 CFM at pressures of 20 to 100 psig.  AirNow Compression Services fleet of dynamic compressor rental packages are ideally suited for process applications that require additional temporary or supplemental process air.

Often process requirements may dictate the need to use a associated aftercooler and dryer to ensure proper compressed air quality is supplied to the process. Knowledge of the required process dew point will allow for proper selection of accessory equipment.