Time is of the essence in automotive workshops, manufacturing facilities, and other industrial settings. It is counterproductive to check for condensed moisture and remove it manually amidst the busy schedules.
An air compressor auto drain is essential because it automates this mundane task, promoting efficiency. It is also normal to forget to drain moisture amidst a chaotic work schedule. This often leads to expensive damage and reduced compressed air pressure.
The working mechanism of the air compressor auto drain is fairly simple. It is designed to detect and automatically remove condensate, oil, dust, and debris to protect the air compressor from internal damage.
Auto drain eliminates condensate and oil by opening a valve, either in specific intervals or upon water levels crossing a certain threshold. The foolproof mechanism of the air compressor auto drains eliminates the risk of humans forgetting to drain the tank at the end of the day.
As the name suggests, these valves drain condensate in fixed intervals. The timer can be set according to usage frequency. For maximum convenience and efficiency, you must turn two dials accurately, namely the interval and the discharge. While the former decides how often the valve opens, the latter determines how long it stays open.
Mechanical drain valves rely on an internal buoy system. This means they don’t need a power source to function. When the water inside the tank rises, so does the buoy or the float. This upward motion of the float opens the valve, discharging the accumulated condensation. When the water level reduces, the internal float goes down, effectively closing the valve again.
Known for its zero-loss technology, this auto drain type relies on electronic sensors to open and close drains. When the water reaches a certain level, the sensor sends a signal to the controller, which in turn opens and closes the valve. These drains are referred to as ‘zero loss sensors’ because they prevent any loss of compressed air during condensate draining.
The auto drain valves are installed at the lowest point of the vessel or pipe to ensure maximum efficiency. Here are some key areas where auto drain valves are installed in compressed air systems.
Proper placement of auto drain valves is crucial to prevent loss of compressed air. Moreover, it promotes reduced manual maintenance.
Timer drain and mechanical drain valves result in minimal compressed air to some extent. Since timer drains open at fixed intervals, irrespective of the condensate levels, minimal compressed air loss is inevitable.
It is important to set the interval correctly for minimal compression loss. The electronic sensing valves are the best option for zero-loss operations. They open only when the condensate reaches a specific level and even close immediately thereafter to prevent compressed air wastage.
The answer to this question is very subjective. For small-scale applications, timer drain valves are the most efficient and cost-effective option.
