Process of attracting one substance into the mass of another, so that the absorbed substance combines with the absorbent.

Highly porous and granular form of aluminium oxide having preferential adsorptive capacity for moisture from gases, vapours and some liquids.

Physical process in which the molecules of a gas, vapour or liquid adhere to the surface of a solid.

Suspension in a gaseous medium of solid particles, liquid particles or solid and liquid particles having negligible fall-velocity/settling-velocity.

Temperature of the environment surrounding the equipment.

In the compressed air technology, the atmospheric air drawn in by compressors is referred to as atmospheric air.

The base load of a compressed air system is the compressed air consumption which is permanently present in an operation during a certain shift. With an optimal design, it is adopted in modern compressed air systems of compressors that do not need to switch during this time, constantly working at full load and thus in the economic optimum range.

Central compressor stations in hospitals today ensure that sterilized air is available in the treatment rooms. For this purpose, the compressed air must be processed to a very high quality level. Decisive here are the compressed air quality classes 1 defined by the standard ISO 8573-1 for solid particles and residual aerosols and the quality class 4 for the moisture content. In addition, the compressed air must be sterilized. Sterile filtration should, however, be decentralized in order to eliminate any negative influences through the pipeline network.

Learn even more about breathing air on our dedicated page! 

Random movement of very small particles (below 0.2µm) caused by bombardment of those particles by gas molecules. As a result of this random or spiral movement, the particles describe paths much greater than their actual size and are, therefore, easier to trap.

action of uniting small droplets.

Process of changing a vapour into liquid.

Any solid, liquid, or gas, which adversely affects the system.

Amount of solid, liquid or gaseous contaminant present in the compressed air

The installation of a cyclone separator after the compressed air outlet of a compressor is useful if it is not possible to separate the condensate separated in the compressor aftercooler by a corresponding installed piping or a compressed air tank.

Is a water separator required? More information here! 

Filtration accomplished by flowing a fluid through a filter medium providing a tortuous path to capture the contaminants.

Physical process in which the molecules of a gas, vapour or liquid are removed from the surface of a solid.

Dew point at atmospheric pressure

Dew point at the specified pressure

Difference in value between two pressures occurring simultaneously at different measurement points.

Movement of gas molecules, or small particles, caused by a concentration gradient.

Collection of relatively large particles (1,0 µm and over) on or near the surface of the filter medium. The particles collide with the fibres or structure of the filter medium, without deviating from streamline flow.

The amount of contaminant a filtration device can hold before reaching an operating limit, e.g. allowable pressure drop.

Ratio of the particle concentration removed, i.e. upstream concentration minus downstream concentration, to the upstream particle concentration.

Depending on the runtime of the compressor and energy price, the energy costs represent 70 to 80 percent of the total compressed air production costs.

Do you still have potential for optimisation? Learn more about energy efficiency 

Equivalent flow conditions through the filter to maintain the same velocity at pressures other than the reference pressure stated by the manufacturer.

Amount of contaminant removed by the filter divided by the amount of contaminant entering the filter, usually expressed as a %.

Interested? More about filter efficiency 

The gas constant indicates the physical work that performs the molecular unit of mass of the gas under unchanged pressure and a warming by 1 K. This amounts to 287.02 kJ / kg * K.

Heat released when a substance is adsorbed by an adsorbant.

Air that is sucked from the atmosphere always contains water vapor. The amount of water vapor absorbed depends only on the temperature and the available volume. Decisive for this is the partial pressure of the water vapor in the air. If the degree of saturation of the air is reached, it is called air with 100 percent relative humidity.

Reliable measurement of residual moisture - with the pressure dew point meter METPOINT DPM

Organic compound consisting mainly of hydrogen and carbon.

Hydrocarbons in the compressed air? Catalysis technology with BEKOKAT solves the problem!

The drive of the compressor continues, but no air is compressed. The compressor partially saves the energy required for compression. When compressed air is required, it switches into the load run without delay. The idle-speed mode reduces the engine timing and thus reduces wear.

Capture of particles within a device, as they fail to stay within the streamline flow of the fluid being filtered.

Natural or synthetic materials whose atoms are arranged in a crystal lattice in such a way that there are a large number of small cavities interconnected by smaller openings or pores of precisely uniform size.

The correct operating pressure is important for the performance of compressed air tools and machine tools. So it is e.g. possible that a compressed air tool, which normally shows 100 percent power at 6 bar operating pressure, already has a 20 to 25 bar percent reduction in performance at 1 bar pressure reduction. This can e.g. due to overlong supply lines or too small pipe diameter.

Please use our unit conversion tool for the conversion

Absolute pressure exerted by any component in a gas mixture.

The equivalent sphere diameter provided by a measuring device.

Detect particles with the METPOINT MCA

Length of the greatest distance between two external boundaries

Amount of contaminant passing through the filter divided by the amount of contaminant entering the filter.

Potential-free contacts usually switch information and control signals which transmits information to another power supply system or cause an activity. That means, they open or close the control circuit of a third system and are often used for communication between the compressor and higher-level control.

Device for removing gross contamination before the fluid enters further processing.

Difference between the high and low pressure sides of a resistance to flow.

Previously dried air used to carry away moisture from a membrane.

Fluid flow designed to remove a contaminant from a filtration or separation device.

Decisive for the exact definition of the air qualities today is the standard ISO 8573-1. It distinguishes between water, particle and oil content of the compressed air. The latter two relate to the atmospheric volume.

You can find out everything about ISO 8573-1 here! 

Purge air flow through the off-line drying media.

Ratio of the partial pressure of water vapour present to the partial pressure of saturated water vapour at the same temperature, expressed as a %.

Porous and granular form of amorphous silica having preferential adsorptive capacity for moisture from gases, vapours and some liquids.

No viable or living organisms

All information about sterile compressed air on our special page 

Gas which is at a temperature below its critical temperature and which therefore can be liquefied by isothermal.

Separating device, which removes bulk water (e.g. cyclone separator).