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Summer Survival Guide: How DIRECTAIR® Keeps Your Compressed Air Systems Cool and Running Smoothly

By DIRECTAIR® Insights Team on July 1, 2024

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DIRECTAIR® Insights Team

Summertime heat can be detrimental to many types of equipment, but this is especially true for industrial compressed air systems.

Excessive temperatures can adversely affect a compressor's performance in critical areas such as air pressure and flow, proper lubrication, air quality, and excessive moisture. Compressed air systems that operate at elevated temperatures tend to have a reduced life span, operate with diminished energy efficiency, and accrue higher operational costs.

The DIRECTAIR® team knows how important it is for every manufacturing facility to have a top-quality and reliable compressed air system to help them achieve their production goals. With over 30 years of experience, we have observed many of the negative impacts of insufficient heat management in equipment. All too often it costs your business unplanned operational downtime and expensive maintenance repairs.

The innovative and market-proven compressed air service modules, engineered and manufactured in-house by DIRECTAIR®, are designed to withstand the intense heat of the summer months. Regardless of the increasing temperatures, our equipment remains reliable, ensuring the supply of clean, dry compressed air essential for the operation of our customers’ manufacturing facilities.

Prepare Your Facility’s Equipment for Extreme Summer Temperatures

Here are 5 critical design components of the DIRECTAIR® compressed air system that helps keep our equipment running strong during the intense summer heat.

1. Dryers

Extreme heat causes excessive condensation to form in compressed air piping. DIRECTAIR®’s specially designed dryers remove moisture from the system before the air reaches pneumatic tools or other manufacturing equipment.

Moisture-free air plays a huge role in minimizing corrosion, air contamination, and damage to costly machinery.

There are two types of dryers utilized in DIRECTAIR® modular systems:

  • Refrigerated - Cooling is used to condense and remove moisture. Our refrigerated dryers are very effective at eliminating moisture, while still maintaining cooling efficiency. 
  • Desiccant - Used to maintain low dew points, and dry air by utilizing desiccant materials to
    capture moisture. 

2. Fans

DIRECTAIR®’s modular fan systems vent hot air, which keeps components cooler. Proper airflow is key to preventing equipment from overheating, which leads to substandard performance and reduced service life.

3. Hoods

DIRECTAIR® utilizes hoods, which shield critical compressed air components from exposure to direct heat. Hoods also allow air to pass directly over equipment within the air system, increasing the effectiveness of the cooling process. 

4. Vents

Vents are crucial to the DIRECTAIR® module’s operation, as they provide an escape for hot air, while simultaneously allowing cooler air to enter. This process helps to keep internal equipment temperatures lower.

Venting plays an important role in maintaining appropriate pressure levels within the compressed air system, which can build up during times of excessive heat, and cause equipment to be unstable. 

5. Piping

The piping in DIRECTAIR®’s modular compressed air system is made from material specifically designed to operate in high-temperature environments. These specialty pipes will not warp or fail in extremely hot environments. They are also insulated to minimize heat transfer.

Our high-quality piping system decreases the risk of compressed air leaks, a common problem for standard pipes when expansion and retraction occur. 

An Integrated Air Compressor Cooling System

While the dryers, fans, hoods, vents, and piping utilized in the DIRECTAIR® modular compressed air system are separate components, they work together to create a powerful and highly effective integrated cooling solution that removes moisture, manages heat, and maximizes equipment service life. 

Staying Green When the Thermostat Rises 

Compressed air systems that run excessively hot during the summer months not only perform poorly, but also consume more energy than they would under normal conditions. DIRECTAIR® helps our customers maintain their green footprint by providing a compressed air solution that is energy efficient, year after year.

Emergency 24/7 Support Available

DIRECTAIR®’s team of factory-trained technicians are available to assist our customers with any system issues that may occur. With our 100% Uptime Guarantee, we monitor our compressed air equipment 24/7 for uptime status, proper pressure, and air quality.

To learn more about how DIRECTAIR® can keep your manufacturing facility operating at top performance during the intense heat of summer, contact an expert today.