Home › Products & Solutions › Paintball Compressors › How IP Air Processing Systems Work

How IP Air Processing Systems Work

IP Filter
How IP Air Processing Systems Work
  1. Untreated compressed air from the compressor’s aftercooler enters at the top of the coalescing separator housing and passes through a dual element, high efficiency sintered element. The condensed water and oil droplets are effectively separated from the compressed air by passing through the sintered element and by the action of the air against the interior of the separator housing. The condensed oil and water droplets collect at the bottom of the separator housing for manual or automatic draining at regular intervals. BAUER recommends inspecting the element at least two times per year to keep the element in good working order for optimum efficiency. Clean or replace as required.
  2. The compressed air, having had the condensed water and oil particles effectively separated from the compressed air, enters the air processing filter housing. Depending upon the model, up to 3 filter housings may be used in series. The air enters the air processing cartridge through the bottom of the cartridge and immediately passes through a micro filter to remove even the tiniest of solid contaminates from the compressed air. Each cartridge uses a double o-ringed nipple for sealing. Each filter housing includes a vent hole (not depicted) to vent air to atmosphere if a cartridge has been installed incorrectly, if one or both of the o-rings are damaged, or if the cartridge isn’t present. This feature prevents untreated air from passing downstream to storage cylinders or to the system consuming the air.
  3. A special drying agent within the cartridge removes water vapor from the compressed air. The drying agent is packed within the cartridge in several sections with each section separated by a micro filter. Cartridges for drying are available with Securus (not depicted). Securus ensures 100% utilization of the cartridge. Click here to learn more about Securus.
  4. Some air processing cartridges may include activated carbon in addition to the drying agent. Activated carbon removes oil vapor from the compressed air. Cartridges are available consisting solely of activated carbon.
  5. Some air processing cartridges may include a catalyst in addition to the drying agent and/or activated carbon. The catalyst converts carbon monoxide to breathable levels of carbon dioxide. Cartridges with catalyst must be used on engine driven units for breathing air applications. Cartridges are available consisting solely of catalyst.
  6. A pressure maintaining valve is supplied downstream of the last filter housing. The pressure maintaining valve maintains a backpressure in the filter housings and in the coalescing separator, which improves the efficiency of the separator and ensures that effective air treatment begins immediately with the starting of the compressor. Clean, dry air exits the assembly via the outlet port and is ready for use to fill storage tanks or marker tanks.
  7. A safety valve protects the assembly from overpressure. The safety valve is installed on top of the coalescing separator. The safety valve is set at the factory slightly above the customer-specified operating pressure of the air processing system.
  8. A vent valve is provided to bleed air from the filter housing(s) when the cartridge(s) need replacing.
  9. A pressure gauge is included to verify pressure in the filter housing(s).