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Compressed Breathing Air - H2O Vapour Exposure Limit Value
Rank: New forum user
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Hello there,
Could anyone tell me what is the exposure limit value for the H2O Vapour coming from compressed breathing air hoses?
Thanks and regards,
Luis
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Rank: Super forum user
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I don't think there is one. My understanding is that the water vapour content is combined with the pressure and temperature range of the system to determine whether there is a risk of water vapour condensing in the system.
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Rank: Super forum user
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Luis
You will always get some water condensing in a compressed air cylinder. As an ex scuba instructor I have filled countless diving cylinders and changes the filters on compressors numerous times. A compressor for breathing air will contain a number of filters one of which is silica gel (or used to be in my day) to dry the air - but its never perfect used to use self indicating silica so you could tell if you were changing often enough - no colour left two long between changes. This was the reason we were always given for storing the tanks upright or a slight incline base down for long periods, as the base of the tank was thicker. The tanks are also subjected to visual inspection. I have never know the remaining water vapour to be an issue. What pressures are you talking about?
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Rank: Super forum user
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In a well designed and maintained compressed air system there should be no problem with water vapour in the compressed air system. Put simply, when air is compressed the energy applied results in the air temperature increasing. Thus the smaller volume of air can hold the water in suspension. Were we to allow the air simply to flow into the system in this state as it cools in the system the ability to hold the water will reduce resulting in condensation in the system. Then when the air expands as it is used it will cool rapidly resulting in a reduced ability to hold water, hence the ‘condensation’.
A well designed system will have a cooling system or other means of removing the excess water (in the trade it used to be called an aftercooler, but it is a long time since I designed and installed compressed air systems) from the compressed placed immediately after the compressor. The minimises the potential for condensation in air receiver, pipework and when breathed. It prevents corrosion in pipework, etc. So if there is a problem with water vapour in the breathing air you might want to check out your system.
Chris
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Rank: Super forum user
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Even compressed air systems with comprehensive filtration will have residual water in the system. I have never know an industrial system not have water in when "blown-down" at the end of shift. In the spray shop the sprayers air provision is via an add-on filtration system designed to remove both oil and water vapour from the airstream before supplying air to their headsets.
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Rank: Super forum user
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Compressed Breathing Air - H2O Vapour Exposure Limit Value
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