What is an airline water separator?
Air treatment is like life insurance for your air compressor; the more protected your system is, the longer it will last, and the less it will cost you in the long run. Achieving clean dry air requires a water separator or air dryer.
Protecting your compressed air system from water condensation build-up is always a good idea. Airline water separators play a fundamental role in compressed air systems effectively removing water aerosols. Made entirely of corrosion-proof material, they increase the reliability of your entire compressed air system. SMC water separators have no moving parts and are essentially maintenance-free.
Water separators are important devices to ensure that any water existing in the airline is removed to protect downstream equipment such as air compressors and air tools from damage. Water moisture is an inevitable by-product of compressed air, and so, it’s necessary to have equipment installed that will help to remove the water.
Why do I have water in my Airline?
When air is compressed it gets hot, and water vapour that was in the air is squeezed out of it (like wringing out a sponge) — condensing into a liquid mixture of water and oil. Airline Water Separators are specifically designed to remove that moisture from your air supply before it goes through your lines or storage tank, ensuring a dry, clean stream of air moves through the hose and your air tool.
How do Water Separators work?
A water separator or water trap is a simple method of removing water, designed to work with incoming cool air. The air enters one side, and then it circulates around the bowl where the water collects at the bottom of the trap and drains out. The air will exit through a filter, which traps other impurities in the air.
Does my air compressor need a water separator?
A lot of people swear by water separators being absolutely mandatory for compressed air applications. Without a water separator, water moisture could travel down your airlines, causing damage to the system and air tool connected at the end of the line. If water is not removed from an air compressor, it can lead to corrosion, which then results in the flaking of pipes, further contaminating the system.
Where do you install the water separator on an air compressor?
Ideally, the water separator should be installed after the air receiver tank, or as close to the outlet of the air compressor as possible. This will allow for the immediate removal of water from the air before the air is forced downstream to power your pneumatic devices.
Our Water Separator Range
The AMG series SMC water separator is installed on the air pressure line to remove water drops from compressed air. It is available in 7 sizes with a variety of optional combinations to meet your application requirements.
SMC Water Separator Range (Click to view)
- 1/4 inch SMC AMG150C-02D
- 3/8 inch SMC AMG250C-03D
- 1/2 inch SMC AMG350C-04D
- 3/4 inch SMC AMG450C-06D
- 1 inch SMC AMG550C-10D
- 1-1/2 inch SMC AMG650-14D
- 2 inch SMC AMG850-20D
