Proper maintenance of your filtration system is essential to protect your PSA nitrogen generator and maintain consistent nitrogen purity. Here are recommended best practices:
🔹 1️⃣ Follow Recommended Filter Change Intervals
- Particulate Filters: Replace every 6-12 months (or more frequently in harsh environments).
- Coalescing Filters: Replace every 6–12 months, depending on oil content in compressed air.
- Adsorbing Filters: Replace every 6–12 months, or sooner if oil vapors are present in the supply.
Note: Always follow recommendations for your system.
🔹 2️⃣ Inspect Filter Housings Regularly
- Check for pressure differential across filters (many housings have a ΔP gauge — rising ΔP indicates clogging).
- Inspect drains on coalescing filters — verify that liquids are draining properly.
- Look for signs of oil, moisture, or particulates downstream (early warning of filter bypass or failure).
🔹 3️⃣ Always Replace Elements — Do Not “Clean” Them
- Filter elements are not designed to be cleaned or reused.
- Cleaning can damage the filter media and result in bypass of contaminants into the PSA beds.
🔹 4️⃣ Maintain Proper Filter Order
- Filters must always be installed in correct sequence:
- Particulate → Coalescing → Adsorbing → PSA unit
- Skipping or rearranging stages increases risk of contamination.
🔹 5️⃣ Use OEM-Approved Filter Elements
- Always use OEM-approved high-quality elements.
- Off-brand elements may not meet required efficiency ratings and can void system warranties.
🔹 6️⃣ Monitor System Purity
- Regularly verify nitrogen purity with calibrated analyzers.
- If unexpected purity drops occur, inspect filtration stages first — contaminated beds are often the result of upstream filter issues.
Bottom Line:
Consistent filter maintenance is one of the most cost-effective ways to protect your PSA nitrogen generator. Following these best practices will extend system life, ensure reliable purity, and reduce downtime.