Atlas Copco Filters

In any compressed air system, contaminants are drawn from the surrounding atmosphere and the system itself. The compression process concentrates these contaminants, creating a significant threat to your equipment and products. The three primary contaminants are:

• Solid Particulates (Dirt): Includes dust, wet dust, rust, and foreign particles that can cause abrasive wear and clog sensitive pneumatic components.
• Water:** **Moisture** (vapour, liquid, and aerosols) condenses as air cools, leading to corrosion and promoting microbial growth.
• Oil:** Oil (liquid, droplets, aerosols, and vapour) can come from oil-lubricated compressors or be drawn in from the ambient air. This is a critical contaminant for sensitive applications like food, pharma, and painting.

At Design Air, we supply the complete range of Atlas Copco air compressor filters, ensuring we have the right technology for your specific application, from protecting the compressor itself to purifying air for the most critical processes.

Internal Filtration (Protecting the Compressor)

Genuine Atlas Copco parts are essential to protect your investment and prevent premature wear. This includes:

• Intake Air Filter: The first line of defence, protecting the compressor element from abrasive inlet air dust. This maintains operational efficiency and prevents damage to the rotors.
• Oil Filter: Protects the element, bearings, and rotors from impurities circulating in the oil, preventing performance loss.
• Oil Separator: The oil separator is a critical component that removes the vast majority of oil from the compressed air before it leaves the compressor, protecting downstream equipment from gross oil contamination.

To specify and verify the performance of filtration systems, the industry relies on the ISO 8573-1:2010 standard. This provides a universal language for defining the required air quality for a specific application.

The standard uses a three-number notation [P:W:O]:

• [P] represents the purity class for solid Particles
• [W] represents the purity class for Water (defined by pressure dew point).
• [O] represents the purity class for total Oil.

A lower number signifies a higher level of purity. For example, Class 1 for oil (≤ 0.01 mg/m³) is critical for food and pharmaceutical applications, while general purpose air might be Class 4. Our team can help you determine the exact class you need for your filtration requirements.

The Genuine Advantage: Why OEM Atlas Copco Filters Matter

In the pursuit of cost reduction, some may consider non-genuine “aftermarket” filters. This is a false economy that introduces significant risks and leads to a higher Total Cost of Ownership (TCO).

Genuine Atlas Copco parts are engineered to the exact same standards as the original components. This ensures a perfect fit, maintains the integrity of your system, and guarantees performance. Aftermarket parts often use lower-quality filter media and seals, which can lead to:

• Higher Pressure Drop: Inferior media clogs more quickly, forcing your compressor to work harder and increasing energy consumption.
• Contamination Bypass: Poor seals can harden or crack, allowing contaminated air to leak past the filter element and render it useless.
• System Failure: Weak internal cores can collapse under pressure, damaging your compressor element.

Using a genuine Atlas Copco compressed air filter is an insurance policy against production downtime, product spoilage, and catastrophic equipment failure.

We provide expert filtration solutions for all sectors, including those with the most stringent regulations:

• Food & Beverage: To comply with standards from the British Retail Consortium (BRC) and HACCP principles, we design systems to achieve ISO 8573-1 [2:2:1] for direct contact, using oil-free compressors and multi-stage filters (DD+, PD+, QDT+) to prevent microbial growth and oil contamination.
• Pharmaceutical & Medical: For compliance with Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) and MHRA oversight, Class 0 air is often the standard. This requires a 100% oil-free compressor, desiccant dryers, and sterile filters.
• Automotive Finishing: To prevent “fish-eyes” and adhesion problems, a flawless finish requires high-purity air (Oil Class 1). We provide high-efficiency coalescing and silicone-free (SFA) filters for these applications.
• General Manufacturing: For protecting pneumatic tools and actuators, a cost-effective solution of a general-purpose coalescing filter (DD+) and a refrigerant dryer provides robust protection against water and particulate contamination.

Filter Maintenance and Servicing

Filters are consumable compressor parts that require a regular replacement schedule to maintain efficiency and protect your system. The main indicator for replacement is a significant increase in pressure drop, which signals the element is clogged. Adhering to the manufacturer’s service intervals (typically annually) is essential.

Our Design Air services team provides comprehensive maintenance and replacement for your air filtration systems, using only genuine Atlas Copco parts. This ensures correct installation, guaranteed performance, and prevents costly unplanned downtime. We can also provide air quality auditing to verify your system meets the required ISO purity class.