5 Key Benefits of Using Air Breathers in Industrial Equipment

Clean air and consistent pressure management are vital to extending the lifespan of industrial equipment. Air breather valves help ensure these conditions are met and enable systems to operate at optimal levels.

Sensors must have unrestricted airflow around them to accurately measure pollutant concentrations. Structures like buildings or fences can block the air and lead to a false reading.

Lower Maintenance Costs

Air sentry breathers remove moisture, water vapor, and solid contaminants from ambient air drawn into reservoirs, tanks, transformers, and gearboxes, extending the life of expensive lubricants and equipment. Air is drawn through openings in the cap and passes through a 2-micron filter, then into a bed of silica gel – the highest capacity moisture adsorbent. The silica gel turns gold at complete adsorption and dark green to indicate when replacement is needed.

An integrated vacuum/pressure gauge indicates filter condition. A double-check valve in the reusable top cap and metal reinforced base extends desiccant life by backflushing and partially regenerating the silica with expelled air. Stackable cartridges extend life even further and are available in multiple sizes. 

Increased Productivity

Air sentry breathers North Carolina reduce contamination in fluid systems, extending equipment life and productivity. Multi-tiered breathers remove moisture and particulates from air drawn into your equipment, preventing fluid ingression that damages and degrades equipment components.

Air drawn in through openings on the breather/filler caps or vent tubes of fluid reservoirs, tanks, and gearboxes passes through a 2-micron filter to remove solid particulate, then through a bed of color-indicating silica gel that adsorbs moisture. The bed of silica gel is protected by a carbon foam pad that prevents oil vapor from contaminating the gel and inhibiting its effectiveness.

When the silica gel becomes exhausted, the air is diverted back through the breather through a second filter, and the silica gel regenerates with fresh, clean air. This dual check valve design extends the desiccant’s life and prevents exhaust from depleting it prematurely.

Increased Fluid Life

Air sentry breathers improve productivity by preventing damage and prolonging the life of expensive hydraulic valves, seals, and equipment. Removing moisture and particulates from the air entering fluid systems prevents contamination and reduces maintenance costs.

As air is drawn in through openings on the breather caps or vent tubes of gearboxes, hydraulic fluid reservoirs, bulk storage tanks, oil drums, and oil-filled transformers, it passes first through a fine 2-micron particulate filter and then through a bed of silica gel that is chemically inert and non-corrosive, conforms to all regulated toxicity standards and has microscopic pores that effectively adsorb water vapor. The silica gel turns gold at complete adsorption and dark green when it needs to be replaced.

A double-check valve in the reusable top cap and metal reinforced base prevents exhaust from depleting the silica gel and backflushes (partially regenerates) the particulate filter with expelled air, prolonging both lives. A vacuum gauge indicates when the silica gel is low.

Reduced Downtime

Air sentry breathers adsorb moisture and solid contaminants before they reach your fluid system, saving time and money by extending equipment and fluid life. These contamination control breathers replace existing breather/filler caps or air vents on oil reservoirs, gearboxes, and transformers. The color-indicating silica gel indicates maximum adsorption, and the activated carbon foam pad removes oil vapors and odors as air is expelled from the reservoir.

The breather can also be configured to segregate dissimilar fluids, avoiding cross-contamination. A bayonet adapter makes installation easy without the need for tank modification.

Increased Safety

Air sentry breathers prevent contamination of equipment and machinery from moisture and solid particulates. The simple device replaces a tank or reservoir’s standard breather cap or vent tube. The breather draws air through openings as fluid levels change or during thermal expansion and contraction. The air passes through a 2-micron solid particle filter and a bed of silica gel that adsorbs moisture, preventing fluid contamination and protecting equipment.