How Airtec maintain High Compressed Air Quality Standards
In pharmaceutical manufacturing industry
Application
Maintain compressed air quality class ISO 8573-1 in pharmaceutical manufacturing industry
Goal
Ensuring compressed air quality standards according to ISO 8573-1
Customer
Donovan Werke
Sector
Pharmaceutical Industry
Overview and Challenges
1. Overview
For those of you who aren’t aware, pharmaceutical manufacture has some of the most rigorous compressed air quality standards of virtually any industry. Any diversion from these standards can result in hefty fines or worse, product contamination.
Donovan Werke, is a pharmaceutical company located in Central America who needs to operate within the stringent compressed air quality standards described in ISO 8573-1.
2. Challenge of the Customer
The manufacturer had used a lubricated compressor for over 20 years with limited filtration. Consequently, oil vapor and residue built up in the compressed air system and piping.
New regulations required cleaner compressed air. Therefore, the company needed accurate measurements and improved filtration to protect product quality and meet the new standards.
3. Solution and Implementation
To better monitor Donovan Werke’s compressed air quality, Airtec installed SUTO iTEC S120 Oil Vapor Sensor and provided them with the S520 Portable Dew Point Monitor. The S120 Oil Vapor Sensor gives operations personnel clear metrics on the oil vapor content in their compressed air system. If there are any upticks, onsite staff are alerted immediately, allowing them to quickly isolate the problem, whether it be an oil leak in the air compressor or a clog in the filtration system.
The S520 gives the team at Donovan Werke a much clearer knowledge of the performance of their compressed air treatment system, including desiccant air dryers, refrigerative dryers and filters.
4. Results
The S120 provided accurate data on oil vapor contamination and helped identify residues in the piping system. Based on these findings, targeted filtration was added at key locations. As a result, oil vapor levels reached the required range, supporting regulatory compliance and protecting product purity.
Precise Data
The S120 provided precise oil vapor readings and reliable data for evaluating the compressed air system.
Source Identified
Further testing revealed that accumulated contaminants in the piping system were contributing to the high readings.
Effective Filtration
Activated carbon, coalescing, and point-of-use filters gradually reduced oil vapor contamination.
Improved Air Quality
The final readings reached the required range, supporting regulatory compliance and protecting product purity.
5. Conclusion
By constantly monitoring the treatment system’s performance, they can more easily maintain a low-pressure dew point, ensuring consistent
operations.
For day-to-day maintenance, the S520 Portable Dew Point Monitor enables more accurate and frequent quality monitoring for the team at Donovan Werke. Throughout any given day, plant personnel check the dew point throughout their system, using the S520’s detailed metrics and portability to gather useful information from even the least accessible corners of their system.
With the S520, they can make sure that their compressed air treatment system (air dryers, filters, and drains) is functioning at its absolute peak. If the S520 reveals heightened moisture levels at any point during the routine check, personnel can now quickly locate and resolve the issue, reducing instances of clogged filters and dryer problems.
6. Products in Use
The following SUTO iTEC solution was used to conduct the compressed air quality audit and obtain precise oil vapor measurements.
Related Case Studies
The following SUTO iTEC solution supported the compressed air quality audit by delivering reliable oil vapor measurements.
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Oil vapor in compressed air can contaminate skin care product containers and put product quality at risk. This case study shows how accurate measurements helped locate contamination in the air system and distribution piping. The measurement data also guided each filtration improvement.
Identify oil vapor contamination, evaluate filtration performance, and meet stricter air quality requirements with reliable compressed air quality monitoring solutions.
