Moisture and water vapor can cause the contamination of fluids, and thus significant damage to equipment over time. Desiccant breathers may be connected to various types of equipment reservoirs, storage tanks, oil drums, or other pieces of equipment that require dry air coming into them as the piece of equipment breathes. As machinery breathes, the air enters through the desiccant breather first, where the silica gel extracts moisture, drying the air. This produces cleaner air that enters into the machine, free of those contaminants, thus preventing machinery loss.
At TTI, our desiccant breather technology is designed to keep your industrial equipment free from harmful moisture and contaminants, even in the most extreme conditions. A particularly harsh environment and high humidity levels can diminish the equipment life of desiccant breathers. However, there are things you can do to extend breather life, even in humid work environments. They are as follows:
When you set out to choose a desiccant breather, look for suppliers that will help you size the breather appropriately for your application. For example, if you are considering a storage box, drum, or tote application, you may assume that a basic breather is all you need. But if that application is in a high-humidity operating environment choosing a breather with check valves may significantly improve the breather service life.
Breathers can be installed directly on many machines with a few simple modifications, but there are also adapter kits that allow you to seamlessly fill system fluid and sample fluid health, all while leaving the breather in place. Adapters, like these from TTI, can simplify and reduce workload, allowing for better and easier procedure documentation.
If the breather is going to be subjected to surrounding moisture and nothing can be done to change that condition, it may be advantageous to find ways to reduce the moisture level in the air. Options to consider include reducing leaky water lines that cause spraying and reducing steam leaks.
Breathers with check valves effectively reduce the volume of air intake into the breather. Check-valve technology will ensure only the air that must be breathed in is filtered and dried and keep the operation intermittent, which will help lengthen the service life of the breather. This makes check-valve technology ideal for low-flow, steady-state operations.
TTI’s desiccant breathers utilize a container of silica gel granules to reduce lubricant contamination in all types of application environments, providing robust protection for your equipment. Silica gel also has a color indicator to show when it’s reached maximum water capacity and it’s time to replace the breather. We outlined above many methods to extend the life of breathers, including utilizing check-valve technology, making sure to use the correct hardware, as well as purchasing the correct size.
To learn about the three-stage design silica gel desiccant breather models we offer at TTI, as well as our gearbox adapter kits and other product recommendations to prevent particulate contamination, keep lubricants clean, and prevent machine failure and costly repairs, give us a call today at 303-585-0132 or send us a message through our contact form.
