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FOOD GRADE MYTH?
Most companies these days have a compressed air quality standard that they are
trying to adhere to with consideration to oil content, particulates and water content.
Each potential hazard needs to be treated
separately but with regard to oil content…
’We’re ok because we’re using food grade oil
in our compressors’ is a line that is often heard in our
industry - but are you really okay?
Food grade oil is perhaps reassuringly expensive -
compared to standard compressor oil - and maybe
gives some measure of security because of this. The
reality is quite different.
The first thing to recognise is that any oil in the
compression process which has the potential to be
passed along the airnet and then come in contact
with product represents a serious risk to the security
of the food manufacturing process. ‘Food grade’
definitely gives the impression that the product is
safe to eat – but this is far from the truth.
Just read a couple of the material safety data sheets
(MSDS) for your supposed food grade oils! ‘Consult a
doctor immediately’, ‘keep the victim in a comfortable
condition until a doctor arrives’, ‘avoid any contact
with skin or eyes’ are statements commonly seen on
these sheets and quickly debunks any myth about
the product being food safe.
Even after the expense of ‘food grade’ oil, there are
often banks of duty and standby inline filters in an
effort to prevent any contamination. Filters have a
particular rating, normally stated at 20 degrees C–
as the temperature increases so does the oil carry
over - exponentially. So, on a hot day you will not be
meeting your air quality requirements.
Often a carbon activated vapour filter is installed in
some of the more critical installations – these filters
have a finite lifetime stated in hours which is again
at the reference temperature of 20 degrees C. A
standard lifetime for a carbon activated filter is 1000
hours, meaning six to eight changes per year, but at
higher temperature the lifetime drops exponentially -
so that at 35 degrees C the lifetime can be only 100
hours – meaning 60-80 changes per year!
There would obviously be a huge cost for doing this
and so in many installations filters are simply changed
once a year – meaning air quality requirements are
often not achieved for much of the year– which could
have a massive impact on your business if there is a
contamination.
The answer is an oil free compressor – if there is
zero oil in the compression process there is zero risk
to your process. To avoid any risk of contamination,
choose Atlas Copco Oil free compressors. To make
an appointment to discuss zero risk options for your
site please contact sales.nz@nz.atlascopco.com,
toll free on 0800 354555 or
visit www.atlascopco.co.nz, Follow them at:
Facebook - LinkedIn - Twitter - YouTube - Instagram
Solutions for dry and oil-free
compressed air
Our 100% Oil-free Z compressors and desiccant dryers provides
the highest quality air at the lowest cost. Learn about our wide
range of dryers and oil-free compressors
Call 0800 354 555
16.03 WNIFood advert NZ.indd 7 23/10/2018 4:30:26 PM
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