The Atmosphere: Your Raw Material
Before talking about compressors, we must understand our raw material: atmospheric air.
Why does it matter?
Your compressor doesn't just compress air - it compresses everything in the air:
- Gases (nitrogen, oxygen, etc.)
- Water vapor (humidity)
- Particles (dust, pollen)
- Contaminants (hydrocarbons, microorganisms)
In this section
- Air Composition - What the air we breathe contains
- Humidity and Dew Point - The water problem in air
- Contaminants - Particles, oil, and other enemies
Conclusion
Compressed air quality begins with the quality of air entering the compressor. Air intake location, inlet filtration, and ambient conditions are the first step to a clean system.