
Will the air compressor break down without stopping?
Impact of long-term continuous operation of air compressors and countermeasures
1. Equipment design characteristics and operating risks
Air compressors usually adopt S1 working system (continuous working system) and theoretically have long-term operation capabilities. However, long-term continuous operation will accelerate the wear of key components (such as motor bearings and seals) and increase the risk of thermal stress accumulation. Experimental data shows that continuous operation for one week may increase component fatigue by 30%-50%. If heat dissipation is poor or lubrication fails, the failure rate will increase significantly.
2. The key role of cooling systems
The compressor continues to generate heat while running, and the operating temperature needs to be maintained by a compound cooling fan or efficient heat sink. Normal design can control the cylinder temperature below 100 ° C, and the bearing temperature does not exceed 75 ° C. If the ambient temperature exceeds 40 ° C or the heat dissipation system is blocked, continuous operation may lead to overheating protection shutdown, and even cause serious failures such as lubricating oil carbonization and cylinder deformation.
3. Load characteristics and energy consumption management
As a constant torque load equipment, the motor is always in a high current state when the compressor is running continuously at full load. If the gas consumption fluctuates greatly (such as frequent start-ups and stops), it is recommended to use frequency conversion technology to optimize load matching, which can reduce energy consumption by 20%-40%. However, long-term full-load operation still requires attention to the temperature rise of the motor. It is recommended to record the current value every 2 hours to ensure that it does not exceed 90% of the rated value.
4. Upgrade maintenance needs
Long-term operation requires shortened maintenance cycles:
- lubrication system: Check the viscosity of oil every 500 hours and forcibly replace it every 2000 hours to prevent sludge deposition.
- filtration system: The air filter is cleaned or replaced every 1000 hours, and the oil filter is checked for differential pressure every 500 hours.
- cooling system: Clean the dust on the surface of the heat sink every week and check whether the cooling fan speed meets the standard every month.
- vibration monitoring: Install the vibration sensor and immediately repair it when the bearing vibration value exceeds 5mm/s.
5. Adaptation of typical application scenarios
In scenarios such as automated production lines and large construction sites, the compressor needs to run continuously for more than 72 hours. Suggestion at this time:
- Adopt a dual-machine rotation system to automatically switch hosts every 8 hours to reduce the load on a single machine.
- Equipped with an intelligent control system to automatically start the backup cooling fan when the exhaust temperature exceeds 95℃.
- Add pre-filtration devices in dusty environments to extend the service life of air filters.
6. Risk prevention and control recommendations
- temperature monitoring: Arrange temperature measurement points in key parts such as cylinders, bearings, and motor stator, and set three-level alarm thresholds (85℃/90℃/95℃).
- stress management: Maintain the pressure of the air tank within the rated value ±0.05MPa to avoid frequent loading and unloading.
- emergency plan: Equipped with a spare motor and cooling module to ensure that air supply is restored within 30 minutes after a failure.
- annual overhaul: Conduct disassembly inspection every 8000 hours of operation, focusing on testing core parameters such as valve tightness and piston ring clearance.
conclusion
Air compressors can support long-term continuous operation, but a three-level maintenance system needs to be established: daily inspection (temperature/pressure/vibration), periodic maintenance (lubrication/filtration/cooling), and annual in-depth maintenance. Through the combination of intelligent monitoring system and preventive maintenance, the continuous operation failure rate can be controlled below 0.5%, and the equipment life can be extended to 1.2-1.5 times the design value. In extreme operating conditions, it is recommended to configure redundant systems to ensure production continuity.