Compressed air filtration
Atlas Copco Filters
As an authorised UK distributor for Atlas Copco, Design Air (Scotland) Ltd provides a comprehensive range of genuine Atlas Copco air filters designed to protect your entire compressed air system. Whilst the use of a Desiccant or Refrigerant Dryer will help you to remove water vapour, a high-quality compressed air filter is essential to remove other contaminants such as solid particulates and filter oil aerosols. This contamination comes from the ambient air and the compression process itself, concentrating dirt, water, and oil that can damage your equipment, spoil end products, and reduce efficiency.
Regardless of how stringent an air purity you need to achieve, from general-purpose air to technically oil-free air for critical processes, at Design Air we can specify and supply the correct type of Atlas Copco air filter for your need. We have expert application knowledge to match the right industrial filtration solutions to your specific environment.
The unseen threat
The Unseen Threat: Understanding Contamination in Your Compressed Air System
In any compressed air system, contaminants are drawn from the surrounding atmosphere and the system itself. The compression process concentrates these contaminants, creating a significant threat to your equipment and products. The three primary contaminants are:
Solid Particulates (Dirt)
Includes dust, wet dust, rust, and foreign particles that can cause abrasive wear and clog sensitive pneumatic components.
Water
Moisture (vapour, liquid, and aerosols) condenses as air cools, leading to corrosion and promoting microbial growth.
Oil
Oil (liquid, droplets, aerosols, and vapour) can come from oil-lubricated compressors or be drawn in from the ambient air. This is a critical contaminant for sensitive applications like food, pharma, and painting.
Showcasing the Atlas Copco UD+ Combination Filter
The Problem
Traditionally to remove solid particulate and oil aerosols, you would require both a coarse and fine air filter to be installed in series. This means two filters which will each yield a significant pressure drop and two filters that require annual element changes.
Solution - The Atlas Copco UD+ Filter
The UD+ Filter combines both filtration steps in to one. This means one filter to provide the same air quality as two. Instead of a wet pressure drop of 0.53 bar(g) across 2 filters, the UD+ will yield a lower pressure drop of only 0.25 bar(g). Furthermore you will only need to replace one element for service purposes instead of the traditional 2 required.
Benefits
Lower energy, lower total cost of ownership
The UD+ Filter will allow your air compressor to run at a pressure 0.28 bar(g) lower than you could with the traditional 2 filter set up. This directly reduces your energy consumption. Assuming your site is running 6000Hrs p.a, with an average kW input of 30kW and electrical cost of £0.10/kWHr, this will save you around £352 / year in electrical energy costs. This doesn't count the fact that you will also half your annual filter media maintenance costs! This highly efficient design reduces your total cost of ownership.
Our full range of Atlas Copco filters
Internal Filtration (Protecting the Compressor)
At Design Air, we supply the complete range of Atlas Copco air compressor filters, ensuring we have the right technology for your specific application, from protecting the compressor itself to purifying air for the most critical processes.
Genuine Atlas Copco parts are essential to protect your investment and prevent premature wear. This includes:
- Intake Air Filter: The first line of defence, protecting the compressor element from abrasive inlet air dust. This maintains operational efficiency and prevents damage to the rotors.
- Oil Filter: The oil filter protects the element, bearings, and rotors from impurities circulating in the oil, preventing performance loss.
- Oil Separator: The oil separator is a critical component that removes the vast majority of oil from the compressed air before it leaves the compressor, protecting downstream equipment from gross oil contamination. For specifications on these components, please refer to our separator downloads section below.
The range
Downstream Air Compressor Line Filtration (Protecting the Application)
These filters are installed in your pipework to purify the air to a specific quality standard. Our wide range includes:
UD+ Combination Filter
Key details
- Flow Range: 21 - 16,952 cfm
- Max Pressure: 16 bar(g)
- Contaminants Removed: Oil Aerosols & Wet Dust
- ISO8573-1:2010 Class: 1 for particulate and 2 for oil
Atlas Copco DD+ / PD+ Oil & Dust Filters
Key details
- Flow Range: 21 - 16,952 cfm
- Max Pressure: 16 bar(g)
- Contaminants Removed: Oil Aerosols & Wet Dust (The Atlas Copco DD Filter is for general purpose, while the Atlas Copco PD Filter is for high efficiency).
- ISO8573-1:2010 Class: 1 for particulate and 2 for oil
DDp+ / PDp+ Dry Dust Filters
Key details
- Contaminants Removed: Dry Dust / Solid Particles
- Technology: Pleated media for high dirt-holding capacity and a longer service life.
- Application: Point-of-use protection for sensitive equipment.
QD+ / QDT+ Oil Vapour Filters & Carbon Towers
Key details
- Flow Range: 42 - 3,814 cfm
- Max Pressure: 13 bar(g)
- Contaminants Removed: Oil Aerosols & Dust Vapour & Odours
- Technology: Macro-structured activated carbon for superior adsorption.
- ISO8573-1:2010 Class: 1 for oil
We supply these filters in a wide range of sizes and can provide the correct filter housings and replacement elements for your installation.
Standards
Decoding Air Purity: ISO 8573-1:2010
To specify and verify the performance of filtration systems, the industry relies on the ISO 8573-1:2010 standard. This provides a universal language for defining the required air quality for a specific application.
The standard uses a three-number notation [P:W:O]:
- [P] represents the purity class for solid Particles
- [W] represents the purity class for Water (defined by pressure dew point).
- [O] represents the purity class for total Oil.
A lower number signifies a higher level of purity. For example, Class 1 for oil (≤ 0.01 mg/m³) is critical for food and pharmaceutical applications, while general purpose air might be Class 4. Our team can help you determine the exact class you need for your filtration requirements.
Genuine parts
The Genuine Advantage: Why OEM Atlas Copco Filters Matter
In the pursuit of cost reduction, some may consider non-genuine “aftermarket” filters. This is a false economy that introduces significant risks and leads to a higher Total Cost of Ownership (TCO).
Genuine Atlas Copco parts and products are engineered to the exact same standards as the original components. This ensures a perfect fit, maintains the integrity of your system, and guarantees performance. Aftermarket parts often use lower-quality filter media and seals, which can lead to:
- Higher Pressure Drop: Inferior media clogs more quickly, forcing your compressor to work harder and increasing energy consumption.
- Contamination Bypass: Poor seals can harden or crack, allowing contaminated air to leak past the filter element and render it useless.
- System Failure: Weak internal cores can collapse under pressure, damaging your compressor element.
Using a genuine Atlas Copco compressed air filter is an insurance policy against production downtime, product spoilage, and catastrophic equipment failure.
By industry
Tailored Air Quality for Critical UK Industries
We provide expert filtration solutions for all sectors, including those with the most stringent regulations:
Food & Beverage
To comply with standards from the British Retail Consortium (BRC) and HACCP principles, we design systems to achieve ISO 8573-1 [2:2:1] for direct contact, using oil-free compressors and multi-stage filters (DD+, PD+, QDT+) to prevent microbial growth and oil contamination.
Pharmaceutical & Medical
For compliance with Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) and MHRA oversight, Class 0 air is often the standard. This requires a 100% oil-free compressor, desiccant dryers, and sterile filters.
Automotive Finishing
To prevent “fish-eyes” and adhesion problems, a flawless finish requires high-purity air (Oil Class 1). We provide high-efficiency coalescing and silicone-free (SFA) filters for these applications.
General Manufacturing
For protecting pneumatic tools and actuators, a cost-effective solution of a general-purpose coalescing filter (DD+) and a refrigerant dryer provides robust protection against water and particulate contamination.
Servicing
Filter Maintenance and Servicing
Filters are consumable compressor parts that require a regular replacement schedule to maintain efficiency and protect your system. The main indicator for replacement is a significant increase in pressure drop, which signals the element is clogged. Adhering to the manufacturer’s service intervals (typically annually) is essential.
Our Design Air services team provides comprehensive maintenance and replacement for your air filtration systems, using only genuine Atlas Copco parts. This ensures correct installation, guaranteed performance, and prevents costly unplanned downtime. We can also provide air quality auditing to verify your system meets the required ISO purity class.
Book a service
Specify the right filter
Need help choosing your filtration?
Tell us your application and the air purity you need to achieve and we will specify the correct Atlas Copco filter, housing and elements for your system.
FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
How does an air compressor filter work?
How to clean an air compressor filter?
How many filters are in an air compressor?
What is the difference between Atlas Copco ZR and ZT?
Who is Atlas Copco owned by?
What are the products of Atlas Copco?
Resources
Resources and Downloads
For more technical details, you can request the Atlas Copco filter catalogue or Atlas Copco air filter specifications directly from our team. We also offer access to the Atlas Copco filters PDF, which outlines the full technical capabilities of the UD+, DD, and PD ranges. If you need specific separator downloads or manuals for your kits, please contact our service department.
Talk to Design Air
Get the right filtration for your system
From general-purpose air to technically oil-free air for critical processes, we will specify and supply the correct Atlas Copco filter for your need.