MEASURING WATER CONTENT IN COMPRESSED BREATHING AIR IN COMPLIANCE WITH EN 12021:2014 – ULTRA-PRECISE AND ULTRA-RELIABLE WITH POLYMER TECHNOLOGY

Product catalog summary

Introduction
Measuring water content in compressed breathing air is critical for safety, particularly for divers and firefighters. Excessive water can lead to cylinder corrosion, bacterial growth, and equipment failure, especially in cold conditions. The European Breathing Air Standard EN 12021:2014 sets strict limits for water content to prevent these hazards.

Specifications
The EN 12021:2014 standard specifies a maximum water content of 25 mg/m³ for compressed breathing air. Other limits include oxygen at 21% ± 1%, carbon monoxide at 5 ppm, carbon dioxide at 500 ppm, and oil at 0.5 mg/m³.

Challenges in Measurement
Measuring water content is complex due to pressure and temperature variations. Traditional methods are inaccurate at high pressures (>200 bar). BAUER KOMPRESSOREN uses the atmospheric method for precise measurements.

BAUER's Solution
BAUER employs polymer technology in dew point sensors for rapid and precise water content measurement. These sensors outperform aluminium oxide sensors, which are slower and less accurate at low water content levels.

Installation and Operation Recommendations
During initial installation, purging may take up to 3 hours to remove moisture. Regular purging is necessary to maintain compliance with EN 12021:2014. BAUER recommends using stainless-steel piping and minimizing connections to reduce moisture ingress.

Maintenance and Calibration
The B-DETECTION PLUS system requires calibration every two years. Filter cartridges should be changed if water or VOC limits are exceeded. For systems with long downtimes, a SECURUS system is recommended for monitoring filter saturation.

Contact Information
For more information, contact BAUER KOMPRESSOREN GmbH in Munich, Germany.

Catalog excerpts

MEASURING WATER CONTENT IN COMPRESSED BREATHING AIR IN COMPLIANCE WITH EN 12021:2014 - ULTRA-PRECISE AND ULTRA-RELIABLE WITH POLYMER TECHNOLOGY SPORTS & SAFETY

Open the catalog to page 1

BAUER KOMPRESSOREN WHY PRECISE MEASUREMENT OF WATER CONTENT IS A MATTER OF LIFE OR DEATH. Breathing Air Standard EN 12021:2014 Limit values Excessive water content in breathing air causes cylinders to corrode from inside, resulting in material damage and reductions in wall thickness –which will ultimately cause the cylinder to burst! In addition, excessive water content causes dangerous bacteria to proliferate. High water content is even hazardous on cold water dives. If the water content is not below the threshold specified in the standard, scuba regulators may freeze during dives in cold waters...

Open the catalog to page 2

THE CHALLENGE: MEASURING WATER CONTENT IS A COMPLEX TECHNICAL PROCESS. Measuring water content in compressed breathing air presents a huge technical challenge that must take a wide range of parameters into account. The European Breathing Air Standard EN 12021:2014 standard defines the limit value for water content in terms of mg/m³ at atmospheric pressure. The physical measurement principles on which humidity sensors are based express either the dew point (in °C) or relative humidity (in %). Conversion of the measure value to the displayed value, expressed as absolute water content (in mg/m³),...

Open the catalog to page 3

MEASURING WATER CONTENT THE EXPERT SYSTEM FOR TANDARDS COMPLIANT MEASUREMENT B-DETECTION PLUS ENSURES THE CORRECT MEASUREMENT ACCORDING TO THE EUROPEAN BREATHING AIR STANDARD EN 12021:2014 1. High-pressure compressor 2. B-DETECTION AIRBOX 3. Data cable 4. Gas hose 5. High-pressure piping 6. B-DETECTION PLUS s 7. External filling panel Measuring water content in compressed air is a science in itself – even with the right sensors. The extremely high partial pressure difference between compressed air and air under atmospheric conditions causes ambient moisture to diffuse into pipelines, and thus...

Open the catalog to page 4

BAUER KOMPRESSOREN RECOMMENDATIONS AND INFORMATION To keep this drying period and associated purging of moisture-laden air as brief as possible in practice, we recommend the following actions when installing and operating our B-DETECTION PLUS gas measurement systems: ››Ensure the system pressure between the filter housing and the gas extraction unit is as high as possible (> 200bar) while the compressor is inoperative. This means that the piping between the filling panel or storage system should not be vented after filling is complete. ››Use stainless-steel piping to connect the compressor...

Open the catalog to page 5

ARE YOU INTERESTED IN OUR PRODUCTS? CONTACT US - WE ARE HAPPY TO PROVIDE INFORMATION AND ASSISTANCE. MEASURING WATER CONTENT EN N43020 12.2017 Technische Anderungen vorbehalten

Open the catalog to page 6