Table of Contents
Advertisement
OIL SEPARATION RESERVOIR / COALESCING ELEMENT - This device serves multiple functions in
the compressor package:
Air/oil centrifugal separation - The bulk of the liquid oil is separated, by change of direction,
impingement and additional centrifugal effects, away from the compressed air and aerosol streams,
and is then gravity-collected at the bottom of the sump.
Oil degassing and holding - The sump has sufficient holding capacity to degas the oil mass before
it is drained off on its way to cooling, filtering and re-injection. It also serves as a storage volume for
the oil mass migrating from higher elevations (e.g., oil cooler, compressor casings, and piping).
Air/oil final separation - The aerosols and compressed air streams are led to the upper portion of
the sump, where the coalescing element resides. The fine droplets of oil (aerosol) are trapped in the
element media, coalesced, then gravity-drained, through a low-point connection and associated
tubing (oil return line) into a lower pressure region of the compressor.
Separation performance - The package oil separation system has been designed to yield 2 ppm total oil
carryover at the discharge of the air/oil reservoir – the oil content level at the discharge of the package will
be lower and will depend on the amount of moisture rejected by the aftercooler.
This high level of performance will be affected by the following typical offset conditions:
Contaminated (e.g., dirt, varnish, moisture) or damaged (e.g., ruptured) coalescing element.
Contaminated (e.g., dirt, varnish, moisture) or inadequate oil in use.
High oil level in air/oil reservoir.
Blockage of oil return line strainer or orifice.
Abnormally frequent or fast depressurization cycles - leading to oil foaming.
Oil separator element life cannot be predicted; it will vary greatly depending on the conditions of
operation, the quality of the oil used and the maintenance of the oil and air filters. The condition of the
separator can be determined by pressure differential gauging or by inspection.
Oil Coalescing Element Monitoring - The AirSmart controller keeps track of the pressure differential
across the coalescing element. A pressure differential of 8 psi will trigger a service advisory to change
the element and a pressure differential of 15 psi will initiate a system shutdown.
Using an oil separator element at excessive pressure differential can cause
damage to equipment. Replace the separator when the "Change Separator"
advisory appears.
A sudden drop to zero pressure differential or sudden heavy oil carryover may
indicate a ruptured element.
N N
O O
T T
I I
C C
E E
N
O
T
I
C
E
13-18-614
Page 43
Advertisement
Table of Contents
