The compressed air produced by the screw oil-lubricated air compressor we commonly use reaches a temperature of more than 80°C at the front end of the post-cooling, and the local temperature can reach 100°C or even higher.
Although the temperature can be reduced to a lower level after passing through the post-cooler, the high temperature still makes it difficult to avoid oil deterioration. At the same time, a large amount of oil mist, oil vapor, including condensed water and dust in the air mixed with impurities after cooling are transported into the compressed air pipeline.
These impurities will have an adverse effect on the compressed air system. Let's briefly talk about some common effects of oil impurities on the purification of compressed air systems.
Gas tank
The oil mist and oil vapor in the compressed air gather in the gas tank to form combustibles, which poses a certain risk of explosion; at the same time, the degradation products and mixtures of oil will also corrode metal equipment to a certain extent.
Refrigerated Air Dryers
The oil in the compressed air will condense again on the heat exchanger to form an oil film. At the same time, oil impurities and mixtures with dust will accumulate sludge on the heat exchanger, affecting the heat exchange efficiency and increasing the dew point value of the cold dryer.
desiccant for air dryer
The oil will be adsorbed and accumulated on the adsorbent, which is difficult to regenerate, and will eventually cause the dryer's water removal capacity to decrease or even lose.
Compressed Air Line Filter
The oil, water and dust mixed to form a viscous substance adsorbed on the compressed air filters element to increase the pressure drop, causing the filter element to fail.
Pipeline
The sludge will adhere to the surface of the pipeline and is difficult to remove. Over time, it will gradually accumulate, causing the pressure drop of the pipeline to increase or even block.
Impact of pneumatic actuators
The sludge will cause the pneumatic actuator to move slowly or even damage the cylinder. At the same time, it may cause the sealing ring to swell and increase the failure rate.
Although the amount of oil impurities is not as much as that of water, they have brought many hidden dangers to production over time and increased the maintenance costs of other equipment. Many users have overlooked the important link of compressed air deoiling and purification, which has affected production. It is very important to take necessary deoiling measures and perform regular maintenance according to the compressed air quality required for enterprise production.