Air Compressor Air-Oil Separator

It is almost impossible to prevent water or moisture from entering the oil-injected screw air compressor. This water can mix up with the oil in the compressor, reduce its performance and cause heat to build up inside.

In order to avoid such incidents, the air compressors come with a built-in air compressor separator, also called a -oil separator. For extra protection, external air compressor separators are also installed.

Screw Air Compressors are one of the vital machines in manufacturing industries that have multiple applications, including powering pneumatic tools, etc.

Due to continuous operation, extensive use, and reliance of high-powered tools, the screw air compressors need to be maintained regularly to secure longer life, optimal performance, prevent premature failure and repairs, and avoid costly downtime.

You must hire service specialists and implement a maintenance schedule for screw air compressors. This will help you counter the problem before it matures and keep track of which steps they need to perform during the given day, week, month, season, or year.

Although the Screw Air compressor comprises various parts that must be maintained to ensure their proper function, this guide covers three of the most significant ones that should be inspected and maintained regularly.

This component is located inside the air compressor for inlet air. It is composed of fibrous or porous materials responsible for preventing dust, moisture, and other impurities from getting inside the air compressor and degrading other machine components.

Moreover, they also purify the compressed air from the air compressor to prevent end products like Pneumatic tools from getting affected.

As the air filter collects the impurities, its performance decreases with it. Thus, they should be regularly inspected, maintained, cleaned as well as replaced (when needed).

To clean the air filter, consider the following steps:

1. Please turn off the air compressor and let it cool before touching it.
2. Unscrew and remove the air filter’s top cover from its base.
3. Thoroughly inspect the top cover and note any irregularity.
4. Carefully remove the filter element and inspect it thoroughly.
5. Clean the dust and other impurities from the filter element by blowing it with low-pressure compressed air. You can also replace the filter element with the new one if needed.
6. Carefully place the filter element back to its original place properly.
7. Reattach the top cover.

This component is usually found in oil-injected screw air compressors.  The Air Compressor Oil Filter consists of a paper filter element folded like a harmonica, which is responsible for removing dirt, rust, sand, metal filings, calcium, or other impurities from oil that can damage other components of the air compressor.

The Oil Filters cannot be cleaned. They usually last over six months (under moderate environmental conditions), so they should be replaced with the new one after six months or 1000 hours of operation, whichever comes first.

Remember to buy a high-quality air compressor oil filter that can withstand high temperatures of the synthetic compressor oil and have a properly working bypass valve.

What is the bypass valve?

A bypass valve is a safety feature of high-quality air compressor oil filters.

The oil-injected screw air compressor requires oil to lower the temperature of the compressor element and air during compression. If the oil filter is too dirty and not replaced on time, it can hinder the supply of oil to the compressor, which can cause the compressor element to heat up and damage very quickly.

This is where the bypass valve is needed. It works when the oil filter gets too dirty or clogged. It bypasses the filtration process by opening and allowing the oil to flow without going through the oil filter.

It is almost impossible to prevent water or moisture from entering the oil-injected screw air compressor. This water can mix up with the oil in the compressor, reduce its performance and cause heat to build up inside. This can cause your air compressor to burst into flames.

In order to avoid such incidents, the air compressors come with a built-in air compressor separator, also called a water-oil separator. For extra protection, external air compressor separators are also installed.

The oil-water separator doesn’t need to be replaced often. However, they should be adequately and regularly inspected, maintained, and cleaned to stay in good working order.

If you notice any damage, breakage problems, distortions, or any irregularity, then you can replace it with the new one.

Summing Up Some Of The Important Maintenance Tip For The 3 Key Spare Parts For Screw Air Compressors

• The inspection, repair, maintenance, replacement, and cleaning of the spare parts should only be done by authorized and well-trained professionals. They must follow the instructions mentioned in the user manual provided by the manufacturer.
• Only buy high-quality and genuine spare parts from an authorized vendor, as inferior quality and counterfeit parts can reduce the performance and damage the air compressing system.
• Schedule the maintenance procedure and religiously follow it to increase the machine life, maintain the performance, and reduce the repairing cost.
• Consider all the factors, including size, capacity, and quality, while buying the spare parts.
• Regularly clean the air compressor as external dirt, rust, and other accumulations can pollute the airflow and damage your machine.
• Try operating the air compressor in a clean and well-ventilated or open environment, as dust and other pollutants in the air can decrease the spare part life and performance, as well as increase the load on the air compressing system. Don’t keep the air compressor near other machinery, paint guns, smoke, aerosol, or other pollutants.
• For the indoor operation of Air compressor, try eliminating all unnecessary indoor pollutants, including tobacco smoke.
• Regularly inspect and clean or replace the key spare parts; air compressor, air filter, oil filter, and separator.