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The hazards of oil contamination in compressed air systems; oil removal is crucial

2022-09-28View Original

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The sources of oil contamination in compressed air are very diverse; it comes not only from lubricating oils but also from the atmospheric environment. While many people are aware of the oil contamination caused by lubricating oils entering the air compressor system, they tend to overlook the oil contamination originating from the atmosphere. In fact, when the environmental quality of the air is poor, compression of the atmosphere leads to an increase in the oil content within it, resulting in a higher concentration. Oil contamination in air compressor systems has always been a challenge in compress air purification. It arises either from the oil used for lubrication within the compressors themselves or from hydrocarbon contaminants present in the ambient air. If left unaddressed, it can have a severe impact on the system and production processes: ① Oil vapors that accumulate in storage tanks can form flammable substances, posing a risk of explosion ; ②Just one drop of oil can alter the condition of the air valve pores; it can cause the seals of the air valve to expand, leading to slow operation or malfunction, or even blockage, which may result in a complete shutdown of the production line ; ③The vaporized oil mist forms organic acids that cause corrosion to equipment and instruments ; ④It causes rusting of the system pipes; the accumulated rust can block the pipelines or contaminate subsequent systems ; ⑤It can directly contaminate pharmaceuticals, food, and the like; during powder conveying, it easily leads to poor flowability and a series of problems such as blockages. The most direct way to address oil contamination in compressed air is post-treatment oil removal, which can completely eliminate oil contamination from the system. Because whether it is oil in the environment or lubricating oil used in systems, similar to water removal, cold dryers and desiccants are required for this purpose. We cannot eliminate moisture from the air; instead, we have to install devices for water removal directly at the later stages. Degreasing is the most direct way to remove oil completely. Of course, when it comes to oil removal, it is necessary to choose equipment that can remove oil effectively and achieve a level of oil removal of 0. Therefore, catalytic oxidation-based oil removal equipment is currently the recommended option; such equipment does not require any consumables, and it represents a type of oil removal filter that differs from conventional adsorption methods. Of course, in some factories with favorable operating conditions, using oil-free machines directly can also achieve an oil-free environment. However, in the pharmaceutical industry—especially in situations where products come into direct contact with oils—it is still recommended to add oil removal equipment for greater reliability.

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