How to deal with oil in the instrument air supply?
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In our instrument air production system, the instrument air produced contains a significant amount of oil. An inspection of the pneumatic valve diaphragm head shows that there is oil in the instrument air. Our process for producing instrument air is as follows: air is first compressed by an oil-lubricated air compressor, then filtered, and subsequently passed through a pressure swing adsorption drying system. After that, it goes through a primary filter element to remove oil, before reaching the instrument air tank and being used in the equipment. To remove oil, how do you handle this in your installations, dear friends? Add activated carbon filtration?
You can suggest adding another oil filter in the process
The method upstairs works; add it at the inlet of the instrument air.
An oil filter can be added at the instrument air inlet
Oil contamination in instrument air is mainly addressed at the source: First, oil-free lubrication compressors should be used for air compressors, as compressors with oil-based lubrication produce a large amount of oil, and the oil present is difficult to remove. Second, a dryer is added at the gas source outlet; common drying methods include chemical absorption, mechanical separation, and physical adsorption. Usually, two dryers are required, one operating and the other in regeneration mode, with their use switched periodically.
Install a dedicated oil filter at the compressor outlet.
You can suggest adding another oil filter in the process
I suggest you add more equipment, and also check its condition to see if the drying and oil-filtering capabilities are insufficient, as well as whether low temperatures are having an impact.
It is suspected that the gas temperature is high; it is recommended to add freeze-drying and filtration equipment. A temporary solution is to add a primary oil-gas separator.
1. Install an oil removal filter; 2. Use an oil-free compressor