Is the size of the oil-water separator in a reciprocating compressor related to the compression volume?

Using throttling does not have any safety or efficiency benefits for oil-water separation. Throttling is often accompanied by a pressure reduction effect; according to Bernoulli’s principle, the pressure drop resulting from fluid throttling necessarily leads to an increase in the flow velocity. This not only has a negative impact on gas-liquid separation but also exacerbates noise and humming. In reciprocating piston compressors, gas flow pulses occur both at the inlet and outlet, necessitating the use of efficient vane-type gas-liquid separators in the suction section, between stages, and at the discharge section. Such separators offer a combined function of efficient separation, surge prevention, and noise reduction; especially in high-pressure operating conditions, it is essential to use such efficient three-in-one gas-liquid separators. Simply using a simple throttle orifice plate can instead lead to noise and hissing, as well as the dispersion of liquid droplets, due to the acceleration caused by the throttling of the airflow. For reciprocating, centrifugal, or screw compressors, the size of the gas-liquid separator/oil-water separator is closely related to the compression volume. Furthermore, the structure and configuration of the separator internals are also closely related to the compression volume. For compressor systems with the same rated gas production volume under standard conditions, the higher the pressure, the lower the volumetric flow rate of the gas stream. This, in turn, results in a higher density of the gas phase and a smaller density difference between the gas and liquid phases, which has a significant impact on the design of the gas-liquid separator.