Keep compressor condensate disposal legal
Fourth Quarter 2007
Pneumatic systems & components
Compressed air condensate separators are usually large, messy items that are expensive to own and maintain. For many companies the cost alone is enough to deter them from using a separator, despite the heavy legal penalties for expelling untreated oily condensate to drain, or ground.
Oil/water separators using a settling tank and a weir device are commonly used to remove oil from condensate extracted from compressed air systems, so that the bulk of the condensate can be safely put into a 'foul' drain system. Consider, however, that the settling tank contains many litres of condensate contaminated with oil and allowed to stew in a nice warm compressor house. Within a few weeks, the settling tank becomes a bacteria-laden broth and a substantial health hazard.
An answer to both environmental and health and safety compliance is to move from weir-type to filter-type condensate separation. A new device manufactured by Condensate Systems, Sepura, uses a compact, low cost construction that improves the affordability of compliance for compressor users. Three Sepura models, covering up to 1250 m³/h (750 cfm) compressor capacity are already in production, and a fourth (1500 cfm) model is due to launch in late 2007.
With Sepura, Condensate Systems has devised a solution in the form of a compact separator costing a fraction of conventional equipment. It also performs to within 0,1% of total lubricant separation. Testing has shown the units achieve an average of less than 5 ppm in the drain water, over 2000 hours.
The three Sepura separator models which are currently in production
Housed in a distinctive blue polymer moulding, the few working parts of the new separator are extremely simple, non-mechanical and with the exception of filter changes, eliminate maintenance. Unlike in a weir-type separator, the design does not rely on the oil coming out of suspension, which is by no means guaranteed with modern lubricants.
When the condensate enters the separator it is first depressurised safely in a primary filter, made from 50% recycled polypropylene. The bulk of the lubricant is adsorbed here, along with any particulates, before the filtrate is polished with an activated carbon filter.
For more information contact Condensate Systems, +44 (0)1543 379212, [email protected], www.oil-water.com
Further reading:
How to clean compressed air effectively
Pneumatic systems & components
ISO-Reliability Partners has taken another step in bringing to market highly effective solutions to combat contamination in all its forms. The locally designed and patented Air Wizard inline water trap is proudly manufactured in South Africa. It has been SABS tested for the separation of water, oily fluids, rust and solid particulates from pneumatic compressed air or gas lines.
Read more...
Compressed air piping design
Artic Driers International
Editor's Choice Pneumatic systems & components
When designing a compressed air pipeline, remember that size matters. The internal size of the pipe, along with the pressure and air volume, determine the velocity of the compressed air in the pipeline.
Read more...
Top questions about pressure gauges
SA Gauge
Editor's Choice Pneumatic systems & components
Some questions never go out of date, and in our industry, a few have been asked for decades. At SA Gauge, we hear them every week. Here are the ten questions we hear most often, and the practical answers that can save time, money and frustration.
Read more...
Achieving clean and dry compressed air for faultless operation
Artic Driers International
Pneumatic systems & components
Compressed air is an expensive source of motive power so it makes good sense to supply clean, dry compressed air to your distribution system.
Read more...
Controlling pneumatics via IO-Link
ifm - South Africa
Pneumatic systems & components
Pneumatic airboxes control cylinders or actuators using compressed air, and are found in a wide range of industrial applications.
Read more...
The role of analogue gauges in a digital world
SA Gauge
Pneumatic systems & components
With so much focus on digital systems, remote monitoring and automation, it’s easy to assume that traditional analogue gauges are outdated. Yet in almost any plant, mine or processing facility, you’ll still find them in daily use. There’s a good reason for this.
Read more...
It’s full steam ahead for SKF’s sustainable leak detection solution
SKF South Africa
Pneumatic systems & components
One of SKF’s key customers based in Cape Town, which depends on steam systems for its production processes, was facing costly challenges related to high energy consumption and excessive maintenance hours. SKF recommended the TKSU 10 ultrasonic leak detector as a more streamlined, user-friendly alternative.
Read more...
Dynamic compressor control system with energy savings
Pneumatic systems & components
CompAir has launched Ecoplant, a dynamic, compressed air management solution that adjusts compressor parameters in real time, offering up to 30 per cent reductions in energy costs and CO
2 emissions.
Read more...
Is your compressed air system sustainable?
Artic Driers International
Pneumatic systems & components
We are all aware that compressed air is an expensive source of motive power, but do we actually know what the cost is?
Read more...
Reliable, flexible and cost-effective rental compressed air
Pneumatic systems & components
More businesses are turning to Integrated Air Solutions for rented on-demand compressed air, without the burden of capital expenditure.
Read more...
printer friendly version