Compressor Condensate Mangement Systems 1

[BKmfgeng]

I am looking to install a compressor condensate management system in our plant. We use IR UltraCoolant which is a polyglycol lubricant in our compressors that is supposed to be hard to seperate. I have talked to various suppliers (IR PolySep, Kaeser KCF, Donaldson Ultrafilter, and Worthington units). I'm having a difficult time drawing a conclusion. Does anyone have a recommendation on a particular unit or manufacturer, or is there anything you found that definitely doesn't work? Also - sending pressurized drains into one of the units - does the "expansion chamber" really work or does it still make a big mess?

Thanks,
Brian Knaebel
Staff Engineer
Cardinal Health

 

[BronYrAur]

I have used the Kaeser system in the past with much success, although I don't know what lubricant was used. If your at the McGaw Park or Woodstock, IL plants by chance, I can pass on some vendor contacts to you.

 

[crjones]

A PAO(poly alpha olefin) has a better characteristic than with respect to water than a polyglycol. You can go to Mobil or Shell and get some very good product. The problem with water retention in the lubricant comes from not getting it hot enough. A lightly loaded air compressor from any manufacturer can give you the problem you are seeing.

 

[BKmfgeng]

Thanks BronYrAur! I am located at the Thermal manufacturing facility in Moberly, MO. he John Henry Foster company out of St Louis is our IR dealer, and I have been working directly with the Kaeser rep also out of St Louis.