Compressor oil cools, lubricates and protects the metal components in your compressed air system. Choosing the right type and amount of compressor oil is critical to extending your equipment’s lifespan and protecting your investment.
Donaldson’s wrapped air-oil separators feature our proprietary Synteq XP coalescing media to help your system meet low oil carryover requirements while maintaining efficiency and performance. This helps minimize energy use and extends equipment life.
Factors Affecting Oil Performance
Compressor oil is a vital component of a healthy compressed air system, managing wear and tear between the moving parts in your compressor and providing cooling for the compressor. It also helps reduce contaminants in the system.
In a well-maintained compressed air system, the ratio of lubricant to condensate is less than one part per million (ppm). This level of contamination can cause problems in food processing plants when it comes into contact with foods.
Using food grade compressor oil eliminates the risk of this contamination. Additionally, it reduces the cost to collect and dispose of oil contaminated condensate. It also eliminates the cost of energy used to overcome pressure drops in filters, regulators and hoses. Plus, it can help you achieve a lower unloaded horsepower for your compressed air system. All of which can add up to significant savings over time. Depending on your application, you may be able to achieve even further energy savings by selecting an oil-free compressor.
Factors Impacting Compressor Oil
A variety of factors can affect the effectiveness and longevity of air compressor oil. Understanding these factors and selecting a lubricant that is optimized for the particular machine in your plant can improve operational efficiency and reduce maintenance costs.
Many air compressors use mineral or standard oil, which is less expensive than synthetic oils but may binh tich khi not provide adequate lubrication in extreme temperatures or under heavy loads. In addition, mineral oil can oxidize, forming varnish in the compressed air system that increases energy consumption and may damage pneumatic tools and equipment.
A premium air-oil separator is the most important piece of the system for ensuring clean, oil-free air. Donaldson’s wrapped air-oil separators are available with a range of media including their proprietary Synteq XP coalescing media, which offers long life and superior performance that helps you meet low oil carryover standards. This enables energy savings, reduced recirculation of oil and reduced restriction in the distribution system.
Oil Quality and Performance
Engine oil’s primary function is as a friction fighter. A micron-thin layer of oil is all that stands between unlubricated metal surfaces grinding against each other and overheating and serious damage. The amount of energy required to overcome this molecular friction requires careful oil formulation to ensure that it is as low as possible without compromising the shear stress to shear rate characteristics required for optimal operation.
Air compressor oils are a critical component to the operation of your compressed air system and proper selection, storage, maintenance and troubleshooting can significantly impact its efficiency. For the best results, choose a premium quality oil that is designed for your specific compressed air application.
Using a food grade oil is another step up in oil quality, ensuring that it is safe for use in environments where food products are handled. These types of oil are formulated to be tasteless, colorless and odorless and are able to pass the FDA’s maximum permissible concentration for H1 lubricants of 10 parts per million (ppm). The use of this type of oil will reduce the risk of contamination and improve your overall system performance.
Maintaining Compressed Air System Efficiency
It’s essential to have insight into your compressed air system, especially the demand side, to identify energy savings opportunities. This requires more than a routine inspection and changing filters. A more comprehensive approach includes examining all aspects of the system from piping to end-use equipment.
Inspect piping for excessive pressure drop that restricts flow and drives up energy demand. Minimizing this problem begins with choosing appropriate piping sizes for the system and its intended use.
Correcting air leaks is often the biggest opportunity for energy savings because they account for the majority of system energy waste. Inspecting and repairing these leaks regularly is an important part of preventive maintenance.
Inspecting compressors for loose connections, belt condition, paint conditions and hot spots, as well as checking acoustic noise levels, vibration and bearing temperature help ensure efficient operation and lower operating costs. Using Donaldson premium air-oil separators with low oil carryover also saves energy by keeping the highly engineered and expensive lubricant inside the compressor where it belongs.
