Main functions

Oil-Gas Separators

Working principles

Oil-Gas Separator is a device used to separate gas and liquid (usually oil), which is widely used in compressed air systems, internal combustion engines, vacuum pumps, natural gas processing and other fields. Its main function separated oil mist, oil drops or other liquids from the gas, is to ensure the purity of the gas and recycling of the oil, improving the system efficiency and equipment service life.

1. Separation of oil mist and oil drops; Separate the oil mist and oil drops in the gas to prevent them from entering downstream or being discharged into the environment.

2. Recycling oil; Recycle and reuse the separated oil to reduce operating costs.

3. Protect equipment; Prevent oil from entering the compressor, engine or other equipment to reduce equipment wear and failures.

4. Reduce pollution; Reduce the oil content in the gas to meet environmental emission requirements.

The working principle of the oil-gas separator is usually based on the followings;

   - Inertial separation; Utilize the density difference, and change the direction of air flow to separate the oil drops from the gas due to inertia.

   - Filtration separation; Use filter elements or filter screens to capture oil mist and tiny oil drops in the gas.

   - Coagulation separation；Use special structures (such as baffles, cyclone separators) to condense oil drops into larger particles for easy separation.

   - Centrifugal separation; Use centrifugal force to separate oil drops from the gas.

According to the application and structure, oil-gas separators are mainly divided into the following categories;

1. Compressed air oil-gas separator

   - Used in compressed air systems to separate oil mist and oil drops in compressed air.

   - Commonly found at equipment such as screw compressors and piston compressors.

2. Internal combustion engine oil-gas separator

   - Used in the crankcase ventilation system of internal combustion engines to separate oil mist from crankcase exhaust gas.

   - Also known as crankcase ventilation filter or PCV valve.

3. Vacuum pump oil-gas separator

   - Used in vacuum pump systems to separate oil mist from vacuum pump exhaust.

   - Commonly found at oil-lubricated vacuum pumps.

4. Natural gas oil-gas separator

   - Used in natural gas processing systems to separate liquid hydrocarbons and water from natural gas.

   - Commonly found at natural gas wellheads and transmission pipelines.

1. Separation efficiency; Indicates the ability to separate oil and liquid, usually expressed as a percentage (such as 99.9%).

2. Pressure drop; The pressure loss when the gas through the separator.

3. Oil capacity; The amount of oil and liquid that the separator can hold, which affects the maintenance and replacement.

4. Pressure and temperature resistance; Select suitable separator materials and structures according to the working environment.

The oil-gas separator needs to be inspected and maintained regularly to ensure its effect.

Common maintenance operations;

   - Clean or replace the filter element

   - Drain the separated oil

   - Check the seals and connections

Replacement signals;

   - Decreased separation efficiency (increased oil content in the gas)

   - Significant increase in pressure drop

   - Abnormal equipment operation (such as oil in the compressor exhaust)

1. Blockage; the separator may be blocked by sludge and impurities after long-term use, resulting in increased pressure drop.

2. Decreased separation efficiency; Aging or damage to the filter element will cause a decrease in separation efficiency and oil to enter the downstream.

3. Oil leakage; Damaged seals or improper installation may cause oil leakage.

Oil-gas separators are widely used in the following;

   - Compressed air systems; such as factory pneumatic equipment气动设备, spraying equipment喷涂设备.

   - Internal combustion engines; such as automobile, truck, ship engines.

   - Vacuum pumps; such as laboratories, medical equipment.

   - Natural gas processing; such as natural gas extraction, transportation and storage.

   - Industrial equipment; such as hydraulic systems, lubrication systems.

1. Gas type; such as air, natural gas, exhaust gas, etc.

2. Flow and pressure; Select the appropriate separator specifications according to system requirements.

3. Oil type; such as mineral oil, synthetic oil, lubricating oil, etc.

4. Environmental conditions; such as temperature, humidity, corrosive, etc.

5. Separation accuracy; Select the separation efficiency according to the gas purity requirements.

1. Efficient separation; Develop filter elements and technologies with higher separation efficiency.

2. Intelligence; Integrated sensors and monitoring systems to monitor the status of the separator in real time.

3. Environmental-friendly materials; Use recyclable or degradable materials to reduce environmental pollution.

4. Multifunctional integration; Integrate separation, filtration and recovery functions into one.

Key performance indicators

Common faults

Types

Maintenance and replacement

Application

Future development trends

Key factors for selecting oil-gas separators