Condensate

What is air compressor condensate?

Condensate occurs in all air compressor systems and is usually made up of water and oil. The reason for its build-up is due to the fact air is compressed to around 12 times normal atmospheric pressure and can therefore no longer hold as much water as before, resulting in the water vapour condensing back into liquid. Increasing quantities of contaminated condensate are found oil-lubricated systems due to the increased amount of oil within the system.

What are the implications of condensate?

There are a few implications surrounding the build-up of condensate that can result in air compressor failures if not managed properly. Contaminated condensate is a leading cause of pipe corrosion, damage to pneumatic controls, excessive wear and tear including rusting, as well as damage to circuits and in-line filters. Moreover, by not removing condensate, you could be risking the contamination of your end product, affecting your entire production line and supply chain.

With operational cost at an all time high, the benefits of managing your condensate build-up and ensuring the elimination of unexpected downtime are easy to see.

Why does condensate need to be managed?

Due to the highly concentrated nature of condensate, it is considered a hazardous by-product and must be managed properly. Removing condensate isn’t just a case of disposing the waste as it is. Condensate management systems use specialised filtration techniques to separate the components of the condensate to ensure its safe disposal.

It’s essential to use a licensed disposal company for your condensate waste to ensure it is done legally and ethically. Hazardous condensate can cause long-term damage to waterways and the surrounding areas and therefore we highly recommend using a company like Maziak to provide you with professional condensate management.

If you’re looking for ways to reduce costs, Maziak supplied and fits the Sterling range of condensate cleaners, suitable for all air compressor capacities up to 1250m3/h/750cfm. Its filter has an average life cycle of up to 6 months, and combined with a life-time guarantee (if installed correctly), the Sterling system range has one of the lowest available running costs on the market.

Get in touch with the team at Maziak today and find out how we can help your business.