Oil and air flows: your step-by-step guide

Filtration & 1st stage compression and cooling

The air is drawn into the compressor through the inlet filter where it is cleaned. Then, it continues to the first compression stage. There, it is compressed to an intermediate pressure. The compressed air flows through the pulsation dampener to the intercooler. It is cooled down there. After the intercooler, it passes through a moisture separation system with automated drains to remove the condensate before entering the high-pressure stage. The blow off valve and two pressure relief valves located after the moisture separator. They safeguard the system from accidents.

2^nd stage compression

After the intercooler, the air is compressed in the high-pressure stage to the final pressure. Then, the high pressure compressed air flows through pulsation dampener and check valve.

Cooling – 2^nd stage

For a machine with an integrated dryer, the compressor air flow splits into two parts. The first part which is approximately 60% of the total flow goes through aftercooler. There, moisture is separated and evacuated. The second part goes directly to the regeneration area of the heat of compression MD dryer.

Integrated dryer

The flow to regeneration side of the dryer can be controlled through the flow control valve present in the circuit. In the regeneration area of the dryer, the hot air regenerates the adsorption drum after which it passes through the regeneration cooler where it is cooled down and moisture is separated and evacuated. Then, the cold air coming from the regeneration section is mixed with the cold air from the aftercooler in the nozzle before passing through the drying section of the adsorption drum where the moisture is removed. Dry air leaves the compressor through the outlet connection flange.

Oil

The oil path (indicated in yellow) starts with the oil pump which takes oil from the oil sump and pumps the oil into the element jackets to remove heat from elements. After flowing through both element jackets in series and removing heat, the hot oil is now sent to oil cooler to be cooled. The cooled oil from oil cooler flows through a high efficiency filter to give cool and clean oil to the gears for lubrication. Then, the oil flows back to the oil sump. The oil bypass valves present in the oil circuit protect the oil filter and oil cooler from high pressure and make sure sufficient oil pressure is maintained in the oil circuit.