domnick hunter - a division of Parker-Hannifin Corporation. World-Class Filtration, Purification and Separation Solutions to Industry

3.4.3 - Separators

The cooling of the compressed air in the aftercooler causes condensate to form and this must be removed from the air flow. By means of a vortex separator after the aftercooler, the condensate is separated from the compressed air and then periodically drained from the system, using a condensate drain. The compressed air containing water droplets and aerosols flows into the separator passing through a spin impeller, the latter causing a rotating flow of air. The centrifugal force projects water and aerosol droplets against the separator wall from which they then flow downwards into the separator bowl.As with a natural cyclone, the compressed air in the bottom of the separator undergoes a centrally upward directed diversion to the outlet. Vortex separators (see Part 4; paragraph 4.3.1) are effective and require no maintenance as they do not accumulate dirt.