User:Richard Firestine

Air and gas compressors create condensate through compression and cooling, when the process air/gas is cooled for the application requirements usually by air to air or air to water heat exchangers, condensation occurs. Further condensate can also be removed by other means such as mechanical, chemical, cyclonic, refrigeration and adsorption etc. The condensate may contain oil from the compressor and other contaminants which are ingested in the compressor and flow through the compression cycle. These are some of the estimates made by people within the compressed air industry "A 100 HP compressor operating in a climate of 70°F with 80% humidity generates approximately 2 gallons of condensate each hour. A 200 HP compressor operating in a climate of 60 degrees F with 40 percent relative humidity can generate approximately 50 gallons of condensate a day. However, that same compressor operating in a climate of 90 degrees F with 70 percent relative humidity can generate approximately 260 gallons of condensate a day". Pressure, temperature and relative humidity can can alter these estimates greatly. The condensate PPM of oil from the compressor in the condensate can be 1% or higher, the compressor manufacturers, oil type, type of compressor and integrity of the internal separation devices within the compressor can have an effect on the PPM. Condensate is usually disposed of by draining into a sewer system, storm drain or treatment plant, not all condensate contains oil and contaminants which are at unacceptable levels of PPM, but the ones that are need to be treated. The Clean Water Act of 1970 created the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) which is currently enforcing its regulations to maintain a safe and green environment. Title 40, Part 279 of the Code of Federal Regulations dictates the Rules Governing Proper Handling and Disposal of Used Oil. These rules specify that there can be no more than 40 ppm oil in the waste water drained to sewers. There are local, state, and federal regulations regarding contaminant disposal. Treatment of the condensate can be done by chemical separation, mechanical separation, specific gravity separation, vaporization of the water to separate the oil and membrane separation are the most common.