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HYDRAULICS & PNEUMATICS
FEATURE
WHY OIL/WATER SEPARATORS SHOULD BE AN ESSENTIAL PART OF COMPRESSOR DESIGN
Compressor condensate is classified as hazardous waste and the regulations governing its treatment and disposal are stringent.
Steve Boults of compressed air and fluid power specialist Thorite explains how to help protect both the environment and company reputations when designing and specifying compressors
E
very compressor generates condensate as a by-product of the compression process, and its toxic composition
requires that it must be treated and disposed of safely. Breaching this legislation can result in severe penalties – companies can face fines of £20,000 and, in worse case scenarios, directors can face a prison sentence. The solution to avoiding potentially high penalties and reputational risk, and protecting the natural environment, is to employ a compressor condensate oil/water separator. While the separator is not an integral part of
the compressor design, it is an essential piece of equipment in most industrial environments to ensure that the compressor functions in a safe and legal fashion.
“It is best practice to be aware of the need to have an oil/water separator fitted to a new compressor, and
factor one into design specifications”
OIL/WATER SEPARATORS
Condensate is caused when the compressed air temperature decreases. Contaminants such as lubricants, solid particles and airborne micro- organisms are present in the compressed air, producing a mix of contaminated condensate. An oil/water separator is necessary to
separate the water from the contaminated oil, ready for safe disposal in accordance with the Hazardous Waste (England and Wales) Regulations 2005. Without one, the toxic waste will be discharged
into the waste water system or, in some cases, directly onto the compressor house floor, where it can drain to the ground outside and make its way into local waterways. This activity is illegal. Oil/water separators range from as little as
£100 to just a few thousand pounds at the larger end of the scale. We estimate, however, that as many as 40% of compressed air plants fail to use one. The main reason for this is lack of awareness by managers and operatives of the laws governing condensate disposal. Crucially, this also combines
with a strong reliance on the compressor designer or specifier to have delivered a ‘total package’ which incorporates every operational requirement. This ‘knowledge gap’ can lead
to a compressor being fitted without having the necessary equipment in place to ensure safe and legal disposal of the condensate it produces. Therefore, while it is not the designer or specifier’s ultimate responsibility, it is best practice to be aware of the need to have an oil/water separator fitted to a new compressor, and factor one into design specifications. With finances stretched and every penny needing to be accounted for, it is also advisable to be able to explain to management why an oil/water separator is essential, so a grasp of the legislation governing condensate disposal is useful.
LEGISLATION In addition to the Hazardous Waste Regulations, the two pieces of legislation to be aware of are: • The Water Resources Act 1991 – this states that it is an offence to knowingly permit entry of toxic waste to surface or ground water. The penalty is a fine of £20,000 or more. • The Water Industry Act 1991 – this sets out the administrative requirements relating to the discharge of treated condensate water. It also states that under no circumstances can treated condensate water be discharged to
Oil water separators separate the water from the contaminated oil
open water such as rivers and streams, ground water or storm/rainwater drains. Breaching the Act can incur fines of up to £20,000 and possible imprisonment for company directors. The seriousness of these penalties highlights the importance of being well informed and ensuring the compressor’s end user is aware of the legal ramifications of not properly treating and disposing of compressor condensate. It is also worth noting that if oily condensate
Leaking condensate
is allowed to build up in a separator it will eventually fail and cause damage, so the oil/water separator should be part of the regular maintenance schedule to reduce the risk of failure. Ultimately, the ethical
implications of industrial processes polluting the local environment, whether knowingly or not, are too high to be ignored by anybody involved in the purchase or supply of a new compressor – regardless of where the buck should officially stop.
Thorite
www.thorite.co.uk JUNE 2023 DESIGN SOLUTIONS 35
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