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Fig. 3.34: Components of the oil circuit | The oil injected into the compressor stage performs the following functions:
– Extraction of compression heat (cooling)
– Sealing the gap between the rotors and their housing
– Lubricating the bearings
1 = Compressed air/oil separator vessel
The oil is separated from the compressed air by reducing the air flow velocity in the separator vessel in which the oil collects.
System pressure forces this oil out of the separator vessel into the compressor stage.
2 = Thermal bypass valve
The thermal bypass valve directs the oil through the oil cooler or through a bypass (e.g., in the warm-up stage). The oil is thus always at its optimum operating temperature.
3 = Oil cooler (air or water)
The oil cooler reduces the oil temperature to optimum conditions prior to injection into the compressor stage.
4 = Oil filter
The oil filter retains impurities from the oil and prevents problems of contamination in the oil circulation system.
5 = Compressor stage
The oil injected in the compressed air is directed back into the compressed air/oil vessel, where it is separated by gravitational forces.
6 = Scavenging line
The compressor stage draws any residual o i l that has collected in the separator back into the oil circuit via the scavenging line. |