| Condensate consists primarily of the water contained in the air drawn into the compressor and which forms during compression. The Condensate also contains many impurities.
- Mineral oil aerosols and unburnt hydrocarbons from the air.
- Particles of dust and dirt of the most varied kinds from the air.
- Cooling and lubricating oil from the compressor.
- Rust, scuff, pieces of sealing material and weld from the pipeline.
Condensate is highly contaminated because of its high content of harmful substances, and for this reason it must be disposed of responsibly. The mineral oils in the condensate are hard to biodegrade and are detrimental to oxygen enrichment and material disintegration in sewage works. This reduces the efficiency of the entire water treatment effort. The consequences are a hazard to nature and human health.
Distinctions must be made between condensate from different pneumatic systems. The condensate has different properties, depending on environmental conditions and the compressor. For example :
- Oil lubricated compressor systems.
On compressors of this type the oil washes a part of the aggressive and solid matter out of the air in the compression chamber. The result of this is that oil-lubricated systems normally produce condensate that has a pH-value in the neutral range.
- Oil-free compressor systems.
Most of the harmful substances in oil-free systems are discharged with the condensate. This is why the condensate has an acidic pH-value. pH-values between 4 and 5 are not uncommon.
The consistency of the condensates also changes with marginal conditions. Most condensates are as fluid as water. But pasteous condensates can occur in exceptional cases. |