The "kidneys" of screw air compressors – oil separator

In screw air compressors, the oil separator element is considered the "kidney" of the equipment—it finely separates oil and gas in compressed air, achieving an oil 

content as low as ≤5 ppm in the separated gas.

Oil separator elements need regular replacement, but many operators only focus on sealing during replacement, neglecting a crucial check—static electricity 

(conductivity) testing.

During operation, the oil separator element easily generates static electricity due to friction from high-speed airflow. not discharged promptly, static electricity 

accumulation can ignite sparks, causing filter media burn-through, or even an oil separator explosion! Such accidents occur frequently in the industry.

Correct Operation: Before installing a new oil separator element, ensure its static electricity conductive device (such a metal sheet or copper wire) is intact and 

reliably in contact with the casing; after installation, use a multimeter to measure the resistance between the oil separator element flange and the oil-gas separator 

grounding point; it should be less than 1Ω; never use products with damaged or detached static electricity conductive components.

Other Precautions: The oil return pipe should be inserted 2-3mm from the bottom of the filter element to ensure smooth oil return; tighten the bolts on the casing 

cover evenly at the diagonals.

Safety is paramount; prevention is better than cure. A simple conductivity test could avert a major accident.