Fire at oil seperation device
Fire at oil seperation device
(OP)
Our 50 hp screw air compressor was burned. the fire started inside the oil-air seperation device.
Originaly the seperator was made of 3 cloth cylinders, but recently it was replaced by 1 big "filter" - cylinderical screen inside a metal screen casing.
the question is - was it wise to use a metal screen, could it possibly create a spark that initiated the fire?
Are there other effects that could start the fire?
Originaly the seperator was made of 3 cloth cylinders, but recently it was replaced by 1 big "filter" - cylinderical screen inside a metal screen casing.
the question is - was it wise to use a metal screen, could it possibly create a spark that initiated the fire?
Are there other effects that could start the fire?





RE: Fire at oil seperation device
Hot compressed air and oil makes a diesel engine effect ie combustion. Check out your oil cooler, maybe not effective for some reason
Offshore Engineering&Design
RE: Fire at oil seperation device
Best regards
Morten
RE: Fire at oil seperation device
RE: Fire at oil seperation device
You can get 20:1 compression ratios in a flooded screw, but it happens over the length of the screw and the oil flood is a much better heat transfer medium than air--20 compression ratios would (depending on the oil flow rate) raise the gas temperature 50-60F, not nearly high enough to give you autoignition.
David
David Simpson, PE
MuleShoe Engineering
www.muleshoe-eng.com
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RE: Fire at oil seperation device
RE: Fire at oil seperation device
Interesting.
Static is of course be the most probable ignition source.
From basic the 'other two' factors is oxygen (air) and the correct mixture/temperature of 'something ignitable', in this case probably a mixture of oil/gas.
The second question then is if geometry, volume available, mixture, temperature or other differences created by rebuilding the filter could be considered as contributing to ignition.
Electrical faults could contribute to ignition and also static from plastics as well as metal.