Clean Up Compressed Air Condensate

03/09/07 - A high-performance compressor lubricant - Sullube - from Australian compressed air specialists, Champion Compressors, is minimising the environmental impact of compressed air condensate. Sullube’s biodegradable formula (when mixed with water), high viscosity index and ‘shear stability’ make it the first-choice ‘green’ lubricant for oil-injected rotary screw compressors.

An unavoidable by-product of all compressed air systems, compressed air condensate is a liquid combination of waste products - such as water, oil and particulates--that are removed from compressed air. Often containing harmful hydrocarbons, compressed air condensate has the potential to cause damage to the environment. “Many compressor owners consider condensate as wastewater, and regard discharging it directly to the ground, sewer and stormwater as acceptable,” said Dino Alessio, Champion Compressors marketing manager. “This is not the case, especially if the air compressor employs hydrocarbon-based lubricants.”

Discharging condensate directly into surrounding earth or unbunded concrete foundations can be extremely problematic. Condensate ingress into surrounding soil can result in site-wide contamination that requires costly clean-up procedures. In some cases, businesses can be held responsible for the contamination years after moving from the property. Condensate run-off can also find its way into stormwater drains, effectively extending the impact of contamination.

According to Alessio, Sullube was developed to provide excellent protection for compressors, while keeping the environment in mind.  “Usually biodegradable or non-hydrocarbon lubricants such as Sullube, are able to be discharged to sewer, precluding the need for costly oil/water separators,” he said. “This provides enormous environmental benefits, given the thousands of litres of oil/water condensate generated each year.”

With an operational lifetime of up to 8000 hours, Sullube reduces the total volume of lubricant disposed into the environment. Sullube does not result in the same level of varnish build-up as other lubricants, which decreases the need for chemical cleaning.

The entire range of Champion Compressors rotary screw compressors is factory-filled with the Sullube lubricant. “We’ve crunched the numbers, and determined that the payback period for using Sullube is only a matter of months,” he said. “We’ve proved to our customers that they can save money and be environmentally responsible at the same time.”