DEMISTER

Why a „Demister“ is required?

A brand within the Atlas Copco Group 1

 Function of the „Demister“

The function of the „Demister“ is to separate

the oil from the gas.

The method of operation is similar to a

separator.

A brand within the Atlas Copco Group 2

 Function of the „Demister“

Gas discharge side

Gas suction side

G
a compression
s Mesh

O Leakgas
i
l
Oil

A brand within the Atlas Copco Group 3

 Function of the „Demister“

• At a trunk piston compressor the leak gas of the

piston ring gaps streams into the crankcase orifice
where it gets mixed with the oil mist.

• The leak gas needs to be relieved into the G

suction line to avoid over pressure in the crank a
case whereas the oil mist has to be separated Mesh
and led back into the oil sump.
s
O
• As there is always a small leakage through the i
piston rings the pressure inside the crankcase is l
always a little bit higher than the suction pressure
(approx. 100 to 300 mbars). The overpressure is
basically dependent on the leak gas rate
(condition of piston rings) as well as the orifice
diameter.

A brand within the Atlas Copco Group 4

 Function of the „Demister“

• If the vent line were connected directly at the

suction line, the oil mist would get into the suction
line of the 1st stage. orifice

• The oil mist will start to condensate in the suction

line. The result of it is that the 1st stage valve G
would be saturated with oil. a
Mesh
s
O
i
l

A brand within the Atlas Copco Group 5

 Function of the „Demister“

Result of such an oil carry-over orifice

• Valve 1st stage failure.

• Overheat of the valve and cylinder followed G
by: a
 Excessive wear of piston rings because of s
Mesh

the heat expansion.

 Piston rings start to scratch at the cylinder
O
bore. i
 After the rings are worn, the piston l
scratches at the cylinder bore
 Collapse of the piston pin bearing.

A brand within the Atlas Copco Group 6

 Function of the „Demister“
Countermeasures to avoid such failures
• Install a demister
orifice
• What needs to be taken into consideration:
 The volume of the demister has to be big enough to
reduce the gas speed suffiently enough to allow the
oil drops to fall down. G
 The volume of the mesh has to be big enough to a
allow to separate the oil from the gas. Mesh
s
 An adequate orifice has to be installed between the
demister and the suction line to reduce the gas flow
O
pulsation (usually Ø 6 mm) caused by crankcase i
volume change due to moving pistons. l

A brand within the Atlas Copco Group 7

 Function of the „Demister“
According to the following pictures, the compressor surely had some valve failures
including the above mentioned problems…

Mesh not correctly installed Orifice was already broken,

 Missing mesh in the middle repaired

A brand within the Atlas Copco Group 8