In every compressed air treatment plant, there is condensate which must be discharged outside the system. Draining the moisture from compressed air systems ensures less downtime and damage due to rust and scale. OMI drains are designed for long life and require minimum maintenance. They are critical components in the quest for system efficiency and reliability. Drains can be found on an intercooler, after-cooler, filter, dryer, receiver, drip leg, or at the point of use.
When a drain fails to discharge the condensate, the condensate can carry over into the system, causing a build-up of contaminants in dryers, receivers and filters. On multiple stage compressors, moisture carryover from the intercooler may allow liquid into the next stage, causing premature wear and a potentially catastrophic failure.
Contaminants can enter a system at the compressor intake or be introduced into the airstream by the system itself. Lubricant, metal particles, rust, and pipe scale are all separated and filtered out, and drains have to operate correctly for the filters and separators to complete their task successfully.