Field Air compressors (Pty) Ltd. Was officially established in 1992. We are a company based on family values with over 20-years’ experience in the compressed air industry. We offer many products, specializing in air compressors of most brands. We offer servicing, maintenance, and spares for all types of compressors, as well as hire out units as required. We distribute Chicago Pneumatic Air compressors and air tools. Our sales team offer friendly service and we have an experienced technical team to offer you any technical advice when required.

Function – During compression oil is injected to lubricate, seal and absorb the heat of compression, then what comes out of the compressor element is a mixture of compressed air and oil. The oil separator separates the oil from the air as the oil needs to stay inside the compressor to keep it lubricated while the compressed air needs to exist the compressor, free of oil.

On smaller machines and with certain manufacturers the separator filter can look exactly like an oil filter but only bigger. It can also screw on like an oil filter.

Most of the oil is separated by a centrifugal force. The air-oil mixture enters the separator vessel at an angle so most of the oil is pushed outside and drops down into the oil vessel. Usually, there is a splash plate installed that prevents the air-oil mixture from hitting the separator filter directly, 85% of the oil is separated this way. The remaining 15% exists the compressed air as small droplets and mist. As this oily compressed air flows through the separator filter, the small droplets combine and form large drops until they fall and collect at the bottom of the separator filter, this oil is then sucked up and removed by the scavenge line.

The separator is fitted into the splash screen which prevents the incoming air-oil mixture from directly hitting the separator filter.