Air-Oil Separation

Question What causes oil carryover

to increase?
#1 - High velocity through the media
-Plugging or masking of media
-Draw-down (demand exceeds supply)
-Plugged scavenge

Air-Oil Separation
How Does an AOS Work?

First - coalescing stage

Fine glass micro-fibers
coalesce the oil aerosol into
larger drops.

Second - drain stage

Coarse polyester fibers catch
the drops and drain them to the
bottom.

Coalescing Process
Coalescing Stage
Fine glass fibers

Small droplets collide to form

larger drops which are too
heavy to remain entrained in
the air stream

Drain Stage
Coarse polyester fibers

Air-Oil Separation
Scavenge tube

Tank and lid

Separator Element

Air-Oil Separation

Question What causes oil

carryover to increase?
#2 High Temperature
-High ambient, low oil or inadequate cooling
-Oil vaporization Cannot coalesce a
vapor
-Change in viscosity and surface tension,
especially with mineral oils

Air-Oil Separation

Question What causes oil carryover

to increase?
#3 - Damaged or defective separator element
-High p, flow reversal, manufacturing
defects

Air-Oil Separation

Element Collapsed
Designed to withstand
50 PSID (3.45 bar)
High delta-p caused by
contamination or
masking
High velocity
Could be caused by a
manufacturing defect

Air-Oil Separation

Element Burst
Reversal of flow
Defective MPCV
No media support
upstream
Not a Mfg defect