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Superfridge
13-09-2020, 07:15 AM
Hi all,
Sometimes refrigeration skids chuck oil due to operation issues and some due to design flaws chuck oil all the time and we as fridge's have to pipe up a oil return system to save the customer excessive oil costs and limit waste oil. I've seen a multitude of designs returning oil from various collection points using pressure differences and/or venturi/eductors as drivers. What I have yet to see is a suitable filtration system that can filter this sometimes heavily contaminated oil to an acceptable level. I've googled a bit and there is doesn't seam to be many on the market that are ammonia refrigeration specific. One is the WITT Oil Filter. Otherwise a pressure rated oil filter from a hydraulics supplier is another option but the ammonia compatibility is a problem. I know returning oil to a compressor is not recommended and fixing the problem is always best but sometimes "ya gota do what ya gota do".

Any suggestions?

josef
13-09-2020, 08:03 AM
Friend,
I don't want to betray you, but I witnessed the dirty oil coming back through the filter (Sabroe) back into the compressor and a deposit was forming at the bottom.
Oil return is possible in new installations.

Josef.

RANGER1
13-09-2020, 09:04 AM
Super fridge,
If oil is heavily contaminated sounds pretty risky.
Oil quality & viscosity is effected, as well as moisture.
If oil reasonably clean looking it can be filtered with automatic return.
If oil pot is warmed up before transfer, that would help filter.
***** systems have 2 micron oil filter/driers, but smaller & expensive.

https://www.airefrig.com.au/file/price_guide/2014_mar/358-364.pdf

Better off fix root cause, or try to reduce.
How much oil are you talking about over a week, month, year?
What sort of compressors & oil separators.

Superfridge
14-09-2020, 09:39 AM
Yes best to fix root cause, can't argue with that. The customer wants an oil return system full stop. I see Sporlan make an ammonia filter drier so perhaps I may go that way.