How to Safely and Accurately Store and Dispose of Oily Condensate
If you are running a compressed air system that uses oil-injected technology, one of your priorities should be learning how to dispose of the condensate in a safe and responsible manner, if you don’t already know how to do so. Since condensate releases toxic particles into the air, you may risk infringing on environmental laws if you do not properly dispose of it. Furthermore, not only is incorrect disposal harmful for the environment and human health, but you could also receive a penalty in the form of a fine and ultimately damage the reputation of your business. If you have a small to midsized air compressor, the best way to avoid these risks is to implement a condensate filtration system. An accurately designed and installed condensate filtration system will ensure that the oil/water found in your compressed air system condensate is separated, thereby reducing the amount of contaminated condensate so that it can be stored and disposed of safely and legally.
Tips for Safe Condensate Storage and Disposal
Each year, your compressed air system produces thousands of gallons of oily condensate. Condensate is a concentrated oil/water mixture produced during the compression process. If you are unfamiliar with the appropriate methods for storing and disposing of this material, things can get messy and expensive very quickly. Fortunately, you don’t need to rely on a third-party waste management program to help you deal with condensate disposal. Read on to learn more about how you can accurately and safely store and dispose of it with a condensate system:
- Inspect Your Compressed Air Equipment: Examine your compressed air system to locate the condensate drains and determine where these are piped to. Ideally, they should lead to an oil/water separator and then towards a foul drain. However, if your pipes are going straight from the drain onto the floor or in a regular container, then you need to ensure you address this problem as it may violate environmental laws.
- Condensate Safe Storage: If you are not in compliance with the local rules regarding the safe storage and disposal of air compressor condensate, fortunately, there is a simple solution. Installing an oil/water separator is an easy task and once installed, the oily condensate is individually drained from each valve into a depressurization chamber to reduce the pressure. From there the oil molecules are separated from the water molecules, reducing the parts per million oil content within the remaining condensate. The “cleaned” water is then piped through to an approved drain and the oil is piped separately to a vessel for proper disposal.
- Condensate Disposal Guidelines: While the maintenance of your oil/water separator may vary depending on the design and manufacturer, it’s still a good idea to keep the following in mind. Drain your collected oil as necessary and ensure it is properly disposed of in accordance with local regulation. Secondly, be sure to clean your settling or boiling tank with water to remove build-up at least once a year and dispose of this water correctly.
Contact Us for Effective and Affordable Condensate Systems
There are several regulations around the proper storage and disposal of condensate, and can vary from region to region. Always verify the specific requirements with your local waste treatment authorities before taking action. They can provide you with the most up-to-date information regarding the condensate disposal rules for your area. If you are looking for an effective solution for dealing with contaminated condensate, consider installing a condensate filtration system from Trident Compressed Air. We offer an extensive line of oil and water separators that are easy to install and maintain. Our range of systems are expertly designed to help you avoid a mess and protect your existing equipment. Additionally, we also provide a complete range of engineering services including condensate system installation to ensure that there is minimal disruption to your operations.
Please contact our office at 519-737-9905 or fill out our online form for more information about our compressed air system products and services. Our service department is on call 24 hours a day and we are eager to help answer any questions or concerns you may have about condensate systems.
