The material and characteristics of the water and oil pipes of Atlas Copco air compressors:
Cooling water pipes:
Mostly use copper tubes, seamless steel tubes or food-grade PVC tubes. Some large-scale units use stainless steel tubes (304 material). They have corrosion resistance (suitable for cooling water quality) and good thermal conductivity.
The pressure resistance matches the pressure of the cooling system (usually 1-3 bar). The wall thickness is designed according to the pipe diameter and pressure to prevent rupture due to water pressure fluctuations.
Oil pipes:
Mainly use seamless steel tubes (carbon steel or stainless steel), high-pressure rubber tubes (with woven layer reinforcement) or nylon tubes. They need to withstand the long-term immersion in lubricating oil and a certain temperature (80-120℃).
The pressure resistance of the lubricating oil pipeline meets the pressure requirements (usually 2-10 bar, specific to different models and locations). The rubber tubes need to have oil resistance (usually NBR or FKM material as the inner layer).
Specifications and compatibility
Pipe diameter: Designed according to the flow requirements. The diameter of the cooling water pipes is usually DN10-DN50 (such as φ12mm, φ16mm, φ25mm, etc.), while the diameter of the oil pipes is smaller (such as φ6mm, φ8mm, φ10mm, etc.). The specific size is determined by the model (such as GA series, G series, ZT series) and location (such as the oil inlet of the main unit, the inlet and outlet of the oil cooler).
Connection method: Commonly used are threaded connections (NPT or G threads), flange connections (for large pipe diameters), or quick connectors (for rubber tubes/nylon tubes). Some pipe routes are fixed by pipe clamps to reduce vibration-induced loosening of the interface.
Application locations:
Cooling water pipes: Mainly distributed in water coolers (inlet and outlet), water pumps, temperature control valves, connection pipes of cooling towers, etc., responsible for transporting the cooling medium to the components requiring heat dissipation (such as oil separators, cylinder bodies, etc.).
Oil pipes: Connected between the oil tank, oil filter, oil cooler, oil inlet of the main unit, oil pressure regulating valve, etc., forming an oil circulation path.
Maintenance and replacement precautions:
Regular inspection: Regularly check for corrosion, wear, and leakage (especially at interface parts). Rubber tubes need to check for aging, cracking, and bulging. Replace any problems found in a timely manner.
Replacement requirements:
When replacing, use pipes of the same specification as the original (pipe diameter, material, pressure resistance level) to ensure flow and pressure matching.
After cutting the metal pipes, clean the burrs to avoid impurities entering the system; the rubber tube joints need to be firmly clamped to prevent detachment.
Pipe layout should avoid excessive bending or stress, and the spacing of the pipe clamps should be reasonable to reduce vibration and wear.
Advantages of original factory parts: The size accuracy, material performance of the original factory water and oil pipes are fully matched with the unit design, especially in high-pressure and high-temperature areas, ensuring long-term operational reliability and reducing leakage risks.
