I. Structure and Filtering Principle of Atlas Copco Air Compressor Oil Filters
Core Structure: Composed of an outer shell (metal or high-strength plastic), filter element (filter material), check valve, and bypass valve.
Filter Element: Mostly adopts a composite structure of glass fiber composite filter paper or metal mesh + filter paper, with a filtration accuracy of typically 10-20 μm, capable of efficiently intercepting tiny impurities.
Check Valve: Prevents the return of lubricating oil from the filter during shutdown, ensuring quick lubrication establishment when the machine starts next time.
Bypass Valve: Automatically opens when the filter element is clogged (pressure difference exceeds 0.2-0.3 MPa), allowing unfiltered lubricating oil to pass through temporarily to prevent the machine from dry grinding due to lack of oil.
Working Process: Lubricating oil enters the filter from the main oil circuit of the machine, passes through the filter element for filtration, and the clean oil returns to the machine's lubrication area through the outlet, while impurities are retained in the filter element.
II. Applicable Models and Specifications
Special models are designed for different series of air compressors, such as GA series (GA11-GA550), ZR oil-free series, ZT variable frequency series, etc. The corresponding model needs to be selected based on the lubricating oil flow rate and interface size (thread specifications such as M22×1.5, G3/4, etc.) of the specific machine.
For example, compact oil filters are commonly used for small screw machines, while large units use heavy-duty oil filters with high flow and dust capacity to ensure that the filtering efficiency matches the requirements of the machine.
III. Replacement Cycle and Judgment Criteria
Regular Cycle: It is recommended to replace once every 2000-4000 hours, synchronizing with the replacement of the lubricating oil (the new oil must be replaced before adding new oil to avoid contamination of the new oil by the old filter impurities).
Early Replacement Scenarios:
When metal debris in the lubricating oil significantly increases due to machine wear.
When the pressure difference before and after the oil filter exceeds the specified value (usually 0.2 MPa), the bypass valve frequently opens (can be determined by the machine alarm).
When the operating environment is harsh (such as high dust and high temperature), causing the lubricating oil to deteriorate prematurely.
IV. Key Points for Replacement
Safety Preparation: Power off and disconnect the power supply, release the pressure in the oil circuit, wait for the machine to cool down to normal temperature, and place an oil collection container below the oil filter.
Disassembly of Old Filter: Use a special wrench to unscrew the old oil filter counterclockwise. Pay attention to the dripping of residual lubricating oil to avoid environmental pollution.
Cleaning and Inspection: Clean the sealing surface of the oil filter base, check for impurities, scratches, or deformation to ensure a reliable seal.
Installation of New Filter:
Apply a small amount of new lubricating oil on the rubber sealing ring of the new oil filter (to enhance sealing performance).
Manually screw in the new oil filter until the sealing ring is in contact with the base, then tighten it by 1/2-3/4 turns (according to the machine's specified torque, usually 25-35 N·m), avoiding over-tightening and damaging the threads or sealing ring.
Check and Confirm: Add new oil to the specified level, start the machine for 5-10 minutes, check for oil leakage at the connection between the oil filter and the base, and observe if the oil pressure is normal.
