R-Pro › Field cases › Components

Centrifugal Oil Separator Efficiency Drop — Oil Carryover from High-Speed Discharge

Likely causes

Compressor overload causes discharge flow velocity to exceed design value (3–5 m/s) — centrifugal separation impossible

Check: Check discharge pipe connections for oil staining (direct evidence of carryover); verify compressor operating current is not more than 10% above rated

What to do: Check expansion valve opening and readjust superheat (5–8 K) → recheck refrigerant charge (recover if overcharged) → calculate discharge velocity: Q(m³/h)÷pipe cross-section(m²) → review pipe diameter if over 5 m/s

Internal baffle (deflector plate) deformed or detached

Check: During disassembly, visually inspect internal baffle for deformation, detachment, or corrosion

What to do: Replace or re-weld baffle → reassemble separator and do nitrogen leak test → recheck oil carryover after operation

Field tip

Strong oil smell at discharge pipe connections signals centrifugal separation failure — check compressor operating load ratio and refrigerant charge amount first

All 565 cases work offline in R-Pro, with error codes for 62 brands and P-T data for 108 refrigerants.

Open R-Pro →

Related cases