Screw compressor element service life
Posted: Fri Aug 16, 2013 12:43 am
Our vessel runs and Atlas Copco GA22 screw type air compressor as the "working air" compressor. Its one of those package types in a big blue box.
It runs 24 /7 although its unloaded probably about 70% of that time.
As part of an investigation into next years budget, I was looking through the manual trying to find the expected replacement time of the screw elements, and to my surprise ,there doesn't seem to be one. The highest service item listed was to replace the oil seperator at 8000 hrs.
I seem to remember on a previous vessel we removed the screw elements ( casing and all, as a unit) and replaced with a "reconditioned" at around 20 000 or 40,000 hrs- , I cant quite remember. We then sent the old unit to the Atlas Copco agent as an exchange. How they actual "recondition " one ,I dont know. Probably just replace some bearings and seals and take some measurements and throw it out if its out of spec.
Does anyone else have any experience of replacing these elements or any knowledge of expected service life?
Thanks / regards
Vegman
It runs 24 /7 although its unloaded probably about 70% of that time.
As part of an investigation into next years budget, I was looking through the manual trying to find the expected replacement time of the screw elements, and to my surprise ,there doesn't seem to be one. The highest service item listed was to replace the oil seperator at 8000 hrs.
I seem to remember on a previous vessel we removed the screw elements ( casing and all, as a unit) and replaced with a "reconditioned" at around 20 000 or 40,000 hrs- , I cant quite remember. We then sent the old unit to the Atlas Copco agent as an exchange. How they actual "recondition " one ,I dont know. Probably just replace some bearings and seals and take some measurements and throw it out if its out of spec.
Does anyone else have any experience of replacing these elements or any knowledge of expected service life?
Thanks / regards
Vegman