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Parker Hannifin Corporation

Filtration and Separation Division

Oxford, MI  

OPERATION

Air coalescing is a continuous, balanced, steady-state process occuring at 

or below  rated flow,  which depends on two factors for high performance:  

(1) The bowl must be kept free of waste liquid build-up and (2) The element 

must be replaced when the differential pressure reaches 6-10 psid, 12 psid 

maximum.  Differential pressure can  be  sensed  at  the  inlet  and  outlet 

ports  by  two gauges, or by observing system characteristics.

Bowl  draining  is accomplished  by slowly opening the manual drain  valves,  

at  least  once  every  8 hours depending on the liquid load.  Finite's new High  

Pressure  Drain  Kits are useful tools that  can be  utilized in order to safely 

drain condensate from a high-pressure air / gas system. See Finite Bulletin 

NP024 for more details.

A Finite coalescer, under normal system conditions, will operate for 6 to 

12 months before reaching its maximum differential pressure. With shorter 

coalescing  element life a "PWC" series Particulate or"WS" Water Separa-

tor element should be  employed ahead of the coalescer to increase its life.  

A precoalescer (Grade 10) can also be used to extend the life of the high 

efficiency coalescer (Grade 4).

Finite coalescers are designed for nominal operation with 10-20 wt.oil.  Any 

viscosity increase over that of 20 wt. oil must be offset by a proportionate 

oversizing of the filter element.  Consult your Finite representative. 

 

               

 PROBLEM 

PROBABLE CAUSE 

 

SOLUTION

  

Too  High Initial  

Air flow excessive for housing size.  

 

Install larger filter.

  

Pressure Drop 

Filter media grade too fine. 

 

Install coarser element.

 

 

Too much oil/water from compressor. 

 

Pre-coalesce with grade 10  - oversize 

 

 

 

 

housing.  

 

 

Premature Clogging 

Lubricant improperly selected  for compressor, 

 

Change oil, consult with lubricant 

                 

 

(Air Flow Drops Off) 

causing varnish or carbonizing of lubricant. 

 

supplier.

 

 

Excessive inlet particulate contamination. 

 

Prefilter with Particulate Filter.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Excessive lubricants present on element caused 

 

Prefilter with  Grade 10   or 100WS and 

 

 

by either high lubricant viscosity or very high 

 

oversize coalescer to compensate.

 

 

inlet aerosol level.

 

 

Oil/water emulsion forming on element. 

 

Remove water by drip leg, aftercooler.

 

 

 

 

Install mechanical separator upstream.

 

Oil Present Down- 

Bowl not properly drained of waste liquids. 

 

Drain regularly, use auto drain.

 

stream of Filter 

 

 

 

 

 

Element not sealing. 

 

Replace  element.

 

 

Filter piped backwards. 

   See  "INSTALLATION";  Re-pipe.

 

 

Filter being by-passed by valving. 

 

Close valve.

 

 

Contaminated air entering system from second 

 

Change pipe or relocate filter.

 

 

source downstream. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Oil vapors condensing downstream. 

 

Install an adsorber.

 

 

 

Excessive inlet oil level. 

 

Precoalesce with Grade 10 and 

 

 

 

 

possibly oversize.

 

 

Element damaged, chemically attacked or not 

 

Change and consult distributor

 

 

installed in housing. 

 

or factory for other than neutral pH.

 

 

Oil present in pre-contaminated  

 

Clean piping.

 

 

downstream piping.

 
 

 

 

 

 

 

Maintenance Bulletin - J-Series 

(J2SD, J2SL, J4SF, J4NF, J6SH, J6NH)

MB-JSeries

 04/05

INSTALLATION

Finite  Coalescer "CWC",  Particulate "PWC", Adsorber "AWC", Water Separator 

"WS"  filters and the desiccant cartridges "10JW" should be installed in a level 

pipeline, mounted vertically, the bowl downward with one element length clear-

ance for element  removal.  The filter should  be  installed  at  the  highest pressure  

available, as near as possible to the  equipment to be protected. It should also have 

a drip leg immediately  upstream.  All filters should be visible and easily accessible 

for periodic draining and maintenance.

The filters should be piped in accordance with the instruction tags and  flow  arrows.  

Should these  tags  become unreadable, install the coalescer and water separator so 

that flow passes through  the filter tube from inside-to-outside.  Plumb particulate 

and adsorber filters so that flow passes through  the  filter  from  outside-to-inside.  

The filter locations relative to other equipment should be as follows  (unless specific 

instructions are given to the contrary):  (1 ) The COALESCER is placed before 

the dryer.(2) The PARTICULATE  or  WATER SEPARATOR goes  ahead of the 

COALESCER when prefiltration is required.  (3) The PARTICULATE is installed  

downstream  of desiccant dryers to prevent desiccant migration.(4) The ADSORBER 

and DESICCANT CARTRIDGE are always preceded by a COALESCER.

MAINTENANCE

When Coalescer or Interceptor differential pressure reaches clogged condition 

(6-10 PSID) replace element immediately.  DO NOT ATTEMPT TO CLEAN 

FILTER TUBE.  System contamination can result.  DO NOT ATTEMPT TO 

RESEAT A FILTER TUBE.  New serrated indentations can be formed causing 

leakage.  DO NOT BY-PASS THE COALESCER unless the by-pass line is also 

filtered. 

DANGER

Filter housings must be depressurized before 

performing any maintenance activities, and depressurization 

verified by a pressure gauge known to be in working order.

!

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