What is the high temperature of the air compressor cooling medium?

During the operation of the air compressor, the temperature of the cooling medium (such as cooling water or cooling air) rises abnormally, which is a key concern during equipment maintenance. This phenomenon may be caused by environmental factors, equipment failures or system design defects. If not dealt with in time, it may lead to equipment overheating protection shutdown or even cause component damage. The following analyzes the reasons from multiple dimensions and provides professional countermeasures.

1. Temperature increase caused by environmental factors

1. ambient temperature is too high
   • phenomenon: The temperature in the air compressor room exceeds 40℃, which makes it difficult to reduce the temperature after the cooling medium absorbs heat.
   • impact: Cooling efficiency decreases and compressor exhaust temperature increases, which may trigger a high temperature protection shutdown.
2. poorly ventilated
   • phenomenon: Air circulation in the machine room is blocked and hot air cannot be discharged in time.
   • impact: The cooling medium continues to absorb heat during the circulation process, and the temperature gradually increases cumulatively.

response measures：

• Install industrial air conditioners or exhaust fans and control the temperature of the machine room below 35℃.
• Optimize the layout of the machine room to ensure that the inlet and outlet of the cooling medium are unobstructed and hot air can be discharged smoothly.

2. Temperature increase caused by equipment failure

1. Cooler blocked
   • phenomenon: Oil, dust or scale accumulates inside the cooler, causing a decrease in heat exchange efficiency.
   • impact: The cooling medium cannot effectively absorb the heat generated by the compressor, and the temperature continues to rise.
2. cooling fan fault
   • phenomenon: The fan motor is damaged, the blades are deformed or the belt is broken, resulting in insufficient air volume.
   • impact: The air flow is blocked, and the heat dissipation capacity of the cooler is greatly reduced.
3. Cooling water pump problem
   • phenomenon: Wear of the water pump impeller, seal leakage or motor failure, resulting in insufficient water flow.
   • impact: Cooling water circulation speed decreases and heat absorption capacity is weakened.

response measures：

• Develop a regular maintenance plan, clean the cooler quarterly, and carry out chemical cleaning and descaling every year.
• Install vibration and temperature sensors to monitor the operating status of fans and water pumps in real time, and replace faulty components in a timely manner.

3. Temperature increase caused by system design flaws

1. Insufficient cooling medium flow
   • phenomenon: The pipeline design is too thin or the valve opening is insufficient, resulting in the cooling medium flow rate being lower than the rated value.
   • impact: The amount of heat taken away per unit of time decreases and the temperature of the cooling medium increases.
2. Improper cooling medium selection
   • phenomenon: Using tap water as cooling water, scale accumulates rapidly due to the excellent water quality.
   • impact: Scale reduces heat transfer efficiency and accelerates cooler clogging.

response measures：

• Check the diameter of the cooling pipe according to the requirements of the equipment manual to ensure that the flow rate meets the requirements.
• Configure a softened water device or regularly replace cooling water to avoid scale problems.

4. Temperature increase caused by operating factors

1. Long-term high-load operation
   • phenomenon: The air compressor continues to operate at full load, and the heat production exceeds the design capacity of the cooling system.
   • impact: The temperature of the cooling medium gradually increases until the protective shutdown is triggered.
2. frequent start-stop
   • phenomenon: The compressor was started and stopped many times in a short period of time, resulting in the inability of the cooling system to operate stably.
   • impact: The temperature of the cooling medium fluctuates greatly, accelerating the thermal fatigue of the components.

response measures：

• Optimize the production plan to avoid long-term high-load operation of the compressor, and configure multiple units for rotation if necessary.
• Install a frequency converter to realize soft starting and smooth load adjustment of the compressor, reducing the number of starts and stops.

5. Professional testing and preventive maintenance suggestions

1. Infrared thermal imaging detection
   • method: Use an infrared camera to regularly scan the surface temperatures of the cooler, pipes and motors.
   • objective: Accurately locate overheated areas and detect hidden dangers in the cooling system in advance.
2. Sampling and analysis of cooling medium
   • method: Regularly test the PH value, conductivity and hardness of cooling water, or the dust content of cooling air.
   • objective: Adjust maintenance cycles based on water quality or air quality to prevent clogging and corrosion.
3. Establish and maintain files
   • content: Record cooling system maintenance time, part replacement records and temperature monitoring data.
   • objective: Use trend analysis to predict potential failures and develop preventive maintenance plans.

conclusion
The temperature of the cooling medium of the air compressor rises abnormally, and the cause needs to be investigated from multiple dimensions of environment, equipment, system design and operation. Enterprises should ensure efficient operation of the cooling system by optimizing the operating environment, strengthening equipment maintenance, improving system design and standardizing operating procedures, thereby ensuring long-term stable operation of the air compressor and avoiding unplanned downtime and component damage caused by overheating.