About the ISO 8573-1 standard

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 History of ISO 8573

ƒ The original version of 1991 (edition1) standard defined 5 classes on

oil concentration

The best – Class 1, specifying an

oil concentration of ≤ 0,01 mg/m3
at 1 bar(a) 14.5 psia and 20oC
(68F)
Conformance to Class 1 was
sometimes called “a technically
oil-free solution”

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 ISO 8573-1 (1991)

ƒ Unusually, the standard recommended methods to remove oil from the compressed
air.

ƒ Quote “Oil may be removed by high efficiency filters”

ƒ It also cautioned users about using oil-free compressors

ƒ Quote “The quality of air delivered by non-lubricated compressors is influenced by the quality of the
intake air and the compressor design”

ƒ Oil vapors, which are not removed by coalescing filters were accorded negligible
importance (when in fact quantity of vapors may be higher than aerosols)

ƒ Quote “Therefore below approximately 35 oC (95 oF), the oil vapor content may be disregarded”

ƒ In effect, the provisions in the standard were not adequate to assure the purity levels
demanded by the industry and a new edition of the standard evolved: edition 2.

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 Forms of oil in pipelines

ƒ When oil is present in pipelines, it

is always in these three forms:

ƒ Aerosols are partially removed by

coalescing filters and appear as
condensate
ƒ Wall flow either appears in
condensate or travels to the process
ƒ Vapors are not removed by
coalescing filters!

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 ISO 8573-1 (2001)

ƒ Major changes:
– The standard now spoke about total oil content (aerosol, liquid and vapour)
– A standard was introduced on measurement of oil vapour ISO 8573 part 5
– A new class (Class 0) was introduced to cover more stringent quality requirements
– The clause which recommended ways to remove oil was deleted
– Representative samples were asked

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 ISO 8573-1 Testing Methods

ƒ ISO 8573-1 Part 2

– Measurement of Aerosols

ƒ ISO 8573-1 Part 5

– Measurement of oil fumes and vapors

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 ISO 8573-1 Part 2 - Aerosols

ƒ Method B1
– Measurement of full flow with
membranes.
– Measures all aerosols and wall
flow

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 ISO 8573-1 Part 2 - Aerosols

ƒ Method B2
– Sampling probe at the center of the
pipe is used.
– Wall flow is not measured

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 ISO 8573-1 Part 5 - Vapors

ƒ Chemical absorption of oil by use

of activated carbon.

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 ISO 8573-1 Temperature factor

ƒ Reference Conditions:
– The reference conditions are
specified as 20 oC (68 oF) and 1 bar
(a) (14,5 psia).
– The above conditions are not
representative. Filters receive air
at 4-10 oC (7-18 oF) above cooling
medium temperature which could
reach 30 oC (86 oF)! Also, the
working conditions of the
compressor are at higher
pressures.

Oil carry over will be greater at

higher temperatures !

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 Atlas Copco’s test

ƒ TÜV tested Atlas Copco’s Z series of oil-free rotary screw compressors at:
– Three different temperatures: 20 oC, 40 oC and 50 oC at the measurement point
– 2 different pressures: 1 bar(a) and 8 bar(a)

ƒ Why is this important?

– Temperatures: oil carry-over increases exponentially with increasing temperatures.
– Especially at 8 bar(a), the oil concentration goes up as compared to 1 bar(a)

ƒ As production environments change from place to place, country to country

and application to application, it is important to test at all possible conditions.

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 ISO 8573-1 Filter factor

ƒ Another factor influencing test results when measuring oil residue in

compressed air:
– using lubricated compressors in combination with filters

ƒ The saturation level of the filter may affect oil carry-over.

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