Industrial screw and piston compressors protect themselves with temperature, pressure and motor trips. Most shutdowns trace back to cooling, oil condition, air demand or the electrical supply.
Common problems
High discharge or element temperature
Check cooler cleanliness, ambient and intake temperature, oil level and condition, and the thermostatic valve.
Cannot reach or hold pressure
Compare air demand with capacity, look for leaks and open drains, and check the inlet valve and load/unload behaviour.
Short cycling
Frequent load/unload cycles point at storage volume, pressure band settings or a fluctuating demand.
Motor overload trips
Check supply voltage balance, starter or drive settings, and whether the trips happen at start or under load.
Evidence that helps
- Photo of the controller alarm screen
- Compressor make and model
- Pressure, temperature and load/unload history
- Service and oil-change history
Work on burners, fuel trains, pressure vessels and electrical equipment must be carried out by qualified personnel following the manufacturer's instructions and local codes. Never bypass a flame safeguard, limit or interlock.