Recent Blog Posts

Refrigeration Cycle: Oil Separators

October 6th, 2026

Most compressors are configured with an oil separator downstream of the compressor. An oil separator is a vessel that is specially designed to “separate” any oil in the discharge vapor and return it back to the compressor where it is wanted. Oil that escapes the separator is unwanted and results in fouling on heat exchange surfaces and […]

Ammonia Week in Review | October 2, 2026

October 2nd, 2026

Ammonia Diluted in this week’s edition of the Ammonia Week in Review… Ammonia Leak at Williamson Cold Storage Prompts Emergency Response – Firefighters used portable master streams and an aerial waterway from a ladder truck, operating on a fog pattern to help knock the ammonia out of the air. […keep reading] Dozens Suffer Ammonia from Gas Leak, Police […]

Refrigeration Cycle: Oil and Compressors

September 29th, 2026

Because of their rotating components, all compressors require lubrication. Early designs of reciprocating compressors utilized a “splash system” in which the “throw” on the crankshaft would dip into an oil pool in the crankcase and splash it over the moving parts as the shaft rotated. Today, reciprocating compressors used in industrial refrigeration utilize “internal force feed” lubrication […]

Ammonia Week in Review | September 25, 2026

September 25th, 2026

Ammonia Captured in this week’s edition of the Ammonia Week in Review… Oak Bay Rec Centre Reopens After Ammonia Release – The district said the chemical was captured and contained by backup system, and there is “no safety risk to the public.” […keep reading] Refrigeration Cycle: Open Drive vs Hermetic – Another way compressors are categorized is by […]

Refrigeration Cycle: Open Drive vs Hermetic

September 22nd, 2026

Another way compressors are categorized is by the way the motor and compressor are mounted and contained. With “open drive” compressors, the motor and the compressor are mounted separately. The shaft that connects the motor to the compressor must be sealed to prevent refrigerant leakage from the compressor. Open-drive compressors are widely used in industrial applications. An […]