Donaldson Ultrasorp AKC 0005-8750 Activated Carbon Adsorber

An activated carbon adsorber with online residual-oil indicator

The Donaldson Ultrasorp AKC removes oil vapours and hydrocarbons from pre-filtered, dried compressed air. The air flows from top to bottom through a bed of activated carbon in a generously sized vessel, so velocity is low, abrasion of the carbon is small and pressure drop stays modest. An oil indicator at the outlet measures the saturation of the carbon online.

The range runs from type 0005 (5 m3/h) to type 8750 (8,750 m3/h). Donaldson lists breathing air, laser cutting gas or purge gas, oil and flavour removal, and point-of-use air for packaging machines as typical applications.

Technical specifications

Sizing

• 0005: Nominal flow m3/h 5; New pressure drop mbar 10
• 0100: Nominal flow m3/h 100; New pressure drop mbar 50
• 0300: Nominal flow m3/h 300; New pressure drop mbar 40
• 0650: Nominal flow m3/h 650; New pressure drop mbar 70
• 1000: Nominal flow m3/h 1,000; New pressure drop mbar 60
• 2750: Nominal flow m3/h 2,750; New pressure drop mbar 60
• 5000: Nominal flow m3/h 5,000; New pressure drop mbar 50
• 8750: Nominal flow m3/h 8,750; New pressure drop mbar 45

The overpressure correction is 0.62 at 4 bar and 2.13 at 16 bar, and the temperature correction falls from 1.0 up to 35 C to 0.5 at 50 C. The sheet example sizes 200 m3/h at 30 C and 10 bar as type 0150.

Installation advice

Donaldson recommends a type M microfilter and an adsorption dryer upstream, because the adsorber needs air dried to -40 C pressure dewpoint with very low oil carry-over. Residual oil and carbon life are quoted for 7 bar, 35 C inlet and a -40 C dewpoint; hotter or wetter air shortens life.

Check the dimension tables for connection sizes, which run from G 3/8 on type 0005 upward, and choose the type with the correction factors for your pressure and temperature.

The adsorber is designed and tested as a pressure vessel; for types 0005 to 2750 the adsorber follows Directive 2014/29/EU with pipework to the pressure equipment directive, and types 3500 to 8750 follow the pressure equipment directive throughout. Ask for the declaration of conformity if the plant file requires it. A bed of this size gives a stated life of more than 10,000 operating hours at the reference conditions, so plan replacement by the indicator reading rather than by the calendar, and keep a record of inlet dewpoint and oil carry-over from the filters upstream.

Documents and quotation

Ask for Ultrasorp AKC 0005-8750 through the request form. Donaldson Ultrasorp AKC 0005-8750 activated carbon adsorber data sheet (F119013) is attached; read it and verify the flow, operating pressure and inlet temperature before ordering. Alternatives: Filtration Systems.

How the Ultrasorp AKC 0005-8750 Works

Donaldson’s data sheet describes a simple, fully passive flow path. Pre-filtered, clean and dried compressed air enters the unit inlet and passes through an upper gas diffuser into the adsorption vessel. It then flows from top to bottom through the activated carbon bed, where oil vapours and hydrocarbons are adsorbed onto the very large internal surface of the carbon. A lower gas diffuser collects the cleaned air and leads it through the vessel outlet to the compressed air network and the point of use. The oil indicator fitted at the adsorber outlet shows the saturation state of the carbon at any time, so the operator knows when the bed is approaching the end of its life instead of guessing.

Main components

• Unit inlet and adsorption vessel inlet
• Activated carbon bed in a generously sized pressure vessel
• Upper and lower gas diffusers for even flow distribution
• Adsorption vessel outlet
• Residual oil indicator with accuracy better than 0.01 ppm

Activated carbon adsorbs oil in the vapour phase; it is not designed to hold liquid oil or water. That is why the inlet conditions matter so much: liquid aerosols must be removed first by coalescing filtration, and water vapour must be removed by an adsorption dryer, otherwise the carbon pores fill with moisture and lose capacity.

Full Ultrasorp AKC 0005-8750 Size Range

Nominal flows refer to 1 bar (abs) and 20°C at compressor intake, with 7 bar (g) and 35°C at the adsorber inlet. Overall heights rise from 485 mm on type 0005 to about 3,318 mm on type 8750, so check headroom for the larger vessels.

Selection & Ordering Guide

• Find the corrected flow. Divide the required flow by the pressure correction factor fp and the temperature factor fT. At 10 bar (fp 1.38) and 30°C (fT 1.0), 200 m³/h becomes 144.93 m³/h, so the data sheet selects type 0150.
• Check the pressure class. Types up to 1000 accept up to 16 bar (g); types 1350 and above are limited to 10 bar (g).
• Allow for heat. fT drops to 0.9 at 40°C, 0.8 at 45°C and 0.5 at 50°C, which can double the required size on a hot inlet.
• Specify the upstream train. Donaldson recommends a type M microfilter and an adsorption dryer ahead of the adsorber.

Maintenance Notes

Read the oil indicator during routine rounds and log the result with the dryer dewpoint. Replace the carbon charge when the indicator shows saturation, and change the upstream filter elements on their own schedule so that liquid oil never reaches the bed. Depressurise the vessel fully before any work, as it is a pressure vessel under the applicable directives.

Typical Applications in Oman & the GCC

In Oman and the wider GCC the Ultrasorp AKC 0005-8750 range is relevant to food and beverage packaging lines, pharmaceutical plants, laser cutting workshops that use compressed air as cutting gas, breathing air systems, paint shops, and electronics or PCB assembly. Ambient temperatures above 45°C in summer make the temperature correction an important part of sizing.

Why Source from Seven Star LLC

Seven Star LLC supplies Donaldson compressed air purification products across Oman and the GCC. Share your flow, pressure, inlet temperature and air quality target, and our team can help confirm the correct AKC type before you request a quote.