Condensate Management

Timer Drain

A forceful, regular blast that clears condensate and sludge from your sumps, on a schedule you set and can hear.

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A timer drain with a black timer head and test button on a brass solenoid valve with a built-in strainer

Product overview

Positive discharge, on a schedule you set

Our timer drain fits at the lowest point of your separator, receiver, filter bowl, dryer or drip leg. An electronic timer opens a normally closed solenoid valve for a set open time, typically 0.5–10 seconds, at a set interval, typically 0.5–45 minutes, and system pressure drives the collected liquid out.

The discharge is forceful: at 7 bar g, liquid leaves a 4 mm valve seat at about 37 m/s. The blast flushes rust, pipe scale and oily sludge out of your sump and valve seat, so dirty and emulsified condensate never silts it up.

It works on time alone, so its behaviour is completely predictable and you can confirm it by watching or listening for the blast. Once the liquid has gone the valve vents compressed air until it closes, so the open time is set no longer than your condensate load needs.

A timer drain with a digital display on a brass solenoid valve
  • 0.5–45 minTypical interval between discharges
  • 0.5–10 sTypical open time
  • About 37 m/sLiquid leaving a 4 mm seat at 7 bar g
  • 16 bar gAnd above, with suitable valves

Benefits

The problems it solves

Liquid collects in the same places in every compressed air system, and it keeps coming around the clock. Here is what happens when it stays there, and how the timer drain clears it.

  • Sludge-blocked drains

    The problem

    Rust, pipe scale and oily sludge settle in sumps, block drain ports and lodge in valve seats.

    How it solves it

    The full-pressure blast clears rust, scale, sludge and emulsified oil through the valve seat at every cycle.

  • Flooded separators and filters

    The problem

    Once the liquid reaches the swirl zone or the filter element, it is picked up again and carried downstream as a slug.

    How it solves it

    Emptying the sump at every interval holds the level below that point, so your separators and filters keep working.

  • Unattended nights

    The problem

    A receiver or separator sump can fill in a few hours at peak load, and drain points are often where nobody is present.

    How it solves it

    The drain keeps discharging through nights, weekends and holidays, with no operator needed.

  • Is it working?

    The problem

    A drain that has stopped gives no warning until the equipment above it floods.

    How it solves it

    Discharge happens at a known interval with a distinct sound, so you confirm it by sight or sound, and a missing blast points straight to a fault.

  • Corroded receivers

    The problem

    Standing liquid takes up receiver volume and corrodes the vessel bottom, where wall thickness is critical.

    How it solves it

    Regular draining keeps your receiver's shell dry at its lowest point.

  • Loads that change with the seasons

    The problem

    At the same flow, condensate volume rises by about 75 % between 25 °C and 35 °C ambient conditions.

    How it solves it

    Interval and open time are set on site for each drain point and adjusted as the seasons change.

Where it’s used

Wherever liquid collects

Every compressed air system collects liquid at its aftercooler separator, receiver, filters, dryer and low points. A timer drain fits under each one.

  • Robots welding a car body on an assembly line

    Automotive and body shops

    Keeping water out of air for spray painting, sealant application and pneumatic tools, where carryover causes paint defects.

  • Wine bottles moving along a bottling line

    Food and beverage

    Removing liquid ahead of the filtration and drying stages that supply air for conveying, packaging and product contact.

  • A row of yarn winding machines in a textile mill

    Textiles

    Air-jet looms and spinning machines use large air volumes, and drains keep liquid off yarn and nozzles.

  • Molten metal pouring from a ladle in a foundry

    Steel, foundries and cement

    High ambient temperatures bring large condensate loads, and scale-laden condensate needs a drain that flushes its own seat.

  • Electricity pylons and power lines at sunset

    Power generation

    Drains on service air and instrument air receivers.

  • Blue plastic bottle caps in a moulded tray

    Plastics

    Drains on the low-pressure and high-pressure receivers of blow-moulding air systems.

Also general manufacturing, mining and quarrying, construction and portable compressors, oil, gas and petrochemicals with explosion-protected coils, rail workshops and depots, pharmaceuticals and electronics, and workshops and garages.

How it works

Collect, blast, close

The timer opens the valve at every interval, whether the sump holds a litre of water or none. System pressure does the rest.

How a timer drain works: condensate collects in the sump of a separator, receiver or filter bowl during a set interval; the timer then energises the solenoid valve for a set open time, system pressure blasts the liquid out through the strainer and valve, compressed air follows until the open time ends, and a spring closes the valve. TEST Wet air inAir on to your plantSeparator, receiveror filter bowlStrainer Interval 0.5–45 min TimerCoilOpen time 0.5–10 s Solenoidvalve To oil–water separator Liquid ≈ 37 m/s Air ≈ 0.95 m³/min 12345Wet compressed airCondensateCompressed air ventedYour equipment

  1. 1. CollectThe solenoid valve is closed and condensate collects in the sump for the set interval, typically 0.5–45 minutes. The timer does not measure the level, so the interval is set for your peak load.

  2. 2. OpenThe timer energises the coil for the set open time, typically 0.5–10 seconds, and the valve opens.

  3. 3. Liquid outSystem pressure drives the liquid out. At 7 bar g it leaves a 4 mm seat at about 37 m/s, flushing rust, scale and oily sludge off the seat.

  4. 4. Air ventsOnce the liquid has gone, compressed air follows for the rest of the open time, about 0.95 m³ of free air a minute through a 4 mm seat. Setting the open time no longer than your load needs keeps this down.

  5. 5. CloseThe open time ends and a spring closes the valve. Liquid collects again until the next cycle.

Figures at 7 bar g, with a 4 mm valve seat.

Get the full details

Our brochure covers it in detail, and our questionnaire tells us what we need to recommend the right one for your plant.

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