Compressor system with float drain

1. A compressor system comprising:

at least one fluid compressor for compressing a working fluid;

at least one heat exchanger for removing heat from compressed working fluid;

at least one moisture separator for separating condensed liquid from the compressed working fluid;

at least one float drain module connected to a bottom portion of the moisture separator for receiving the condensed liquid;

a float valve housed within the float drain module being movable between open and closed positions;

wherein the float drain module includes a float drain housing having an upper rim and a lower rim and the float valve is freely movable therebetween;

an inlet aperture formed in the upper rim to receive the condensed liquid and an outlet aperture formed in the lower rim to discharge the condense liquid when the float valve is in the open position;

wherein the float valve contacts a portion of the lower rim of the float drain housing in the closed position; and

a check valve housed within the float drain module being movable between open and closed positions, wherein the check valve is positioned to be in fluid communication with the condensed liquid downstream of the float valve.

2. The compressor system of claim 1 , wherein the float valve is movable to an open position when liquid rises to a predetermined level in the float drain housing.

3. The compressor system of claim 1 , wherein the float valve is spherical in shape.

4. The compressor system of claim 1 , further comprising:

a resilient member engaged with the check valve.

5. The compressor system of claim 4 , wherein the resilient member urges the check valve to the closed position.

6. The compressor system of claim 4 , further comprising:

a retaining plug threadingly engageable with the float drain module and constructed to engage the resilient member to set a preload force to seat the check valve.

7. The compressor system of claim 4 , wherein check valve is movable to the open position when a hydraulic head of the condensed liquid overcomes a preload force of the resilient member.

8. The compressor system of claim 1 , wherein liquid is ejected from the moisture separator when the check valve is moved from the closed position to the open position.

9. The compressor system of claim 1 , wherein the check valve is closed prior to ejecting gaseous fluid from the moisture separator.

10. A liquid separator comprising:

a housing having a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet and a liquid outlet, the housing configured to receive a working compressed fluid and separate a condensed liquid from a compressed gaseous fluid;

a float drain module operably coupled with the liquid outlet of the housing;

wherein the float drain module includes a float drain housing defined by a plurality of support beams intermittently positioned around an outer perimeter and extending between an upper rim and a lower rim;

wherein the upper rim includes an aperture formed therethrough to permit condensed liquid ingress into the float drain housing;

a float valve operably positioned within the float drain module being movable between open and closed positions;

a check valve positioned within the float drain module downstream of the float valve, the check valve being movable between open and closed positions;

wherein the float valve is opened under a buoyancy force defined by a predetermined height of condensed liquid within the housing; and

wherein the check valve is opened after the float valve is opened and a hydraulic head of the condensed liquid reaches a predefined level.

11. The liquid separator of claim 10 , wherein the check valve is structured to release liquid from the housing in the open position.

12. The liquid separator of claim 10 , wherein float valve is configured to close after passing at least a portion of the liquid therethrough and prior to passing gaseous fluid therethrough.

13. The liquid separator of claim 10 , wherein the lower rim includes first and second opposing sides.

14. The liquid separator of claim 13 , wherein the lower rim includes:

a float valve seat defined by the first side; and

a check valve seat defined by the second side thereof.

15. The liquid separator of claim 13 , wherein the float drain housing further comprises:

a first volume in fluid communication with the float valve defined proximate the first side of the lower rim; and

a second volume defined proximate the second side of the lower rim positioned between the float valve and the check valve.

16. The liquid separator of claim 15 , wherein the float drain housing includes a plurality of openings formed around the perimeter to permit liquid to enter into the first volume.

17. The liquid separator of claim 15 , wherein the second volume is configured to fill with liquid when the float valve is opened.

18. The liquid separator of claim 15 , wherein the check valve is configured to open after the float valve is opened and the second volume fills with liquid.

19. The liquid separator of claim 14 , wherein the float valve seat and check valve seat include a complementary shape to that of the float valve and check valve respectively to provide a fluid tight seal at each corresponding interface.

20. The liquid separator of claim 10 , wherein the float valve and check valve are each spherical in shape.

21. The liquid separator of claim 10 further comprising:

a resilient member engageable with the check valve.

22. The liquid separator of claim 21 further comprising:

a retaining plug threadably engageable with the float drain module

and operable to set a preload between the resilient member and the check valve.

23. A method comprising:

compressing a fluid to a predefined pressure;

cooling the compressed fluid;

flowing the compressed fluid into a liquid separator housing;

condensing liquid from the cooled compressed fluid;

at least partially filling a first volume with the condensed liquid, wherein the first volume is located in a float drain housing between an upper rim and a lower rim positioned within the liquid separator housing, wherein the upper rim includes an inlet aperture formed therethrough and the lower rim includes an outlet aperture formed therethrough;

lifting a float valve from a valve seat formed on the lower rim of the float drain housing in response to a liquid level rising to a predetermined level;

flowing liquid into a second volume located below the first volume upon lifting of the float valve;

opening a check valve in response to a hydraulic head of a predetermined amount of liquid being in fluid communication with the second volume; and

ejecting liquid from the liquid separator housing when the check valve is open.

24. The method of claim 23 further comprising:

closing the float valve before gaseous fluid passes through the second volume.

25. The method of claim 23 further comprising:

closing the check valve before gaseous fluid is ejected from the liquid separator housing.