New compressor
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Post Fiend
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From: Where's my map???
New compressor
I just picked up a compressor that I bolted to the floor. I am going to run 1/2 in copper to the supply outlets. My question is. Where do I put the water seperator in the run. Should it be directly off the compressor outlet?
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From: Sapulpa OK
Best place is right at the point of use. the seperater only catches liquid water. the water is condensate. In other words the water is the result of cooling. If you put the seperator at the tank, the air would continue to cool as it travels down the line and more water would condense out and run through your tool or process.
The trick is to cool the air at the tank and drain it there, then whatever air travels down the line would be dry unless it is subject to further cooling.
Steve
The trick is to cool the air at the tank and drain it there, then whatever air travels down the line would be dry unless it is subject to further cooling.
Steve
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Post Fiend
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From: Where's my map???
fixnair; Thanks for the help. I will tie it in as far down the run as I can.
It's been used for years with no problems.
Originally Posted by sierraben
Just curious, but is copper safe to use? 
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From: wi
im not shure what copper is rated at but mine has about 6 foot peice of 1inch copper line goin from the comp head to the tank.its held up to 160 for about 15 years,even the solder joint at the union hasent had a probloem
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From: Williamson, NY
Most compressor companies recommend running "Black" pipe and tell you not to use copper, galvanized, or PVC pipe. They recommend this not only for safety, but the thick black pipe makes a good heat sink and helps eliminate water from your compressed air supply.
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Post Fiend
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From: Where's my map???
It is only a 12 ft run and it is only charged when I am using it. If what ya'll are saying is true. Then how do they (manufacture) get away with using 1/2 in. soft copper from the compressor to the tank?
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Copper is costly but it is easier and cheaper than running multiple fittings in hard pipe in that application. The line from the compressor to the tank usually has flare fittings or compression fittings. As far as I have seen the reason some fire codes don't allow copper is that the soldered connections let go at a relatively low temperature in a fire then the compressed air leaking out acts like a bellows and accelerates the fire. That jet of hot air is a real hazard to firefighters and the structure.
At the same time they allow a rubber hose from the receiver tank to the distribution lines to reduce sound/vibration transmission.
At the same time they allow a rubber hose from the receiver tank to the distribution lines to reduce sound/vibration transmission.
Last edited by Torque1st; May 25, 2007 at 09:37 AM.
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From: Williamson, NY
He's probably using compression fittings with ferrules and nuts matched to the fittings. They use these type fittings to hook up plumbing fixtures, but I am not sure what kind of pressure they are rated for though. Household water pressure (40-60psi) is a lot lower than the max air pressure of most home air compressors (125-175psi). I am an analytical chemist and I do a lot of High Pressure Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) and for this technique we use compression fittings on 1/16" SS tubing, that can handle pressures up to and beyond 4000psi.
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I did a lot of high vacuum work with SS tubing, Swagelok SS fittings and valves, and Varian SS fittings etc. The big stuff, smallest was 1/4" and the largest was 4". Copper gaskets in the Varian fittings.
I also did a lot of hydraulic work with pressure up to 5000PSI on some extreme systems but normally we used up to 3000PSI for most industrial work. All steel or steel reinforced hose on those systems. No copper at all.
You can find a lot of copper pressure ratings for the tube he may be using here:
http://64.90.169.191/applications/pl...th_table3e.htm
All kinds of copper info here:
http://64.90.169.191/applications/pl...ndex_table.htm
Or home here:
http://64.90.169.191/homepage.html
I also did a lot of hydraulic work with pressure up to 5000PSI on some extreme systems but normally we used up to 3000PSI for most industrial work. All steel or steel reinforced hose on those systems. No copper at all.
You can find a lot of copper pressure ratings for the tube he may be using here:
http://64.90.169.191/applications/pl...th_table3e.htm
All kinds of copper info here:
http://64.90.169.191/applications/pl...ndex_table.htm
Or home here:
http://64.90.169.191/homepage.html
Last edited by Torque1st; May 26, 2007 at 12:02 AM.
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From: Williamson, NY
Torque1st, from the links you supplied it looks like the copper tubing itself is strong enough for this application, but I did not see anything about how much pressure the fittings are rated for compression or soldered.