Air Compressor Drain issue.

[Junkman]

Today, as usual, I drained my compressor tank by opening the ball valve after using the compressor, until all moisture came out. I noticed that even though the valve was open, that the air had stopped. I checked the tank pressure, and it was 100 PSI. I then drained the air from the tank, by leaving one end of a hose open, until it read "0" on the gauge. Removed the ball valve, and checked for any obstruction, but there was none. My only thought is that the rush of air leaving the tank, cause an ice formation in the ball valve. What are your thoughts on this?

 

[The Cobbler]

yup. ice built up

 

[bas157]

Mine does this quite often. Couldn't figure out why. Is there any good way to prevent it?

 

[930dreamer]

You poked about inside the tank with a drain valve removed? This happened to me, I drained through the hose, removed drain valve, poked a wire into the tank while I started the compressor again. Enough **** plugged the tank and finely broke loose.

 

[devoncoolman]

Same happened to my last compressor. Just **** built up on the bottom of the tank causing the drain to clog.

 

[PT Doc]

I have had the ice build up thing happen.

 

[TigerDude]

let air out via the hose more slowly. Only open the ball when pressure is low.

 

[PhantomEB]

I shut the breaker off, crack the valve and leave open overnight if not over a span of when I am working twice a year if not more. Let it all drain out

 

[Junkman]

I poked around with a piece of wire, and there is some **** in the bottom of the tank, but I am not sure how I would get it out. I am thinking that this summer, I will remove the large steel plug at the end of the tank, and see if I can put some type of cleaner in there, and flush it out.

 

[gungatim]

mine does that all the time. just leave it open. eventually the ice will melt a bit and shoot out. happens 3 or 4 times over the course of draining it.

something to do with the rapid expansion of the air as it leaves having a cooling effect, same reason the compressed air condenses in the tank and thus the need for a water separator or franzinator.

 

[gdocktor3]

I crack mine ever so slightly and just let it drain out over time.

 

[gdocktor3]

I poked around with a piece of wire, and there is some **** in the bottom of the tank, but I am not sure how I would get it out. I am thinking that this summer, I will remove the large steel plug at the end of the tank, and see if I can put some type of cleaner in there, and flush it out.

That plug is in there and will only come out with heat. My 3/4" breaker bar fit mine perfectly, but even after heat I had to really hang on it. It also proved a bit difficult to completely seal when reinstalling it. I used teflon and eventually had to add some pipe dope. The hardest part is cranking it back in without the damn thing tipping over.

 

[Danglerb]

PV=nrT, P is absolute , V is volume (which doesn't change in this case), n and r are constants, and T is temperature, again absolute as in Kelvin. So its cold at the exit valve.

BTW just one of my pet topics, but all the water never drains out.