Air Compressor drier

[72Camaro]

Looking for a new in-line drier for my new IR 80 gallon compressor. Going to have 2 hose reels centered in the shop opposite of each other. Main use will be a plasma cutter, so I need it dry and no auto oiler. The plasma cutter will have a small final water catch on itself.

Seeing Klutch, PneumaticPlus, and Motor Guard a lot. Half inch lines is a must.

 

[ponjohn]

on another forum, a guy installed a transmission fluid cooler between the pump head and the tank. He is cooling the air before it has time to heat and cause condensation. He them placed a fan to circulate air over the trans cooler.

He then ran filters after the tank - he uses it to paint etc, no water.

 

[matt_i]

If you see it on Amazon its likely not an industrial brand.

My personal fave is Master Pneumatic, although Numatics, Parker, Norgren, SMC, Festo all come to mind (probably 10 others I missed) in industrial air prep.

Classic strategy is cyclonic filter > coalescing filter > dessicant.

If you get thru all 3 stages you're ready to paint. There are a number of selections in the micron size in coalescing filter elements.

"Cold metal" pipes & tubes also assist. Water will always find its way to low points in the system.

A refrigerated dryer is a strategy as well but it costs to run and maintain.

 

[FunkyYota]

I put an Ac condenser between the pump and tank. I put the hot side in top, bottom is cooled air. After the exit at the lowest point I put in a water trap. Works mint. I very rarely get any water out of the tank when I drain it.

 

[cadunkle]

Put an oil cooler between the pump and tank. I used a roughly 12"x24" cooler and even without a fan it drops air temp to nearly ambient. Put a separator after the cooler, it's imaging how much water comes out of it.

 

[kaymccampbell]

I put an oil cooler with a water trap between the pump and tank. Also put a desiccant chamber with a water trap after the tank. I've never been able to vent any moisture from the final trap, even after extended sandblasting. Here's a shot of the mess.

 

[jabelding]

I made an expansion dryer. If your compressor runs at 175 psi it is easy to do. Just installed a 40 gal tank I had surplus from work then made a tube that went down from the top bung 3/4" inside with a stainless mesh on the end goes almost to the bottom of the tank. On top of that tube sits my reducing regulator that drops 175 down to 100. as the pressure is reduced it cools the air and it condenses on the inside of the tube and steel mesh then drops to the bottom of the tank and can be removed. I have never had a drop come out of my piping. and very simple to make from an old compressor tank.