Air Compressor line, Building to Building

[cthulu]

I am putting my noisy *** air compressor in a nearby building (3 feet from exterior wall)

I live in Seattle, average temps 30F-80F light drizzle of rain 6 months out of the year with fairly high humidity.

The building the compressors new home is going to be was made of 2x4 construction it isn’t insulated or heated. The building the compressor line is is routing to is a pole barn with metal siding that is insulated with 4.5 inches of rigid foam (R value of 30!) Planning on having it around 60F or so when I’m working in there during the winter. I haven't insulated the wall I plan on running the air compressor pipe through yet as I wanted to figure this out first.

I’m looking for minimal condensation on the pipe exterior as well as minimal water vapor inside it. It seems like this is a big problem with non-steel pipes as the moisture stays a vapor inside of the pipe with nothing to condense on. Building hosting the compressor seals up well enough, but as mentioned isn’t heated or insulated. I’m concerned about condensation as it has to run from the stick building through the wall into the ground and 4 feet over into the pole barn exterior sheet metal wall, through a 1.5in air gap and then through 4.5 inches and foam and then 5/8 fire code sheet rock and finally into the heated shop.

Seems like I need to start with steel at least for 20ft and put a proper dryer on it after it gets into the heated shop. Alternatively installing a cooler and water separator on it to reduce the amount of vapor that hits the tank to begin with.

Something like one of these setups seem to work but all make my compressor look tiny…maybe time for a new compressor.

http://garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=50946&highlight=magnetic+starter&page=2

I was considering using PEX-AL-PEX or a combination of products from rapid air for it as their 80$ kit from northern tool seems fairly enticing though it doesn’t address the moisture issue that I have to tackle.

http://tinyurl.com/zwocz3s

Thoughts, opinions?

 

[matt_i]

I think you are going to get condensation going thru the ground. But actually this is good since you want to remove the moisture anyway.

I would be concerned about the lowest point gathering water. Not that the air won't blast thru it but it could be a recipe for getting "slugs" of water passing if the conditions and air flow is right. So for that reason I'd think about something like an irrigation control box where a low point drain could be accessed at times. Insulate the cover with rigid foam.

 

[takotruckin]

I don't think it will be an issue. Our shop compressor is mounted outside, plumbed into the wall next to it and feeding the main shop. Another line from inside the main shop back outside and underground about 12 feet them back up and into our back shop.
The lines are all pcv. There is a large water trap where the line comes into the main shop that doesn't work very well, as well as cheap point of use separators.

There is no difference in moisture amount between either shop, and water slugging has never been an issue in the back shop either, even with heavy use.

 

[rburke65]

I have my compressor in the pole barn and 3/4" black iron pipe running the length of the building to pex tubing underground to my shop. No problem so far. Been in for 3 years.

 

[joe_padavano]

Gas stations used to have air lines that ran under the pavement and came up at the pump islands for tire fill (back in the days of full service). I can't recall any issues, even in New England. Don't over-think this.

 

[Radix2]

I think I might take advantage of the outside chillyness...

How about building a bit of extra copper or steel plumbing out in the compressor area (zigzag up the wall say) with a drain run through the wall where it is easy to get to. Then run underground to the shop. You minimize the moisture coming in by taking advantage of the better condensing outside. The pexalpex would be ideal for the underground part imo.