Air compressor pipe bore size

[dangti6]

Hey all.

I have acquired a selection of Parker Transair pipes and fittings from a factory rip out. Good quality and reasonably expensive by all accounts.

The pipes are 25mm so have a 22mm ID, larger than I’d have otherwise chosen.

My query before installation is whether that’s quite a large bore for a small hobby style air compressor. My compressor is only 14 CFM with a 50l tank.

Are there any drawbacks to be aware of using this setup?

 

[The Cobbler]

I don't imagine you're running a lot of the pipe, so it won't affect your performance too badly , In my opinion

 

[65ranchero]

I agree,

 

[dangti6]

I don't imagine you're running a lot of the pipe, so it won't affect your performance too badly , In my opinion

Sounds promising, thanks. The run will likely be around 75 feet overall, including the drops.

 

[Walkers]

It won’t cause you any problems at all, and it will give you a small amount more of air storage.

 

[nadogail]

Greater pipe diameter or Bore Size can be beneficial in that it not only increases your storage capacity but IMHO increases Air Delivery velocity.

Just like increasing the size of a capacitor can improve a power supply filter.

 

[CraigStu]

It won’t cause you any problems at all, and it will give you a small amount more of air storage.

Exactly. I don't feel like trying to do the match for an exact # but your 50L tank may be 55L to 60L.

 

[PoorUB]

Larger pipe is fine, and probably better as the air slows down and any moisture has a better chance of dropping out, plus more air storage.

I can't think of one issue having too large of air line.

 

[pcmeiners]

Larger pipe, less wasted power due to friction, the aluminum pipe is smooth, again less fiction. Do not toss these advantages by using crappy regulators and filters. You are best off buying older style, all metal regulators and filters (Ebay). The newer models from almost all manufacturers are profit engineered , that is screw the efficiency of the devices, design for the highest profit, and most of the parts on the newest stuff is off shore produced . Personally I bought all my regulators/filter oversized, then adapt them down to the pipe run size, example, for a 3/4" pipe run I use 1" devices with adapters to 3/4" , for a 25mm (1 inch) pipe in the OP's scenario, he is already oversized on the pipe, 1" devices are more then enough to keep friction losses very low. Again Ebay still has good deals on older style metal devices

 

[dangti6]

Did the sums and a shade over 8l extra capacity within my anticipated run!

Noted on the filters. I picked up this one on the left, complete with a couple of typos - so I’m not convinced on the quality. The blue filter on the right was removed with the pipe and is rated at a higher pressure and is all metal.




Waiting on a few additional fittings in order to fit everything, however I have been tinkering. I couldn’t justify the cost of the genuine jig or hole saw in order to drill the pipe for the clamped dropped connectors so I had a go with a hole saw I had and a pillar drill - tested it and no leaks whatsoever.

 

[pcmeiners]

The filter on the left is an engineering joke if it's supposed capacity is rates >3/8" supply, cheaply made in a third world factory; a known manufacturer is no guarantee of getting a decent filter. The one on the right is more like it. One factor I did not mention is the port sizing in filters. Some filter are large but the path of the air has a smaller diameter then the inlet and outlet, a sign of engineering for profit. Valves and check valves also suffer from this, all valves and other devices in a system should be "full flow" designated or at least should not have overly restricted passages within the device . The metal cover on the left filter has 2 purposes, to visually see the element and to protect personnel from shrapnel when they eventually blow up