Air dryer questions

[bob_mp]

Greetings,
I am looking for an air dryer and (longer term) a compressor for the shop. It will see intermittent use.

I am mounting my compressor behind the shop in a small outbuilding for noise and space considerations. I have a 20 year old 5 horse, 30 gallon Craftsman compressor.

I presently use the air for air tools; longer term for a spray gun and a plasma cutter. I am thinking of adding a refrigerated air dryer. I'd appreciate some help on some really basic questions:

1. Is a refrigerated dryer the way to go? Cycling versus non-cycling?

2. What's the best place to put the air dryer? Before of after the tank? The duty cycle is low enough to where I don't worry about the extra electricity.

3. Does it make sense to have a heat exchanger before either the tank or the dryer (something along the lines of exposed pipe on the back of the shop)?

4. When does the dryer run? Is it running whenever you want to use compressed air?

5. Any thoughts on something like a Speedaire 3VA50?

Much obliged for the help.

Bob

 

[Elvenhome21]

Id just run a heat exchanger and a desiccant dryer. keep it simple and cheap. Unless your running a cnc plasma cutter where the compressor is cycling a lot.

 

[DirtRoad]

http://www.harborfreight.com/12-air-line-filter-regulator-with-gauge-68281.html

Done

I have the 3/8" version. Works fantastic, might add another 5 micron one after it, HF don't carry ones that filter down to 5 micron but Home Depot does.

 

[CNGsaves]

Doubt you would even need an expensive air dryer if you have proper compressor and airline system.

Starting process with 20 year old 30 gal Craftsman isn't exactly optimal. Is this an oil-less compressor?? What is CFM??

Have you searched and read all the prior GJ threads on this same subject?? There must be hundreds or thousands of threads.

Have you read recent Franzinator and "Camby Cooler" threads on compressors which virtually capture all water??

Have a budget for this proposed setup??

 

[bob_mp]

Doubt you would even need an expensive air dryer if you have proper compressor and airline system.

Starting process with 20 year old 30 gal Craftsman isn't exactly optimal. Is this an oil-less compressor?? What is CFM??

Have you searched and read all the prior GJ threads on this same subject?? There must be hundreds or thousands of threads.

Have you read recent Franzinator and "Camby Cooler" threads on compressors which virtually capture all water??

Have a budget for this proposed setup??

I certainly have not read all of the posts on the subject on GG, but I have read several hundred or so.

The old Craftsman compressor isn't oil-less and something I'm not committed to keeping. It just continues to work.

As far as budget, I'm thinking less than 2k.

Bob

 

[CNGsaves]

That $2K budget will just about get you:

Speedaire 4NMJI - - - - 20 CFM refrigerated dryer at:
http://www.neobits.com/speedaire_4n...html?atc=gbp&gclid=CP3Xu6y8wbYCFRMZnQodklAArw

 

[stonesfan68]

All air dryers are sized basis the inlet air temperature and pressure. That Craftsman compressor does not have an fter-cooler installed on it, so the outlet air temperature is likely from 250 - 350 degF. The inlet air temperature to the dryer needs to be as clause to 100 degF as possible.

I'd recommend getting a dryer that includes an after cooler built in. Ingersoll-Rand calls their version a high temperature dryer. Hankison and Zeks make them as well. They sometimes include filtration as part of the scope of supply so you end up with nice, clean and dry air.

high inlet temp dryer

 

[Jomo]

I recently bought this refrigerated air dryer (29 CFM) with my new compressor for $750.

http://www.eatoncompressor.com/catalog/item/506941/1017584.htm

I would think that with 15' to 20' of pipe after your current compressor and before the dryer you could use it.

 

[CNGsaves]

Here's a nice 29 CFM compressor that includes the air dryer.
http://www.eatoncompressor.com/catalog/item/7345988/7681369.htm

 

[Andrew LB]

http://www.harborfreight.com/12-air-line-filter-regulator-with-gauge-68281.html

Done

I have the 3/8" version. Works fantastic, might add another 5 micron one after it, HF don't carry ones that filter down to 5 micron but Home Depot does.

That thing is a piece of junk. At this very moment as I type this sentence, that exact same filter/regulator is completely disassembled with the main body in my bench vise where i'm half way through re-threading the 4 screw holes that keep the two main pieces together. Damn thing has leaked like crazy starting about two months after I bought it. So before I go buy a different one, I figured i'd attempt to re-seal the housing and make my own gasket to keep it from leaking.


If i had to make the decision again, i'd go with this. http://www.harborfreight.com/Industrial-Air-Filter-Regulator-68247.html

Just make sure you add teflon tape or pipe dope to ALL threaded fittings and tighten them down snug. Just about everything i've bought at harbor freight had loose fittings or poorly finished castings. A little teflon tape and a metal file will make this dryer work for years without a problem.

Look familiar?

Click!

Ouch... $164...

 

[Andrew LB]

Here's a nice 29 CFM compressor that includes the air dryer.
http://www.eatoncompressor.com/catalog/item/7345988/7681369.htm

I've always been partial to the high end units from Ingersoll Rand. This 55cfm beast also drys the air. All for the low low price of $9k.

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200338699_200338699

 

[pipsters]

This is $300 after the 25% coupon
http://t.harborfreight.com/compressed-air-dryer-40211.html

Users have reported good results. Of note, the inlet air temp is limited to 140*F. You'd need to run a little bit of copper pipe, maybe under ground, to cool it to that temp if the air is coming right out of your compressor. Either that or some sort of aftercooler setup.