Air system setup

[GreaseDog355]

Hey guys, new here, have been lurking for a couple weeks, finally decided to post.

My current shop is a 40x60 block building that was built in the mid 50s. The front half us 40x40, with the back half being 20x40 and separated by a cinder block wall. The rear half seems to be an add on, as it has a flat roof, where the rest has a standard pitched roof.. I think the air system needs a bit of love. I get quite a bit of moisture and dirt in the system, not good for the air tools! My current setup is an 80 gallon 6.5hp compressor in the corner, feeding into a 3/4" black pipe that runs to the ceiling, and through the attic. It branches off and runs to 2 drops at either end of the shop (40' apart). Each drop has a low point drain, and they are drained regularly. I do have an additional 60-80 gallon tank in the attic that appears to have been used at one time as an accumulator of sorts.

The problem I'm having isn't just moisture, but trash in the lines. I regularly drain the system of air when not in use, via a ball valve on the bottom of the main tank. More than once I've had to stick something up the valve to get it to drain.

Any ideas how to properly set this system up, and clean out my existing components so I can have clean, dry air?

 

[md21722]

The easiest thing is to put a filter and regulator at each drop. You should have one anyway.

How are the distribution lines pitches? I would put a drop after the compressor as a dead drop just for water.

 

[CNGsaves]

Let's see some PIC's. I'd be worried about the "mystery" tank in attic ??

Has that thing ever been drained ?? It might be your rust bucket & risk too for failure.

 

[LXCam]

What type of pipe was it plumbed with? I'd go with the suggestion for filters at the drops since it sounds to me like your pipe is deteriorating.

 

[jallyn]

The easiest thing is to put a filter and regulator at each drop. You should have one anyway.
.

Vote #3 for adding a filter and regulator at each drop. I would use 3/8" or 1/2" or one of each. Depends on how much air you will use from each drop.

 

[jallyn]

Maybe something like this...

http://amzn.to/1rAwsLz

 

[GreaseDog355]

Let's see some PIC's. I'd be worried about the "mystery" tank in attic ??

Has that thing ever been drained ?? It might be your rust bucket & risk too for failure.

It's currently disconnected (and has been since I put my compressor in) for that exact reason.

 

[engineer2]

A refrigerated air dryer and a 3/4 NPT filter will solve your problems. Since you have black iron pipe, a filter at each point of use will help, but may not be needed unless you are seeing rust flakes.

 

[md21722]

I like the Milton 1/2" NPT with metal bowl myself

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0000AXCFS/?tag=atomicindus08-20

If you're seeing **** come out of your air tools the amount of stuff the filter will catch will astonish you.

Single stage compressors tend to put a ton of water in the air especially when run hard and long . If your drain valve is clogging when you drain it consider removing it and checking that tank condition. Most of the manual drain valves are terrible. I usually replace them with 90 elbow, a length of brass pipe and a 1/4" NPT ball valve at the end.

The compressed air dryer would work but is overkill for most, and I'd think you'd still want a filter and regulator at each drop just to catch anything in the lines. If it was a new install and the pipe never got rusty because you had the dryer then maybe you could pass on them.

 

[MTW]

Have a look here for ideas.

Upgrading air compressor plumbing, any advice?

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=214394

MTW Ω