refrigerated dryer compressor layout

[shannonw]

Hey all,

i'm installing a dryer after the compressor. it's rated for the psi of the compressor (175psi) but i usually regulate down much lower than that of course usually 90 but sometimes 110 for a long hose run 100feet i have to go.

should i put the regulator after or before the dryer? I'm thinking regulator should go at the end after the dryer but i'm not sure.

I'm basically thinking

tank->cutoff -> dryer->separator->regulator

or should you filter before the dryer and regulate before also? or filter before the dryer and regulate after?

 

[Aahz]

You have it right, although putting a filter between the compressor and dryer is always beneficial as well. Regulator should be downstream from the dryer.

 

[shannonw]

Thanks frank!

 

[Cougar]

Put a bypass ahead of the dryer, so if there is a problem with the dryer you can still use the compressor.
And x2 on the filter ahead of the dryer.

 

[shannonw]

yep was planning on a bypass there as well and for things like blowing out the garage.

 

[stonesfan68]

Put the moisture separator before the dryer. I'd also recommend putting a filter in front of the dryer so as to protect the dryer's heat exchanger.

You do have an aftercooler on the compressor?

compressor->aftercooler->tank->separator->dryer->regulator

 

[shannonw]

Hi, no after cooler (just the normal 2 stage finned pipe). That would be good eventually as the dryer is a bit undersized, the compressor is 14cfm, dryer 10cfm, it may not even work but it was cheap so i figured i'd give it a shot...I don't need 100% water free, i don't sand blast... but the single stage i had with florida humidity was more of a water hose than a compressor and i don't have the space to add a considerable amount of pipe easily without a lot of thinking =)

I'm hoping the 2 stage with a bit of pipe and and the addition of the dryer will help considerably. I have read the threads on the after cooler and it seems like it would help also.

i plan to put it a bit downstream of the compressor how far i'm not sure, i can maybe get 25 feet or so of pipe there.

 

[shannonw]

the 25 feet may even be good enough with the 2 stage to condense the water and i might not need the dryer. i haven't used this compressor a lot yet but it seems to produce lots less water in the lines, but it's cooled down a bit in florida too.

 

[wolfsburged]

It seems like most of these dryers have inlet/outlet sizes of say 1/2". If one were installing a new system with the dryer, any reason to stick to 3/4" outlet size of most compressors and then neck down to 1/2" and back up? Or just stick to 1/2" throughout? Sorry to hijack a bit.

 

[shannonw]

Both of mine have always been 1/2 out and i step down to 3/8 at point of use/end of the run. As for stepping backup after the dryer i'd think it depends on the length of the run if it would be worth it...short distance i can't see how it would make any difference, long distance even though there was a short bottleneck surely on a long run the 1/2 would be less restrictive?

 

[Aahz]

It seems like most of these dryers have inlet/outlet sizes of say 1/2". If one were installing a new system with the dryer, any reason to stick to 3/4" outlet size of most compressors and then neck down to 1/2" and back up? Or just stick to 1/2" throughout? Sorry to hijack a bit.

They size the inlet and outlet lines of the dryer to match the size and flow of the compressor it's meant to be used with. A 5 hp-7.5 hp is 1/2", 10 hp would get 3/4", 20 hp 1" and so on. The outlet thread of the tank is usually 3/4", but when you size the piping for smaller compressors, 1/2" is all that's needed in most cases.

 

[shannonw]

reelcraft has a pretty good doc on pressure drop and line sizes (air and water)

http://www.reelcraft.com/pdfs/tech_bulletins/TB0001.pdf