So after some delays of getting a bigger and better air compressor I have decided I will probably upgrading to something with 80 gallon and not sure if I'm just going to do the 5 hp or 7.5 hp model yet. So when is it necessary to have a cooler? Are you using or making the cooler instead of using a water dryer? Why are you using a cooler? Is it because of hot air? I have never thought hot air came from any air compressor. Maybe I'm wrong. How are you going about making your own or did you just go buy one from somewhere?
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School me on air compressor coolers. How Why When
- Thread starter skipnay
- Start date
sberry
Banned
Just use it to start with, start there before you stick everything ever invented on it. What is the work you do? I like a real 5, good for autobody for 1 guy and not quite such a rush on the electric as a 7.5 when it starts.
I mostly use it for blowing myself off... LOL
I use it for die grinding I have been doing a lot of metal work myself. I would like to be able to use it with my plasma cutter. I have some work I want to do on my trailer and then I will probably paint it. I never painted before but figured since it's a trailer who cares anyway. My trailer is 16 years old now. I have a 30 gallon craftsman with no cooler or water separator on it. I try and drain it from time to time and get water coming from it. So when I get a new compressor I want to take care of it.
I use it for die grinding I have been doing a lot of metal work myself. I would like to be able to use it with my plasma cutter. I have some work I want to do on my trailer and then I will probably paint it. I never painted before but figured since it's a trailer who cares anyway. My trailer is 16 years old now. I have a 30 gallon craftsman with no cooler or water separator on it. I try and drain it from time to time and get water coming from it. So when I get a new compressor I want to take care of it.
Whiskeymike
Well-known member
Compression of air causes heat, so the air warms as it goes through the process. The problem is that hot air holds more moisture and moisture is bad in plasma cutting, painting, sand blasting etc.. intercoolers, refrigeration, etc.. cool the air so the moisture drops out of the air so it can be drained.
Deciding how much cooling you need is based on how dry you need your lines and typically how humid the air is prior to being compressed.
There are great threads here on intercoolers and aftercoolers. As suggested, setup your compressor and use it and see how much moisture you commonly have. Then determine the best approach to remove the moisture.
Deciding how much cooling you need is based on how dry you need your lines and typically how humid the air is prior to being compressed.
There are great threads here on intercoolers and aftercoolers. As suggested, setup your compressor and use it and see how much moisture you commonly have. Then determine the best approach to remove the moisture.
Compression of air causes heat, so the air warms as it goes through the process. The problem is that hot air holds more moisture and moisture is bad in plasma cutting, painting, sand blasting etc.. intercoolers, refrigeration, etc.. cool the air so the moisture drops out of the air so it can be drained.
Deciding how much cooling you need is based on how dry you need your lines and typically how humid the air is prior to being compressed.
There are great threads here on intercoolers and aftercoolers. As suggested, setup your compressor and use it and see how much moisture you commonly have. Then determine the best approach to remove the moisture.
I would like to not have moisture in the system. I figured I could do it all at once. But I trust you guys here....
hsvtoolfool
Well-known member
Why are you using a cooler? Is it because of hot air?
It's all done to remove water vapor from the air.
Water is bad for tools and ruins paint. Hot air
won't hurt anything.
Water vapor condenses into water when air changes
from a higher to a lower temperature. This temp
drop and resulting condensation can't be avoided
because the air is very hot after leaving the
compressor.
The first place water condenses is in the tank.
The compressor has just pumped very hot, very
moist air into this large, cool space. Water
quickly condenses in the tank as the air cools
to room temperature. An automated water drain
valve at the bottom of the tank is a really nice
feature to remove the water each day.
I personally haven't done this yet, but I plan
to add a simple, passive air drier between the
compressor and the tank. Most folks on the web
call this device an "intercooler". It's just
a small radiator with a cooling fan which kicks
on any time the compressor runs. The hot air
from the compressor cools as it runs through
the radiator. Water condenses inside the radiator
and exits via a self-draining water trap at the
bottom of the radiator.
Folks on the web have shared very good and
cheap DIY intercooler designs...
www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=153878
www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=161113
www.slantsix.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=40089
http://transamcountry.com/community/index.php?topic=30424.0
www.pirate4x4.com/forum/shop-tools/596034-my-new-compressor-intercooler.html
If you have a two-stage compressor, a radiator
and water trap can be plumbed between the two
pistons (the "intercooler"), and a second radiator
can be plumbed between the second piston and
the tank (an "aftercooler"). I suspect the
intercooler between pistons must trap and drain
away every last drop of liquid water. Any water
entering the second piston would probably be
very, very bad.
Cooling and drying the air before it enters the
second piston (and the tank) means the air
being stored is much cooler and denser. Cool,
dense air can do more work per volume compared
to hot air. So you're effectively adding power
to your compressor. Another added benefit
is that less water condenses in the tank.
Finally between the storage tank and tools,
you've got more water traps, dessicant filters,
oil and debris filters, and rather expensive
refrigerated air driers. This is the last line
of defense for your tools and paint finish.
Unless you paint frequently, I personally
don't think a refrigerated dryer is required.
For the occaisional plasma torch cutting
or painting job which require really dry air,
a dessicant filter is adequate.