Air Compressor Filtration help

[tosiek]

Looking for someone with some know-how and experience in keeping their lines water free i can chat with. I've been getting alot of condensate in the lines, more so now that I've added a new compressor as well as a second tank.

The whole system is rather complex, about 400-500 feet of piping that splits into 3 separate areas, and then further splitting into separate stations for outlets to power compressed air tools. All the piping was run rather quickly and without thought, sections added over time, and done by a plumber thats fairly unqualified to begin with unless he's installing a faucet or sink drain. Pipe point A to point B, changing pipe diameter without worrying about pressure and volume, condensation, ect.

Anyways, I have time to start working on fixing the system finally and dealing with other problems aside from condensation. But condensation right now is my biggest problem. I have been running air/water separators, but most are manual and my workers are lazy. I need to buy more separators or some way of removing water from my line but am still learning about separators and desiccant filters and so forth. Anyone have experience with the two or maybe other methods of removing condensation?

 

[tosiek]

water/oil separators that are descent quality that will last me are going for about 150-300$, and I would need about 10-15 of them. It starts to add up and was looking at other ways of going about it for the amount of money i would have to spend, whether it be spending extra to go a better route or another option im not seeing thats more economical.

 

[bad coffee]

i'm guessing you read this:
http://www.woodweb.com/knowledge_base/Compressed_air_delivery_system.html

B

 

[tosiek]

I missed that one. Gotto go browse through woodweb. Completely forgot about that site. Was browsing their database a while ago when looking for info on fixing a pressure and volume problem we had to out spray booth.

Thanks BC!

 

[NYreefNoob]

This is for a air compressor i am taking it ? We use a devilbiss separator, you need to drain it daily and have a line opening to be able to drain water in the line's, i open it every morning to drain water off, you will always get a little moisture in the lines, the compressor is pulling air which has moisture and we have a industrial grade separator and still get some water, and all the outlets have small ones on them as well, btw i work in a bodyshop

 

[mmike1992]

you should think about a refrigerated air dryer (quincy, kaeser ) two of the good ones pre treat that with a oil seperator figure out how many cfm you use so you can get the right size

 

[flipit13]

When i had my shop i ran all the lines with separators at every outlet, also wrapped the piping with insulation. also what helps out alot are airlines that dont hit the floor. just my .02

rick