If you operate an air compressor, you’re drawing water vapor into your compressed air system. Factors like climate control (or lack thereof,) and humidity will dictate how much. If (or more to the point, when) it condenses, it becomes an issue that must be addressed. There are several types of dryer systems to choose from, usually when you buy your compressor…we’ve covered those in a number of blogs. Some of these can leave a little more water vapor than others, but remain popular and effective, when considering the cost, and cost of operation, of the different types.
So, how do you handle the condensate that the dryer doesn’t remove?
Receivers, or storage tanks (like EXAIR Model 9500-60, shown to the right,) are commonly used for several reasons:
- By providing an intermediate storage of compressed air close to the point of use, fluctuations across the system won’t adversely affect an application that needs a constant flow and pressure.
- This also can keep the air compressor from cycling rapidly, which leads to wear & tear, and additional maintenance headaches.
- When fitted with a condensate drain (more on those in a minute,) they can serve as a wet receiver. Condensate collects in the bottom and is manually, or automatically emptied.
- Condensate drains, while popularly installed on receivers, are oftentimes found throughout larger systems where the vapor is prone to condense (intercoolers, aftercoolers, filters and dryers) and where the condensation can be particularly problematic (drip legs or adjacent to points of use.) There are a couple of options to choose from, each with their own pros & cons:
- Manual drains are self explanatory: they’re ball valves; cycled periodically by operators. Pros: cheap & simple. Cons: easy to blow down too often or for too long, which wastes compressed air. It’s also just as easy to blow down not often enough, or not long enough, which doesn’t solve the condensate problem.
- Timer drains are self explanatory too: they cycle when the timer tells them to. Pros: still fairly cheap, and no attention is required. Cons: they’re going to open periodically (per the timer setting) whether there’s condensate or not.
- Demand, or “zero loss” drains collect condensate until their reservoir is full, then they discharge the water. Pros: “zero loss” means just that…they only actuate when condensate is present, and they stop before any compressed air gets out. Cons: higher purchase price, more moving parts equals potential maintenance concerns.
- The “last line of defense” (literally) is point-of-use condensate removal. This is done with products like EXAIR Automatic Drain Filter Separators. They’re installed close to compressed air operated devices & products, oftentimes just upstream of the pressure regulator and/or flow controls…the particulate filter protects against debris in these devices, and the centrifugal element “spins” any last remaining moisture from the compressed air flow before it gets used.
Efficient and safe use of your compressed air includes maintaining the quality of your compressed air. If you’d like to find out more about how EXAIR Corporation can help you get the most out of your compressed air system, give me a call.
Russ Bowman
Application Engineer
EXAIR Corporation
Visit us on the Web
Follow me on Twitter
Like us on Facebook