2.3 PIPING (Continued)
A dripleg assembly and isolation valve should be mounted near the compressor discharge. A drain line should be connected to the condensate drain in the base.
IMPORTANT: The drain line must slope downward from the base to work properly.
NOTE: For ease of inspection of the automatic drain trap operation, the drain piping should include an open funnel.
It is possible that additional condensation can occur if the downstream piping cools the air even further and low points in the piping systems should be provided with driplegs and traps.
IMPORTANT: Discharge piping should be at least as large as the discharge connection at the compressor enclosure. All piping and fittings must be suitable for the maximum operating temperature of the unit and, at a minimum, rated for the same pressure as the compressor sump tank.
NOTICE
Do not use the compressor to support the discharge pipe.
Careful review of piping size from the compressor connection point is essential. Length of pipe, size of pipe, number and type of fittings and valves must be considered for optimum efficiency of your compressor.
It is essential when installing a new compressor to review the total plant air system. This is to ensure a safe and effective total system.
Liquid water occurs naturally in air lines as a result of compression. Moisture vapor in ambient air is concentrated when pressurized and condenses when cooled in downstream air piping.
Moisture in compressed air is responsible for costly problems in almost every application that relies on compressed air. Some common problems caused by moisture are rusting and scaling in pipelines, clogging of instruments, sticking of control valves, and freezing of outdoor compressed air lines. Any of these could result in partial or total plant shutdown.
Compressed air dryers reduce the water vapor con- centration and prevent liquid water formation in compressed air lines. Dryers are a necessary companion to filters, aftercoolers, and automatic drains for improving the productivity of compressed air systems.
DISCHARGE PIPING WITH AFTERCOOLER
ROTARY-RECIP IN PARALLEL
200
160
Water/24ofGallons hours/1000acfm | 120 |
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40
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DEW POINT
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MOISTURE CONTENT OF COMPRESSED AIR
10