plumbing 4 air ?

[Bird]

work-arounds of automated phone systems

For a few years, I refused to do business with any company that had an answering machine instead of a human to answer the phone. But of course now you almost can't find a company with which you don't have to play telephone roulette.

 

[ray66v]

Are there any specific length limitations to consider when running compressed air? I'm going to be trenching for utilities out to my barn and am thinking about tossing something (apparently not pvc, lol) in there for an air supply back to the house/garage (probably with a reserve tank at the house too). The run is going to be about 150'.

Copper might be the best bet ($$$) for this application b/c of corrosion? I suppose i could put it all in 4' conduit but that would get expensive too.

No limit on length! Thats the beauty of compressed air. You do have to use a sizing chart to allow for volume.
I am not sure what I would use for an underground air line. 3/4" Water service pipe is rated for 300psi, and not terribly expensive. However I do not know if it is going to work well. The big problem with underground air lines is having a way to drain the condensation. This is a problem that should be addressed.

 

[firemanpat2910]

Sugarmaple, Good comments. I intend to put my vertical compressor on the other side of a wall from the shop. Hadn't really thought about containment for a potential tank failure.

A sheet of fairly thin sheet metal(not too thin, at least 20 ga but 18 is better) laminated between the sheetrock and a piece of OSB or ply will stop some very energetic debris. I will put it on the "other" side of the wall, not in the shop.

You should fasten the laminations to the studs in the wall. You don't have to do a large area. I intend to do a 4x8 which will cover the "angles of interest." Any debris thrown in other directions will not be likely to encounter people, just things, insured things.

Pat

put it inside and use it as a back splash for your welding and grinding tables.

 

[wa9w00d]

If you're like me, you really HATE to hear your compressor kick on at 3am because you forgot to turn it off when you closed up the shop.
I eliminated this possibility by using a contactor controlled by a simple timer switch.
Contactors are a little pricey, but your not supposed to be using that breaker for an on/off switch anyway.
I have a divided pole barn with the compressor on a footing in the dirt half. I wish I had used some kind of rubber isolation now.
The divider wall cuts out some sound, and I kinda got used to the sound of a B-29 landing on my head.
Wayne

 

[Kays Supply]

Double check the pressure ratings on the PEX. Temperature affects the rating. Compressed air can get warm. Some copper close to the compressor might help waste the heat.

 

[jcims]

No limit on length! Thats the beauty of compressed air. You do have to use a sizing chart to allow for volume.
I am not sure what I would use for an underground air line. 3/4" Water service pipe is rated for 300psi, and not terribly expensive. However I do not know if it is going to work well. The big problem with underground air lines is having a way to drain the condensation. This is a problem that should be addressed.

Condensation is going to be a problem because there is a small valley between the two buildings. The one thing that might help is having the reservoir tanks on both ends to reduce the rapid pressure drops in the line itself (which i believe is responsible for most condensation). Probably put desiccant filters on each end, too.

Thanks for the tip on water service pipe, i hadn't thought of anything like that...

 

[ray66v]

Temperature drop, seems to me, to be the primary cause of condensation in the lines. Using a desiccant, or refrigerated dryer before the underground leg would be a great way to fix the problem.
Harbor Freight has a refrigerated dryer now that sells for $300 (cheap).

 

[IXLR8]

I was wondering if anyone else tried to get info on the plastic pipe for compressed air. Pat

Pat, I understand your frustrations about trying to get info to buy a companies product. Looks like if you wanted to register on their web site you could have gotten lots more info. I don't want to have to register with somebody to get information from them... so I called up my friend 'Google' and this is what I found.

These look to be the same basic product, same ratings.

Mr. PEX (PEX-AL-PEX) Pex Tubing - PEX-al-PEX Tubing - PEX-al-PEX - Mr. PEX
MultiCor - Multicor (PEX-AL-PEX) Pex Tubing - Wirsbo Multicor PEX-al-PEX - Wirsbo PEX-AL-PEX


HTH

 

[Bill Barrett]

Didn't read everything so forgive me if I double up.
Copper is great, used by manufacturers in air dryers. Type M is fine.
Something was said about compatibility of plastic and oil is very true, also did you know you can have flash fires in air lines? It's a pressure temperature oil mixture thing, I've seen carbon residue from flash fires in industrial systems Not a good thing with plastic!
I checked into plastic pipe and fittings rated for air, very expensive, you could pipe with anything cheaper.
I've used black pipe for years, up to 4" never any problem, except rust if you have a lot of condensation .
My new shop will be copper.
Also check these membrane dryers out, nobody I've talked to have heard of them. I've been using them for years, like lab quality air, very pricy though.
Desiccant & Membrane Dryers - HMD Series

 

[patrick_g]

Pat, I understand your frustrations about trying to get info to buy a companies product. Looks like if you wanted to register on their web site you could have gotten lots more info. I don't want to have to register with somebody to get information from them... so I called up my friend 'Google' and this is what I found.

These look to be the same basic product, same ratings.

Mr. PEX (PEX-AL-PEX) Pex Tubing - PEX-al-PEX Tubing - PEX-al-PEX - Mr. PEX
MultiCor - Multicor (PEX-AL-PEX) Pex Tubing - Wirsbo Multicor PEX-al-PEX - Wirsbo PEX-AL-PEX


HTH

Jim, I did register and got what I could but not satisfied.

Thank you for great links. I did not know Wirsbo did PEX-AL-PEX but then a couple days ago I didn't know anyone did plastic-Al-plastic of any type. I ran into Wirsbo in hydronic applications.

I will have to get some prices on copper to compare to the layered Wirsbo product but if the layered stuff is not too much more I might like it better. I can put a filter on the output of the compressor to keep oil out. Not sure what long term contact of oil on PEX is.

Pat