More on compressor setup

[manoweb]

Hello, I’m upgrading my 5HP 60gal compressor with an aftercooler (Hayden 1290). This is an air/air cooler that is in between the compressor pump and the tank; the tank will store dry(er) air as opposed to dry it when it comes out. I have (and plan to upgrade too) extra filtering at the plasma cutter, but that is not part of this discussion.

My question is: the radiator will reduce the temperature of the air just after compression. By doing so it will create (a lot of) liquid condensate; what is the best “device” to put just after the radiator and before the tank? I do not really want to put a moisture absorber here; I was about to put a copper Tee junction with a 1/4 valve pointing down for liquid water to accumulate and be evacuated.

[brownfox]

I put an auto drain after mine.

[manoweb]

Thanks, would you share which make/model you use? It auto drains when it’s full or when pressure drops after each cycle?

[brownfox]

Air Compressor aftercooler Info thread

I’m going to condense some of the information I came across while researching this and searching for all the fittings. I don’t know about most of you, but I’m constantly amazed and frustrated by how much a person needs to learn while undertaking a hobby such as ours. Why do we want this? Compressed air come out of the the pump HOT and when it cools, water condenses. We basically have three choices on where to cool the air. Before the tank (aftercooler) In the tank (just wait for it?) On the…

Sorry, meant to post this earlier but I got distracted.

It’s all in there.

[manoweb]

Thanks but I’m confused, in the first post you mentioned an auto drain, in this more elaborate post (thank you!) you list a manual HF one

[brownfox]

It seals under pressure, so when the pump starts, but then when pressure stops it releases and drains.

[manoweb]

Yeah but the one linked in that post has a push-button drain!

I was thinking to get this: https://www.tptools.com/3and4-InlineandModular-High-Capacity-Water-Separator,8789.html?b=d*8082

[brownfox]

The link is correct, that filter will drain itself. When it’s under pressure you push it to drain it. When there is no pressure, it unseals and drains.

[jtaj77]

You can use one of these between the cooler and the tank. This one has an auto drain, the water lifts a small float and will drain the water as needed.

Water Trap with auto drain

[manoweb]

Thanks @jtaj77. I have indeed one of those (along with a coalescing filter and a desiccator and a motorguard) next to the plasma cutter. For the radiato to tank connection, I ended up getting the slightly bigger unit I listed above from TPTools. I still have to test the system as the flared nuts I got were the wrong size, but it’s shaping up to be a pretty good system. I’ll post pictures once I have validated it.