refrigerant dryer question

M

majsc

Just picked up a little Speedaire refrigerant dryer on Craigslist. Specs rate it at 15 SCFM @100PSI. So I was going to use this for a home booth to do a couple overalls, but now I'm thinking it may be to small. Compressor is an Eaton 3 cylinder single stage with an 1/2 outlet, dryer is 3/8 inlet/outlet. Any thoughts are appreciated....Thanks
 
This is similar to mine in that the air system is 3/4 black steel, the Pneumatech refrigerant dryer uses 1/2 piping. I installed the dryer between the pump and tank, to dehydrate before it goes in the tank. IMO this allows you to use the capacity reserve of the tank without the smaller fittings of the dryer causing any flow restrictions from being "down wind" of the tank..

To dry the air before it hits the tank, I removed the line on the compressor going from the compressor head to the tank, and re-routed it through the dryer. The pipe coming off the compressor gets hot enough you can't hold your hand on it, and the one returning to the tank is cold to the touch. Never had any issue with too much heat (knock on wood). I also installed the bypass valves in case there is any issue with the dryer, I didn't want an air system down.


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The pressure switch on my compressor did have an extra set of contacts, so I also wired in the dryer so it comes on when the compressor does.
 
The cooler you can get your air before the dryer the better it will work, typically a minimum 50' run is what most dryers are rated at.
 
MP&C I had thought about this exact approach. What are you using for filtration on the users side of the compressor? I was going to use a QC3 if I pumped the dryer on the backside of the compressor, but not sure if that will be enough with the dryer pumped on the tank inlet.
 
On the compressor pic above you can barely see the Wilkerson modular style regulator, the matching filter is against the wall. On the booth I used to have the DAD500, but last year changed to get rid of the desiccant and add the charcoal filtration so the shop air could be used with the full hood.

Filters outside the booth:


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Regulator inside the booth:


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thats an eaton compressor. looks exactly like mine but i have a white tank. is that a 7.5hp?
 
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