Drying compressed air alternative ideas

[rcx132]

Has anyone tried any alternative ideas for drying compressed air? I've seen the how-to on this website that suggests long lengths of copper, but my compressor and outlets are all on one wall right next to each other so no space for long lengths.

What about a zig zagging copper pipe with a water trap at the bottom like this?



Or running the air through a car radiator with a fan behind it?

A few months ago I saw a small compressed air dryer on ebay go for less than £200, and was small enough to fit in a DIY workshop. Just wish I bought it now. The fabricators I use for some of my parts once told me not to even bother media blasting without an air dryer.

 

[123hotchef]

that pic would work make sure they slope slightly down though

 

[Burdekin]

Did something similar and also added a large receiver as well.

 

[rcx132]

View attachment 103733 View attachment 103734 Did something similar and also added a large receiver as well.

Do you think it works and is good enough for blasting?
It's convinient that the Calor bottles stand upright and save space. And you've put the drain valve at the bottom, did you re-enforce the metal before you tapped into it or did you tap straight into the sheet metal to attach that drain?
Why does the receiver need two in/out ports? I would have thought that a single port + drain would be enough. Air would go in when the compressor is running, and air would come out when the supply is being used.

 

[Burdekin]

Dry enough yes but I would need extra capacity. Larger the copper pipe the more it will also cool the air.

I tig welded in threaded bosses for the intake and out lines. I wouldn't just thread the shell wall. The idea of the intake and out is air comes in low, hits the opposite cool wall, water drops out to the bottom and the dryer air has to rise to the top. I don't stop when the compressor kicks in.

I will be adding another compressor to the system some time this year.

 

[rcx132]

I will be adding another compressor to the system some time this year.

Do we think it's better to add extra compressors or buy a single bigger compressor? I only have single phase so the biggest I can get is 14 cfm, so I was thinking to fit an extra small compressor. The small compressors seem dis-proportionally cheap compared to big ones (i.e. a small compressor that's half the size of a 150l compressor seems to cost quarter of the price of the bigger one). I also thought that this way if I'm doing work that doesn't require big air flow then I can just switch on the smaller and quieter compressor.

 

[Burdekin]

If you have room I would buy two. It's cheaper, like you said you can run one if you only need one and it's possible to put them on different ring mains also.

I'll probably just get this one, other guys on here have it and recommend it for the price: https://www.amazon.co.uk/d/lho/Wolf...coding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=QHTFQCXYN1QX3K9Z1J6P

 

[Ton-up]

sod working on that lathe with a big step behind you!!

 

[awemawson]

Yes I was thinking "Don't step back and admire your work !"