pump head too hot

[PhilTalon]

I have a clarke 17cfm compressor pump that is getting to hot in this weather and poking extra cooling holes in the wall next to it is not an option, I thought about ducting air to it but I might just as well pour sand in to the intake filter. What I've been thinking of doing is wrapping some 8mm copper fuel pipe around the head and cooling fins of the pump and plumbing in a water cooling system, maybe mounting a small radiator or using an old intercooler in front of the compressor wheel/fan to cool the water a little before returning it to the water tank for recirculation. I know the compressor maybe needs more time to cool between charges but it's currently feeding the grit blaster, has any body done this before or has the heat got to me today?

Cheers Phil.

 

[Wallace]

Is it in a confined space? What about using a car electric cooling fan?

 

[waddycall]

You may be better off improving airflow over the head. You'd need good contact and a good surface area to get water pipes to cool the head effectively.

 

[PhilTalon]

It's against a wall in a 10x20ft room, I've looked at 12v and 240v fans but then would it not be fighting against the one that is part of the pump pulley? I just thought direct contact/heat sink would be better?

 

[Rig Pig]

Large continually rated piston compressors can be water cooled, but they have a proper water jacket and cored head to allow maximum surface area, I'm afraid that wrapping pipe around the fins may actually reduce cooling.

 

[PhilTalon]

Ah just had a thought, still put the small radiator/intercooler in front of the pump pulley and run water through it but use it to cool the passing air around the pump head?

 

[waddycall]

If you add an extra fan perhaps it could work otherwise the extra resistance could slow down airflow which could reduce the cooling effect.

 

[Rig Pig]

It may help, but another fan to feed more air over the fins would probably be easier and more effective.

 

[PhilTalon]

I'll have a play with some ducting and a fan tomorrow after I've stripped it all down and removed the melted plastic intake filter from the head,valves and every where else it's not intended to be

 

[captain-destructo]

how about
a car radiator about the size of the belt guard fix it to the guard so the compressor pulls air thru if possible leave the electric fan on and wire it up so it pushes air thru the radiator and over the compressor then try and get hold of one of these cheap (MAKE SURE YOU GET ONE WITH COLD WATER RECIRCULATION PUMP)

then pipe it up (to the green pipes on the one above)
You will have to switch the cooler on the night before so it gets down to temp

oh and dont forget to fill it with water

 

[rtbcomp]

I've used an extra 8" mains driven fan to assist cooling. Forget the small 4" type fans, a hair drier might be better (switched to cold!), you need a concentrated blast of air.

If you want to be a bit more complicated it may be worthwhile considering rigging up an oil cooler.