Running an air line ring main with multiple drops

[BChild]

Any advice?

I've got a belt driven compressor with a 120L tank as well as an additional receiver tank of 150L in the loft
space already

working area is 3.5m wide by 5.5m deep

I'm going to run the ring in the loft space rather than under the ceiling (cooler up there)

I'll be using steel pipe threaded

Plan on 4 drops each with isolator valves

And a valve arrangement to bring the additional reciever tank into play or leave it out of the circuit

I read that drops should go up before going down less chance of moisture in the air

 

[MattF]

I read that drops should go up before going down less chance of moisture in the air

It's the generally suggested method, from what I've seen. There are a few diagrams on this page worth having a peek at.

http://www.oldsmobility.com/old/air-compressor-piping.htm

 

[awemawson]

A few observations based on having had a ring for several years:

A/ Blue MDPE pipe is easier to work, cheaper, and gives less condensation than steel pipe

B/ Run your drops past your outlet point, and have a drain cock on the bottom

C/ Be absolutely scrupulous chasing the slightest leak if your compressor is on 24/7 (like mine)

D/Fit isolator valves at strategic points for maintenance and leak detection by section


I have something of the order of 100 metres of 25mm MDPE as rings round four buildings and have not suffered any condensation issues

 

[rtbcomp]

Have a look here

http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/air-system.htm

You'll probably find the loft space gets hot in summer. Personally I would run my pipes at floor level, they'd be vulnerable to knocks, but the drops (risers?) would be easier to install.

I'd prefer copper pipes, you want the moisture to condense out so it gets pushed into the traps.

You mention a ring main, you don't want a closed loop like an electrical ring main.

 

[brightspark]

as mentioned above copper pipe would be best to condese the moisture a ring main is pointless and only used in factorys on long runs and multple take off points all in use at once

 

[BChild]

It's the generally suggested method, from what I've seen. There are a few diagrams on this page worth having a peek at.

http://www.oldsmobility.com/old/air-compressor-piping.htm

Great link - Like the step up step up idea

 

[BChild]

A few observations based on having had a ring for several years:

A/ Blue MDPE pipe is easier to work, cheaper, and gives less condensation than steel pipe

I'm sure it is but I have a free source of enough used 1/2 airline pipe to mean I can do it in steel (and I'd prefer that anyway)

B/ Run your drops past your outlet point, and have a drain cock on the bottom

Useful tip

C/ Be absolutely scrupulous chasing the slightest leak if your compressor is on 24/7 (like mine)

I was intending to make sure it's all fully air tight but then isolate it when the drops are not in general use

D/Fit isolator valves at strategic points for maintenance and leak detection by section

Haven't found a free source of valves so max 5 is what I have - not going to be a big loop to check so hopefully that's enough

I have something of the order of 100 metres of 25mm MDPE as rings round four buildings and have not suffered any condensation issues

As previous reply on plastic

 

[BChild]

Have a look here

http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/air-system.htm

You'll probably find the loft space gets hot in summer. Personally I would run my pipes at floor level, they'd be vulnerable to knocks, but the drops (risers?) would be easier to install.

I'd prefer copper pipes, you want the moisture to condense out so it gets pushed into the traps.

You mention a ring main, you don't want a closed loop like an electrical ring main.

Loft space temperature is a good point - the garage is well insulated and cool in summer and way warmer than outside even without heating in the winter - most of the air useage will be in winter so maybe better in loft - with a downside in the summer months

Copper is quite expensive and steel should work as well in allowing the moisture to condense so it gets pushed into the traps

I might have it wrong but I intended to make a loop from start round all four sides of my garage and back to start with drops in all the corners - that's what I mean by a ring

 

[the snooper]

you will be creating possible water traps if you create a loop there will be parts of the loop that serve no purpose and may never see any real air flow, you will be much better off running a central feed in the loft space with your 4 branches coming off it
in my very very very rough drawing the red line shows the air route, it will always take the shortest route the blue shows pipe that serves no purpose

 

[steviec_lj]

Beg to differ Snooper.

If the above were to be true, installing a water ring main in this fashion would encounter similar problems.

What actually happens is that all outlets receive the same pressure should one or more be used simultaneously.

A complete ring main where by both ends of the circuit meet is best to ensure even pressures.

Can't say I've heard of the blue mdpe water pipe being used much though, and all of the larger suppliers I've dealt with on previous installs have used alloy. Copper is far far far too expensive for any install. Just make sure there's a 1 in 100 slope to the outlet.

 

[brokenbiker]

pressure is constant at any point in a system. Flow however is not, as snooper is pointing out.

i personally would use a manifold and 4 branches

 

[brightspark]

all a ring will do is double up the size of the pipe so if your using inch bore pipe on a ring .use a larger bore pipe on a radial .christ if u can run a shotblaster @ 90cfm on a 3/4 bore pipe at 15meters long whats the problem . why make a mountain out of a molehill

 

[KemppiFrog]

pressure is constant at any point in a system. Flow however is not, as snooper is pointing out.

i personally would use a manifold and 4 branches

Only when static, as soon as it flows then pressure drop due to pipe size and friction comes into play. So the last guy on the system gets somewhat less. Cors, if it is only you, then it matters not. Your manifold would be fine, just depends on the distance and number of users