Dry air from my air compressor?

[ChrisHenry]

Reading the "Nitrogen in the tires" thread tonight made me wonder about how I can get dry air into (and out of) my air compressor.

I have a consumer-grade air compressor that's bigger than the little pancake ones, but still small enough to be easily portable. Is there some type of filter or mechanism that can remove moisture from the air going into the tank?

I live in southern California near sea level, so there's definitely moisture in the air.

Do I really need to worry about this? Should I just take the car into the tire shop for periodic refills?

[Tom_06]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Chris Henry @ Nov 6 2007, 12:11 AM) [snapback]535307[/snapback]</div>

Reading the "Nitrogen in the tires" thread tonight made me wonder about how I can get dry air into (and out of) my air compressor.

I have a consumer-grade air compressor that's bigger than the little pancake ones, but still small enough to be easily portable. Is there some type of filter or mechanism that can remove moisture from the air going into the tank?

I live in southern California near sea level, so there's definitely moisture in the air.

Do I really need to worry about this? Should I just take the car into the tire shop for periodic refills?
[/b]

SCUBA compressors use a device called a moisture separator. Should be able to fit one on your compressor. May need an oil filter before it to keep oil in the output air from killing the moisture separator's elements.

- Tom

[Tom_06]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tom_06 @ Nov 6 2007, 05:55 AM) [snapback]535389[/snapback]</div>

SCUBA compressors use a device called a moisture separator. Should be able to fit one on your compressor. May need an oil filter before it to keep oil in the output air from killing the moisture separator's elements.

- Tom
[/b]

Here's a reasonably cheap one. Probably not up to breathable-air standards like SCUBA units:

http://www.amazon.com/D55023-Heavy-Duty-Co...r/dp/B0008GLWA8

- Tom

[qbee42]

Water separators are also used for most air operated tools, as it's not good for them to have water injected into their working parts, and water is bad for most spray painting operations. Any good tools supply place will have them.

Tom

[viking31]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tom_06 @ Nov 6 2007, 08:59 AM) [snapback]535414[/snapback]</div>

Here's a reasonably cheap one. Probably not up to breathable-air standards like SCUBA units:

http://www.amazon.com/D55023-Heavy-Duty-Co...r/dp/B0008GLWA8

- Tom
[/b]

No offense to Tom ;-), but these type of moisture separators are practically useless. They may remove some visible moisture and perhaps a little humidity, but really will not reduce the humidity of the air to any appreciable level. The only real way to remove most of the humidity from air is either using a desiccant type of system (which requires periodic replacement of the desiccant) or use a refrigeration unit (maintenance free) designed for the purpose. Factories which run machines that depend on solenoid valves and such use such devices (unless you like troubleshooting machines for faulty valves on a regular basis! I learned that the hard way!).

I am always amazed by the claims made by N2 proponents regarding nitrogen fills. Some posters on PC even claim 20% mileage increases when using N2 vs. standard air! Automobile tires (esp. the Prius) just do not have the temperature differences under normal driving conditions to justify the extra expense to fill with special or dehumidified gases.

Rick
#4 2006

[skguh]

I wonder if condensation increases as the air inside the tires differs from the heat generated by the friction of the tires as they heat up and cool down....

What's next? Glade tire freshener?

[qbee42]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(viking31 @ Nov 6 2007, 12:29 PM) [snapback]535528[/snapback]</div>

No offense to Tom ;-), but these type of moisture separators are practically useless. They may remove some visible moisture and perhaps a little humidity, but really will not reduce the humidity of the air to any appreciable level. The only real way to remove most of the humidity from air is either using a desiccant type of system (which requires periodic replacement of the desiccant) or use a refrigeration unit (maintenance free) designed for the purpose. Factories which run machines that depend on solenoid valves and such use such devices (unless you like troubleshooting machines for faulty valves on a regular basis! I learned that the hard way!).

I am always amazed by the claims made by N2 proponents regarding nitrogen fills. Some posters on PC even claim 20% mileage increases when using N2 vs. standard air! Automobile tires (esp. the Prius) just do not have the temperature differences under normal driving conditions to justify the extra expense to fill with special or dehumidified gases.

Rick
#4 2006
[/b]

Agreed. The water separators aren't useless, but mostly they remove liquid water, which otherwise will work it's way into the hoses and eventually to the tools or sprayers. Rick is correct that to really dry air requires more sophisticated equipment. Some of the desiccant systems can be recharged through heating, although this can be a bother.

Tom


<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(skguh @ Nov 6 2007, 02:58 PM) [snapback]535627[/snapback]</div>

I wonder if condensation increases as the air inside the tires differs from the heat generated by the friction of the tires as they heat up and cool down....

What's next? Glade tire freshener?
[/b]

Condensation is increased because a volume of moist air is compressed into a smaller volume. The compressed volume still contains the same amount of water, but in a smaller volume. The smaller volume of air can hold a smaller amount of water as vapor at a given temperature, meaning the water is more likely to condense.

Tom