Anyone has deep understanding of compressed air dryers?

Ignoramus19022 fired this volley in news:G8GdnZ4qI5CqOzvUnZ2dnUVZ snipped-for-privacy@giganews.com:

exchangers

Think of an air dryer as simply a refrigerated pipe. Ideally, it should cause no more obstruction or friction resistance to flow than would any piece of pipe that size (with numerous bends in it).

If a 25CFM dryer can't handle a 1/4" fitting, there's obviously "stuff" in the line -- which is _probably_ why it was offered for sale in the first place.

Bugs, maybe. Corrosion is likely if the exchanger isn't stainless steel. Try reversing the flow at a high pressure, and open the "inlet" as wide as the fitting will allow. You might blow the obstruction out the way it came in.

There are probably more bends in the lines than would permit you to "roto-rooter" it out. But if the lines are made of stainless, you could conceivably clean them with acid OR a strong base. Acid if it's mineral, base if it's organic.

We had a combination dryer/water chiller at the injection molding outfit I worked for. It had replaceable exchanger coils for each purpose, immersed in a brine bath that was itself chilled by the actual refrigeration evaporator. That was a good design for long-term maintainability.

LLoyd

The reason why I suspect bugs is that I kept it outside for 2.5 months.

At least you confirm that something bogus is going on.

I did already try reversing air and it did not help.

I will take it apart and see, I think.

Thanks Lloyd, now I at least know that I have a problem.

Before you take it all apart, I'd try adapting a garden hose fitting to the outlet of the dryer. Maybe some mud daubers got in there. If so, the water will dissolve there nest and flush it out. You may have to let it "soak" under pressure for awhile.

Peace Milo

Great idea. I will try it for sure. Thanks.

Ignoramus19022 fired this volley in news:hKmdnZhsnIYzMjvUnZ2dnUVZ_t snipped-for-privacy@giganews.com:

NOT "bugs"... Mud Daubers, specifically. Run water (preferrably hot) through the lines.

LLoyd

Yes. I do not know what it is. It was in Illinois between Dec. 7 and Feb 10 or so. We had some warm days also. Might be some debris from trees. The hot water idea is a good one, anyway.

I have also seen dual bed dessicant dryers in instrument air service in Texas. It would be good to be sure it's not one of those before you put the water hose to it.

Pete Keillor

It should be the one with a little refrigerator inside.

Ignoramus19022 fired this volley in news:3oSdnY5m2KeDXjvUnZ2dnUVZ_q snipped-for-privacy@giganews.com:

A 25CFM dryer might be a "little refrigerator" in terms of package size, but the (refrigeration) compressor should be a real honker.

LLoyd

Both of these are refrigerated air dryers, not dessicant type? The dessicant ones definitely will act like an obstruction.

There are a million designs to the refrigerated type. Pretty much all of them use some kind of heat exchange, or the little compressor could never keep the cold chamber cold when a lot of hot air is flowing. Depending on how many loops of tubing there are in the exchanger as to how much restriction it causes. The thing may also have an orifice to develop high velocities inside to help separate water from the air.

Quite possible bugs, spider webs, or just plain corrosion, oil/water emulsion or whatever has dried in the tubing. It might be possible to rod it out with a wire.

Jon

Yes, it weighs a lot.

I agree.

Gunner

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