Homegrown air dryer idea - don't laugh please

Nov 30, 2007 9 Replies
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I have read many articles about folks using well-designed relay-driven fans and intercoolers, etc. to cool their shop air to reduce moisture. I have been looking at an 'easy way' to achieve similar or maybe even better results. I there any real reason why I couldn't get a cheap bar fridge and coil copper inside of it with a fitting IN/OUT on the casing? Better yet, I could have the top half full with copper coils boxed in and the bottom could contain wobbly pops. Obviously a drain system would need to be looked at inside the cooler or upstream. My other plan is to use an old AC condenser I have with a fan but that gets kind of bulky and elaborate. Any thoughts on this hack of a plan?



I know this might not be the best ng for this but I know a lot of folks running plasma cutters could use dry air ideas... And may have some of their own. If I drop my air temp by 20d F, I will reduce moisture content by 50%. This seems like a no-brainer.



Thanks, Andrew.



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The easiest is to buy a desiccant based air dryer from me, I have several more military surplus air dryers.

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These also work in sub freezing weather.

probably it would end up being too small.

You also would be dealing with issues like refrigerant, etc.

i
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How about taking the hot output right off he compressor and running it into the top of an automobile A/C condensor? Put a small reserviour with a drain trap on the bottom of the condensor, and a nice fan to cool the condensor. Run the cooled, dry air through the pressure relief switch and you are set. One could even put an auto moisture dump valve on the drain trap. Put a relay on the fan that is slave to the motor.

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A

Thanks for the input guys. I will have to think on this a little I guess first. Now that I think of it though I have a brand new untouched AC condenser for a project car I'm working out (either way I will have a spare to play with for this type of project). As far as I know the AC condensers should be fine for the psi rating of that compressor (I believe they're rated somewhere well over 200psi).

Thanks again, Andrew.

Oh yeah look here for a working model or ideas ->

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*********************** Car A/C condensors are on the high side of the refrigerant compressor. They should be able to handle up to around 250 psi, I would imagine. I would use 1/2 inch soft copper tubing and silver solder the fittings I need. I would have circles or loops in the tubing so there is always room for expansion and vibration. If you don't have a bender to handle the 1/2 inch tubing any refrig repairman will do it for you.
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B

The simple answer, not the best one, would be to use a small heater (a heated food serving tray is nice) . Light bulbs are too fragile and too hot IMO. Add a fan and you're set, unless humidity is a real problem. Maybe even use a small heater with fan- tiny ones are cheap. B

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Sorry, got topics crossed----- B

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Sorry, but I haven't actually put it together yet. I recently acquired the condensor that I will use when I have time for that project.

Bob

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A heater?? Don't we want to drop the temp to reduce the moisture? Maybe I'm missing something as I am certainly no HVAC technician/engineer.

Thanks, Andrew.

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Bob, No problem. Please make a mental note to keep me in the loop when the project takes flight. I'd like to see how it turns out.

Thanks! Andrew.

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