Aircompressor moisture in tank?

[wildfox]

I have a C.H. 5 hp, 26 gallon air compressor that is my only compressor. Question on how moisture is generated to get into the tank? I do have a drain petcock on the bottom of tank. Small tag says to drain it weekly. Ok. I went to spray a wooden chair for my wife earlier this week. Even though, I had drained the tank, there seemed to be some moisture coming thru the sprayer, resulting in a less than desirable finish.
I do have a small filter on the outlet, that has a small schrader valve to empty. It is not a drier type. Do I need to add a drier type of filter to my system to prevent moisture from entering the air hose? How does moisture build so quickly in the tank?
Thanks for any help.

[CADplans]

Your question can require several college level courses to fully understand.
Simply put,,
there is moisture in the air,
The compressor compresses it.

A LOT of the moisture will condense out,, kinda like your car windows on a cold foggy morning.

The solutions?
Add a drier (the discussion of which one can fill complete forums)
or,,,
move to Arizona,, (no moisture in the air to start with)

[H-D dealer dude]

Your question can require several college level courses to fully understand.
Simply put,,
there is moisture in the air,
The compressor compresses it.

A LOT of the moisture will condense out,, kinda like your car windows on a cold foggy morning.

The solutions?
Add a drier (the discussion of which one can fill complete forums)
or,,,
move to Arizona,, (no moisture in the air to start with)

The higher the humidity level is outside the more that ends up in the tank.
Add some form of water separator at the outlet line from your compressor. You want it before the hose. This will usually handle the majority of the water. For spraying paints they make another small disposable filter that goes between your hose and the gun.
You are correct that water is ruining your paint job.

Draining the tank every night or time you use the compressor will help. Just open the valve and leave it that way until you are ready to use it again. I usually put a rag under the valve to catch the rusty water.

[Bubber]

I recently bought copper pipe to plumb my barn for air. I read a lot and there is a bunch of information out there, but one thing that I consistently read is that any dryer that you install should be as far away from the compressor and as close to the tool that you will be using as possible. There should be at least 25' of pipe length between the compressor and dryer to give the air time to cool and the water time to start to condense to where the dryer can pull it out.

Well, that's how I'm setting mine up, time will tell.

[em14]

H-D dealer dude - If I left that air tank drain open down here in Florida the "Dirt Dabbers" would have it stopped up in no time!http://www.greentractortalk.com/foru...lies/laugh.gif
Leo

[em14]

H-D dealer dude - If I left that air tank drain open down here in Florida the "Dirt Dabbers" would have it stopped up in no time! Those little guys are constantly stopping up the ignition switch key opening on the lawn mower!
Leo

[Old Cajun]

I recently bought copper pipe to plumb my barn for air. I read a lot and there is a bunch of information out there, but one thing that I consistently read is that any dryer that you install should be as far away from the compressor and as close to the tool that you will be using as possible. There should be at least 25' of pipe length between the compressor and dryer to give the air time to cool and the water time to start to condense to where the dryer can pull it out.

Well, that's how I'm setting mine up, time will tell.

Yup, agree 100%, even made a little portable metal stand for the dryer to keep it upright and set it as close as possible
to whatever I'm using air for.

[CADplans]

H-D dealer dude - If I left that air tank drain open down here in Florida the "Dirt Dabbers" would have it stopped up in no time!http://www.greentractortalk.com/foru...lies/laugh.gif
Leo

I have never understood why there is not a reservoir plumbed to that outlet,,
Just a cup of capacity,, and the tank could go for quite a while before it would need emptied,,,

Buy a couple of adapters,, a length of steel pipe,a "T",, and you could whip one up,,,

[Ray_PA]

I have a C.H. 5 hp, 26 gallon air compressor that is my only compressor. Question on how moisture is generated to get into the tank? I do have a drain petcock on the bottom of tank. Small tag says to drain it weekly. Ok. I went to spray a wooden chair for my wife earlier this week. Even though, I had drained the tank, there seemed to be some moisture coming thru the sprayer, resulting in a less than desirable finish.
I do have a small filter on the outlet, that has a small schrader valve to empty. It is not a drier type. Do I need to add a drier type of filter to my system to prevent moisture from entering the air hose? How does moisture build so quickly in the tank?
Thanks for any help.

As we all know, all air has moisture in it. When you compress air, you are compressing about 8 cu ft of air into one cu ft to make 120 psi. So, you now have 8 times more moisture in one cu ft. Also, heated air can hold more moisture than cool air. So, compressed heated air that exceeds 100% relative humidity inside the tank causes rain inside the tank. Then as the heated air exits the tank and cools while going through the line then causes more moisture.
So, drain the tank allot (automatic drain is best) and then place a moisture filter away from the tank outlet to catch an moisture in the line.

[RetiredDoc]

Something I've wondered about is moisture inside the tank and a tank rusting through from the inside out. Does that ever happen, and how long does it take if I never drain my tank?

And, should you stop filling an older tank to its maximum rated pressure? As it rusts it must get weaker and able to handle less pressure. My tank has a pressure relief valve, but what if the tank weakens to below the rating for the valve?

Maybe I shouldn't, but I worry about these things every time I fill my thirty year old portable tank while I'm kneeling next to it with my face a couple of feet away.