Piping specs for compressed air and water
Piping specs for compressed air and water
(OP)
My project involves providing my maintenance person specs to run piping from a 3hp air compressor and dryer to a propietary machine and from a water softener to a vacuum pump (for cooling water) to that same propietary machine. The air compressor can provide up to 10 cfm at max pressure (see http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/items/4YW09 and http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/items/2HUF8). Based on this, I was planning on running a 1" ID PVC line for the compressed air and a 1/2" ID PVC line for the soft water from the water softener to the vacuum pump and from the pump to the drain, as well as from the water softener to the drain for when it regenerates.
The vacuum pump requires 1 L/min cooling water = 0.26 gal/min = 60 cuin/min). I assumed a max flow rate of 5 ft/sec and calculated a minimum diamter of 0.15 in. I sized it up to 1/2" ID for safety.
I know I need to also consider temperature and pressure. The water from the softener should be room temp and the plant water supplying the water softener is 60 psi.
For the compressed air, I also assumed 5 ft/sec maximum flow rate and using the max 10 cfm I calculated 1.2 in.
I'm not sure what to consider for pressure and temp for the compressed air.
I'm choosing PVC because of a tight budget and the fact that the client may be adding more machines in the future and so we'll have to resize the line anyway.
Does this make sense?
I'm obviously new at spec'ing piping so sorry for the dumb question.
The vacuum pump requires 1 L/min cooling water = 0.26 gal/min = 60 cuin/min). I assumed a max flow rate of 5 ft/sec and calculated a minimum diamter of 0.15 in. I sized it up to 1/2" ID for safety.
I know I need to also consider temperature and pressure. The water from the softener should be room temp and the plant water supplying the water softener is 60 psi.
For the compressed air, I also assumed 5 ft/sec maximum flow rate and using the max 10 cfm I calculated 1.2 in.
I'm not sure what to consider for pressure and temp for the compressed air.
I'm choosing PVC because of a tight budget and the fact that the client may be adding more machines in the future and so we'll have to resize the line anyway.
Does this make sense?
I'm obviously new at spec'ing piping so sorry for the dumb question.





RE: Piping specs for compressed air and water
RE: Piping specs for compressed air and water
RE: Piping specs for compressed air and water
RE: Piping specs for compressed air and water
RE: Piping specs for compressed air and water
1. Feed pressure P1
2. Consumer pressure needed: P2
3. Calculate pressure drop from pipe friction and local loss, dp
4. Make sure (P1-P2) > dp
That is normally how I do it.
RE: Piping specs for compressed air and water
www.perfecting.com/dpl/dpl_page/2008/531.pdf
RE: Piping specs for compressed air and water
Otherwise, listen to your compressor supplier and use black iron!
RE: Piping specs for compressed air and water
Black iron pipe (Sched STD or better)with threaded fittings will be about the same price as the PVC.
Your "5 ft per second" is a good criteria for LIQUID pipe sizing, not air or gas pipe sizing.
-MJC
RE: Piping specs for compressed air and water
RE: Piping specs for compressed air and water
RE: Piping specs for compressed air and water
RE: Piping specs for compressed air and water
On-Line Compressible Flow Pressure Loss
http://www.freecalc.com/gasfram.htm
OSHA and insurance companies will make you pay for PVC. As MJC points, out lawyers have no issue with it.
RE: Piping specs for compressed air and water
I'd use 3/8" copper on the water. 1/2" copper or even 3/8" may work. What matters on the air is not what the compressor can do, what does your equipment need.