Air Compressor Piping Diagrams and Tips

You have created your own air compressor piping diagram when you attach a compressor to an end-user device through a pipe. This is all very simple when we speak about it in such terms, but it can be more complicated to create.

To create your own air compressor piping diagram, you need to know your project’s requirements. For example, if you’re creating your own paint spraying station, you’ll need to work with an outside wall because you need a large amount of ventilation.

This is similar for the majority of end-use pieces of equipment, most of which need an outside wall. This is often the biggest challenge when it comes to creating air compressor piping diagrams at home.

Use the following tips brought to you by Best of Machinery to help you create the best air compressor piping diagrams possible.

Think About the Layout

It’s common for people to focus on connectors when they’re in the process of designing their air compressor piping system diagrams because they think that this will prevent the most damage. However, it’s actually more important to ensure that your system is efficient by creating fail-proof pressure than taking leaks into consideration. This can be done by:

• Removing as many sharp angles from your air compressor piping diagrams as possible
• Eradicating as much moisture from the system as you can
• Making sure that obstructions and blockages are kept under control or checked thoroughly

Get the Right Angle

When there are lots of sharp angles in an air compressor piping diagram, the following happens:

• The speed of air slows down
• The flow of air is interrupted
•  The pressure decreases

Just like when you’re driving, you must decrease your speed if you need to make a sharp turn. The same applies to air in an air compressor pipe system. To speed up again, it ricochets around the pipe, which wastes energy. It’s a common mistake for people to include sharp angles in their air compressor piping diagrams, so much so that the energy wasted when the air is speeding up again has been given a name: laminar. The most effective, efficient, and energy-conscious pathway is straight. Always keep this in mind.

Moisture

Moisture, unfortunately, is unavoidable in the world of air compressors. All air has a certain amount of moisture within it, but we can try and regulate humidity levels, and therefore moisture, when it’s close to an air compressor. Water is very detrimental to piping, as it corrodes many different types of pipes. The rust then flakes off and causes obstructions in the system. Moisture and rust can clog the equipment nozzle and contaminate other materials.

An internal problem we cannot see is the damage that moisture causes to the internal pipes through corrosion or rusting. Surfaces become rough, and so this, in turn, reduces the air pressure within the piping system. Reduce the moisture within your air compressor piping diagrams by changing the supply inlet. This helps because water is heavier than air and drops to the bottom of the tank.

Taking air from the top of a compressor means that the amount of moisture taken with it too is reduced. We also recommend that you have an aftercooler fitted with your piping system, which will remove at least 60% of the liquid. Eradicating all moisture is impossible, but you should try to decrease the moisture as much as you can so that the piping is not damaged and your air compressor doesn’t suffer the consequences of moisture either.

Obstruction Destruction

The most common cause of obstruction is pipe corrosion. Pipes are most commonly restricted in the areas where there are valves, connectors, or additional devices, like sensors or dryers. These are all necessary to have within the system but constrict the pipe width and reduce the area the air has to flow through. To aid this process and prevent air pressure from decreasing, make sure you have effective air filters to eradicate specific particles that could clog up your air compressor or piping system. You’ll know almost immediately if you have an obstruction within your piping, and it’s not difficult to find out where the obstruction lies.

To reduce the number of obstructions caused by corrosion or rust, be sure to find pipes made from a non-corrosive material. This will automatically enable obstructions to be removed with little to no assistance required from you. As a result, you won’t waste any time, and no secondary problems will occur from high pressure.

Top Tips for your Air Compressor Piping Diagrams

By following the top tips in this article, you’ll ensure that your air compressor, piping, and you, the user, are all kept safe. You can utilize your air compressor to the best of its ability to get the job done well, effectively, and fast.