Air compressors

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At work have 8 compressors--One Gardner-Denver 20Hp 100Gal,has two 10Hp compressor pumps.2 Gardner Denver 1Hp,2 Worthington 1 Hp,and two Ingersol-Rand 5 Hp vertical 80Gal.The 20 Hp one supplies "house" air and air for the HVAC system.The two 1 Hp G-D units are for HVAC backup.The Worthington units are switchbay backup.The two IR units supply switchbay air.-This is the antenna-tranmission line matrix switcher.Its switches are moved by air cylinders.One cylinder switch breaks the line-the other switches the antenna onto the transmitters line.Sometimes during very cold weather the system needs a little help-you have to run out to the switchbay and valve the antenna on or off by hand.Despite the systems have air dryers-sometimes-rare-moisture will cause freezeups.Have to check these compressors once per shift-along with other building equipment during security checks.All these compressors run off 208V 3 Ph power.
 
Air compressors

I have three working air compressors at the moment. Sadly, none of them are accessible to photograph right now, but I will try to dig them out sometime soon.

One is a 'Clarke' 9 CFM 'workshop' type, which came to me with a 415V 3-phase motor, but which I retro-fitted with a 2 HP 240V single-phase unit, since I don't have 3-phase power at home :-( :-(

Another is a 'home-brew' unit made from an old HVAC compressor and a few bits I had lying around at the time. This one is the one I use most frequently, as the receivers are small so it produces small amounts of 'working pressure' air quickly, ideal for inflating tyres (love that U.K. spelling?? ).

The third is an 'ex-military' high pressure compressor (3-stage) for filling 'breathing air' cylinders. Rated to 2,000 psi (at very few CFM!!), it is fitted with a comprehensive bank of filters to purify the air to 'breatheable' standard. I bought it 'because it was there'... ;)

I also have a spare HVAC compressor of the same type, and several other pumps and motors, which are just taking up space, but I can't bring myself to part with :-( ;-)

All best

Dave T
 
"Sometimes during very cold weather the system needs a little help-you have to run out to the switchbay and valve the antenna on or off by hand.Despite the systems have air dryers-sometimes-rare-moisture will cause freezeups."

Sounds like you need an ethylene-glycol infuser added with those driers. They work very well in critically-cold environments, because compressed and de-compressed air ALWAYS re-condenses to some point in a pneumatic circuit!
 
Yes,in our system-even in winter the moisture still recondenses as you say outside the dryers.The Glycol unit sounds good.May have to suggest this to the building engineer.Right now the threat of freezing isn't a problem now.
Remember a visit to Air Products place that is in the Wash DC area-their compressors for filling fire dept,scuba tanks was HUGE!!Multicylinder unit.And a scuba tank compressor at a dive shop in Florida.Another big one.Then there is a "shoe Box" sized 2000 PSI compressor for filling paint ball gun tanks and high powered air rifle tanks.Its literally the size of a shoe box.Runs off a small motor.The unit takes like 24 hrs to fill a paint ball gun tank.For air rifle -Pre charge pnuematic there is a hand powered compressor.This is used in the feild-where no power is available.Some of these PCP guns can even take 220 lb hogs-and shoot the hollow point bullet clear thru them!-and at 200 yards no less!Want one!!These guns operate at 4000 PSI shows the POWER of compressed air!!
 
Alcohol Infusers (used in Air Brake & Suspension Systems) actually are more efficient, but ALCOHOL is TOO HIGHLY FLAMABLE to be exposed to electrical arches and/or sparks ! ! !
 
If the filter device involves alcohol-count it out for switchbay use-MANY arcs there!!!!Some arcs light up the inside of the switchbay building-switch arms will need replacing.when they don't make good contact----ARCS&Sparks!!!The transmitter isn't happy either.Something we try to avoid.
 

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