Corrosion resistant compressed air piping?
William D Danielson_Jr.
What is the best choice for compressed air piping material that has good
corrosion properties.
We will be carrying 100 psi compressed air through a approx 1.5 in pipe
about 70 ft to provide cooling air in a chemistry lab.
I am used to using black iron pipe for compressed air, but my boss, a
scientist (not an engineer), wants something with no chance to rust. Of
course, he does not want to pay for stainless steel. He suggested PVC,
but I told him no way and found some OSHA injury reports about
compressed air PVC pipe explosions and injuries.
Aluminum, copper or brass pipe seem like possible choices. Any thoughts
about which is the most practical and cost effective?
Thanks
Doug Danielson
David B. Green
the water out to keep our black iron pipes from rusting. It is
expensive up front but protects all the equipment downstream from
contamination of rust particles (and water) and lengthens the life of
the high pressure black iron piping.
Most air compressors sales people sell dryer units.
David
--
David B. Green
Barclay Laboratory
916-244-4460
FAX 916-244-2924
Hugo Bueno
Copper or galvanized steel are usually used for compressed air.
Stainless is nice too.
Hugo
--
--------------------------------------
Hugo Bueno 71211...@compuserve.com
Charles B. Schroebel
On Wed, 30 Jul 1997, William D Danielson_Jr. wrote:
> What is the best choice for compressed air piping material that has good
> corrosion properties.
>
> We will be carrying 100 psi compressed air through a approx 1.5 in pipe
> about 70 ft to provide cooling air in a chemistry lab.
>
> I am used to using black iron pipe for compressed air, but my boss, a
> scientist (not an engineer), wants something with no chance to rust. Of
> course, he does not want to pay for stainless steel. He suggested PVC,
> but I told him no way and found some OSHA injury reports about
> compressed air PVC pipe explosions and injuries.
>
> Aluminum, copper or brass pipe seem like possible choices. Any thoughts
> about which is the most practical and cost effective?
>
> Thanks
>
> Doug Danielson
>
>
Hello Doug,
A couple of things here, and you've probably thought of them,
but wth:
Assuming you don't need true volume avail from a 1.5 in dia pipe,
you might consider the poly hoses used to supply air for mechanics
in automotive shops;
You do need that volume:
Copper will work, bronze will work too, and so will brass, but they
are expensive, too. Thin wall stainless shouldn't be so expensive
as to be cost prohibitive, contact your local dealer/distributer,
but 70', a couple of unions, and a valve (valves can be expensive)
should come to < $1000.00.
As to PVC:
Schedule 80 PVC should be more than strong enough to handle 100 psi air.
Rust: Where is the air coming from???
Dry cylinder air? ok;
Your pump? Get a particulate & oil seperation filter;
Plant low pressure air?: Absolutely get a seperation filter,
get two, leave a trap to catch liquid water & oil which will
(will) surge through system now and then and when you can least
afford it. If their pump, consider buying your own or going
to cylinder air. (and you can use N2, which makes it even
more difficult for rust to form in PVC) :-).
good luck!
Charles B. Schroebel
Box 1205
Baltimore, MD 21203-1205
(410) 685-5057 x220#
Email: csch...@umabnet.ab.umd.edu
geht noch ein?
noch ein geht immer noch 'rein
Samuel D. Goldman
Many companies use galvanized steel pipe for compressed air.
Pat Phelan
Consider galvanized coated steel piping. The zinc coating is corrosion
resistant and will protect the steel.
Pat Phelan
William D Danielson_Jr. <wdd...@ibm.net> wrote in article
<33DEE5...@ibm.net>...
> What is the best choice for compressed air piping material that has good
> corrosion properties.
>
> Thanks
>
> Doug Danielson
>
Robert B. Price
> William D Danielson_Jr. <wdd...@ibm.net> wrote in article
> <33DEE5...@ibm.net>...
> > What is the best choice for compressed air piping material that has
> good
> > corrosion properties.
>
Twelve years ago I installed a compressed air (105psig) distribution
system in a 6000 sq. ft. factory area using inch and a quarter schedule
80 PVC plastic pipe. The connection between the compressor and the pipe
was with a loop of reinforced hose to isolate the compressor vibrations
from the pipe.
It is still in use.
--
| Robert B. Price, C.Mfg.E. |
| Automation*Gears*Machinery | "Sapere aude"
| Manufacturing Engineer |
HDanberg
>What is the best choice for compressed air piping material that has good
>corrosion properties.
>
>about 70 ft to provide cooling air in a chemistry lab.
>
>I am used to using black iron pipe for compressed air, but my boss, a
>scientist (not an engineer), wants something with no chance to rust. Of
>course, he does not want to pay for stainless steel. He suggested PVC,
>but I told him no way and found some OSHA injury reports about
>compressed air PVC pipe explosions and injuries.
>
>Aluminum, copper or brass pipe seem like possible choices. Any thoughts
>about which is the most practical and cost effective?
>
>
Typical Compresswed air systems use copper or stainless steel. There is
also a produict out on the market that is plastic pipe for compressed air.
Companies such as Ryan Herco and Harrington industrial plastics carry it
in their catalogs.
For the length you are talking, unless you supply all the labor, the
install cost will overwhelm the part cost. In any case, I would suggest
304 stainless steel with swagelock fittings. It will give your lab a
"professional" look and will resist most chemical fumes in the lab and
will "age" gracefully.
Harry
Forday Wayne Lee
Would the long term suitability of PVC, be dependent on the oil content of
the air and the presence of oxidizing agents in the air? I presume that both
would eventually weaken the PVC piping?
In article <33E27D5F...@capital.net>,
Robert B. Price <gear...@capital.net> wrote:
>> William D Danielson_Jr. <wdd...@ibm.net> wrote in article
>> <33DEE5...@ibm.net>...
>> > What is the best choice for compressed air piping material that has
>> good
>> > corrosion properties.
>>
>
>Twelve years ago I installed a compressed air (105psig) distribution
>system in a 6000 sq. ft. factory area using inch and a quarter schedule
>80 PVC plastic pipe. The connection between the compressor and the pipe
>was with a loop of reinforced hose to isolate the compressor vibrations
>from the pipe.
>
>It is still in use.
>
>--
>| Robert B. Price, C.Mfg.E. |
>| Automation*Gears*Machinery | "Sapere aude"
>| Manufacturing Engineer |
>
>
--
Wayne Lee Forday, Biotechnology Department
Ngee Ann Polytechnic, Singapore
f...@np.ac.sg
Fax:467-9109
Wes Treen
William D Danielson_Jr. wrote:
>
> What is the best choice for compressed air piping material that has good
> corrosion properties.
>
> about 70 ft to provide cooling air in a chemistry lab.
>
> I am used to using black iron pipe for compressed air, but my boss, a
> scientist (not an engineer), wants something with no chance to rust. Of
> course, he does not want to pay for stainless steel. He suggested PVC,
> but I told him no way and found some OSHA injury reports about
> compressed air PVC pipe explosions and injuries.
>
> Aluminum, copper or brass pipe seem like possible choices. Any thoughts
> about which is the most practical and cost effective?
>
>
> Doug Danielson
Samuel D. Goldman wrote:
>
> Many companies use galvanized steel pipe for compressed air.
Hi Guys .
Sam is Quite right, Bill; Your definite best bet is Galvanized Sched 40
Pipe.
I don't want to be an Echo here , but erst-wise, If you don't utilize
Sams'
and my incentive, and your piping isn't installed correctly.You'll get
condensate carry-over blowing out of your discharge vents, and there
will be rust in
the blow-out.
Make sure to pitch the lines 'Upwards' at 1 foot per 30 feet. And use
'Drop-nipples' to
add to the moisture capture of entrained-air if you're not using
cyclonic seperators.
If you pitch the lines down-wards, make sure to put a drain-cock in the
end of the
lines, eh!
Consult a pipe-fitting hand-book for further info'on "line slope
arrangments".
Regards
Wes
Scores
The answer might not be based on which would give the best corrosion
resistance, but rather the building code where the pipe is being
installed. I'm pretty sure that regular (shd. 40) PVC would be
disallowed.
If there is such a concern over the possiblitlity of corrosion by
prodcucts (particultes I'm guessing). Why not use the std. black pipe
with a filter on the end? I'd be more concerned about the amount of
oil particulates from the compressor than of corrosion the pipe.
f...@np.ac.sg (Forday Wayne Lee) wrote:
>Would the long term suitability of PVC, be dependent on the oil content of
>the air and the presence of oxidizing agents in the air? I presume that both
>would eventually weaken the PVC piping?
>In article <33E27D5F...@capital.net>,
>Robert B. Price <gear...@capital.net> wrote:
>>> William D Danielson_Jr. <wdd...@ibm.net> wrote in article
>>> <33DEE5...@ibm.net>...
>>> > What is the best choice for compressed air piping material that has
>>> good
>>> > corrosion properties.
>>>
>>
>>Twelve years ago I installed a compressed air (105psig) distribution
>>system in a 6000 sq. ft. factory area using inch and a quarter schedule
>>80 PVC plastic pipe. The connection between the compressor and the pipe
>>was with a loop of reinforced hose to isolate the compressor vibrations
>>from the pipe.
>>
>>It is still in use.
>>
>>--
>>| Robert B. Price, C.Mfg.E. |
>>| Automation*Gears*Machinery | "Sapere aude"
>>| Manufacturing Engineer |
>>
>>
>--
>Wayne Lee Forday, Biotechnology Department
>Ngee Ann Polytechnic, Singapore
>f...@np.ac.sg
>Fax:467-9109
BOO
William D Danielson_Jr.
Thats a concern I heard from my air compressor salesman.
Thanks
Doug Danielson
Robert B. Price
NIBCO, Inc., manufacturers of plastic pipe and fittings, makes a special
grade of pipe called "ChemAir" specifically designed for compressed air
service. It is an alloy of ABS to provide the needed ductility (as
compared to CPVC) for impact strength. Call 219/295-3000 for a
complete technical and applications package.