Compressed Air Best Practices - October 2008 - (Page 43) Compressed Air Industry AUTOMOTIVE TRANSIT | 10/08 | to be sweated in to provide for optimal use. Manifolds are usually crude at best with 90-degree outlets causing the hose to bend sharply — substantially reducing the life of the hose. Plastic pipe is being used less and less. Poorly designed systems have literally exploded. That’s an obvious safety hazard. Some compressor lubricants can deteriorate pipe glues and cause joint failure. The Plastic Pipe Institute (PPI) recommends against using PVC in exposed compressed air systems. The Department of Labor and Industries warned consumers and employers in May 1988 that plastic-polyvinylchloride (PVC) pipe cannot be used in compressed air piping systems without risk of explosion. By law, employers must protect their workers by avoiding the use of unapproved PVC pipe in such systems. What are the advantages of aluminum air pipe? Aluminum offers excellent resistance to corrosion, lower air friction and offer a full-flow design with no restrictions caused by fittings. Aluminum pipe is lightweight, easy to install and requires no open flames, threading machinery or special tools. Adding a drop is a simple operation. Aluminum can be installed by plant personnel in a fraction of the time it takes to install Black Iron or copper and can be easily modified or moved to another location. All of this translates into lower initial costs when you factor in installation, and a safer, cleaner and efficient system. A Filter-Regulator-Lubricator (FRL). Are there other considerations to keep in mind when designing an air piping system? Absolutely. Be sure your system is properly sized to supply your anticipated air volume demand during peak operation. Plan your system for possible future shop expansion. Here are some tips for a safe and efficient system. Sizing: Properly size all piping components from the ring-main to each drop. A looped ring-main with a minimum amount of elbows is the most efficient system. Looping the system can cut your pressure drop in half while providing built-in storage for your compressed air. Be sure the pipe is installed with adequate supports to ensure optimum efficiency and safety. Air Treatment: Don’t skimp here! Make sure your piping system has air treatment components like condensate control, filtration, lubrication (never use lubricators where you will be using compressed air for painting), drains and pressure regulators. www.airbestpractices.com 43 http://www.airbestpractices.com
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