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Most standard Eden Labs systems utilize an air driven hydraulic pump. Many competitors systems utilize similar pumps. One issue, regardless of season, is excessive water content in the air supply to the CO2 pump. In most applications, this may not be a big issue, but many people have experienced the pump freezing due to the moisture content of the air supply driving the pump. This freezing occurs due to explosive decompression as the air enters and exits the pump, dropping the temperature and changing the dewpoint. One solution is to add additional air desiccant filters in line, but this doesn't usually entirely eliminate the issue.
When an air compressor is used to run a hydraulic pump, it runs continuously. The issue with this is the air is never sitting in the compressor tank for any length of time in order to drop the water out of the air supply. You are not actually using the pressurized tank supply, you are simply using the air as fast as the compressor draws it in.
Does anyone have any information to share that may help others?
Comments
We have an automatic purge valve on the compressor reservoir link below.
http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200397384_200397384?utm_source=google_PPC&utm_medium=Dynamic+Search+Ads+Test&utm_campaign=DSA&utm_content=&mkwid=sjwWcmSyR&pcrid=81459276911&mtype=b&devicetype=c&storeId=6970&langId=-1&type=search&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIga2tv9fF1QIVy45-Ch24zwLnEAAYASAAEgJsBfD_BwE
We then run through an in-line drier
https://www.ingersollrandproducts.com/en-us/air-compressor/products/compressed-air-treatment.html
Then there is the last desiccant trap on the Hiflow detailed in this great article on air handling best practices
http://www.airbestpractices.com/standards/food-grade-air/compressed-air-gmps-gfsi-food-safety-compliance
We drain our compressor after every run for as long as possible. Usually starting when passively draining the system. When we can, we drain the compressor completely - usually once or twice every week.
As we only run a single shift I am able to shut my compressor down for 8 hours in between runs, after which I drain the condensate from the tank before beginning again. When we were running 3 shifts we drained the condensate as often as we could, but it usually had to wait until the weekend to be shut down completely to fully drain off condensate.
Compressors must be drained much more often this time of year in most locales. It's a good habit / task to add to your daily maintenance or start-up procedures.
We drain water every day. If we are running multiple runs in a day, we pump extraction column up to pressure, and let is soak with valves closed. Turn off the compressor and and drain the water out of the tank. This takes a few minutes. Then we turn on the compressor, and open the valves to continue the extraction run.
An additional means of getting the water out of the air line is to hook up a chiller of sorts before your inline filter. This should condense all the water out of the air before it passes through the filter thus allowing the filter to work more effectively. Biggest consideration would be filter saturation and chiller temperatures.