Comment on compressors and air reserve.

[Al Powell]

In the discussion of compressors, don't forget a potential source of air
reserve.

My tranny guy in Denver has a huge compressor, but he also has the output
plumbed into a metal pipe air delivery system that runs all the way around
his shop.  All the metal pipe is about 4" pipe, and the shop was at least
50x100 feet, so there were many yards of pipe.  He remarked that he designed
it that way to provide a huge reservoir of pressurized air, as there are
many cubic feet of extra volume in that pipe system.  He can flow a LOT of
air out of that system and never empty it.

Of course, the first time he fired up the compressor it ran for hours, but
once the whole system was up to pressure, he doesn't think he'll ever run it
out.  If you have the chance to do something like this, it would serve as a
large buffer to assure continued air flow at even pressure - no sharp ups
and downs as the compressor kicks in and out.  Of course the pipe costs $$,
but TANSTAAFL applies.  (See R. H. Heinlein, "The Moon is a Harsh
Mistress".)
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Al Powell
Fort Collins, CO
apowell at gocougs.wsu.edu
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