Compressor room in a dusty environment 1

[SA07]

Hi
We have a compressor room with 4 compressors ( 2 x45 kW + 2x55 kW) in a dusty environment. Especially in summer, the compressors heat up. We have considered relocation. However the cost is high.
It is a power plant burning coal ash.

Are there some mitigating measures we can take? Thks

 

[FACS]

If it is truly a room, serve it clean/filtered air and create positive pressure in the room.

That will keep the dust out and then you can find out if they are heating up because of overuse.

 

[Tmoose]

Please describe the installaton layout with pictures and drawings.
What systems are in place for ventilation of the compressor room ?

Is dust also an issue ?

 

[drawoh]

Randhir120173,

How is the dust heating up your compressors? Otherwise, why is the dust an issue? This affects how we would solve your problem.

If you don't want dirty air in your compressor, you need to attach filters, and you need to manage the resulting head/pressure loss. If the dust is getting into your cooling system, you are going to have to do some engineering. Clean the room, or somehow make your cooling system cope with dust. Are your motors getting dirty? Are they dustproof? Can they be TENV?

I note that you are Electrical. Do you realise that air temperature increases when you compress it?

--
JHG

 

[SA07]

 

[SA07]

Plz see attached pictures of the compressor room, compressors, dryers, ductings.
The ductings take the hot air from the compressors and bring it outside.

 

[itsmoked]

Yikes! So in a room.

Looks like the room exhaust could easily short-circuit right back into the room inlets. Could it be you get occasional prevailing winds that force a complete re-circulation causing overheat trips?

Keith Cress
kcress -

http://www.flaminsystems.com

 

[MacGyverS2000]

If the fan is for intake and the louvers for outgoing air, there's practically zero flow of air within the room, which means it's going to heat up considerably. Intake/exhaust need to be on opposite sides of the room, or the air needs to be channeled to force flow across the room.

Dan - Owner

http://www.Hi-TecDesigns.com

 

[SA07]

The 2 fans are blowing air to the outside.
The ducting from the compressors are blowing hot air to the outside.

 

[itsmoked]

I'd add simple ducts to the fan outlets that are gentle 90's that raise the flow about 6 feet, getting it disconnected from the incoming air near the ground. Then like Dan suggests, I'd put a flexible duct or an easily removable one, to allow for compressor maintenance that extends the inlet for the fans to across the room from the inlet side.

The air will then come in the vents and have to actually cross the room carrying the compressor hot air with it to get to the low pressure fan inlets.

Alternatively duct over the inlet air to the far side of the room. However since they're larger it would be more cumbersome.

I'd expect a 20°F temp drop in that room.

Remember the wear and tear doubles about every 10 degrees hotter.

Keith Cress
kcress -

http://www.flaminsystems.com

 

[SA07]

Elsewhere are compressors installed in open air with just a covered roof? We are in a country where there are cyclones.

 

[itsmoked]

The compressors would need to be NEMA 4 or 12 rated or equivalent to prevent wind driven rain from entering them. Most those newer compressors have a bunch of electronics in them. Also you want to limit solar gain so they need a shade anyway.

You could locate them outside with cover and vented sides but it would cost more than leaving them where they are and providing some thought-out ducting.

Keith Cress
kcress -

http://www.flaminsystems.com