Outside Air Compressor Exhaust

[nickpa]

All,

I have an air cooled air compressor located outside and I would like to know how the exhaust heat coming from the fan on top of the compressor is calculated. The manufacturer is telling me that the discharge flow from the fan can range from 15,000 to 20,000 cfm and it may contain as much as 1,000,000 BTU/hr. I am mainly concerned about the high heat capacity they are listing as there are some components located above the compressor and I would like to know what a safe distance will be to allow the heat to dissipate. If anyone has any insight as to how this can be determined please let me know. Also, if you think this should go in another forum please let me know.

Regards,

Nick

 

[miningman]

Carefull here!! The exhaust heat is only the waste heat from this operation. The action of compressing the air generates large quantity of heat that is transmitted to the air volume. If you really want to do theoretical calculations , find the BTUs per gallon of diesel fuel. find the average fuel consumption etc etc. Otherwise , move the delicate components.

 

[nickpa]

There is no fuel. This is for a compressed air system providing instrument and service air to various components. The heat leaving the fan is the heat generated by compression and a fan cools the air at each compression stage (3). The fan then removes the hot air and sends it upward at the flow and heat rate listed above. Exhaust may have been the wrong word to use hear.

Nick

 

[willard3]

If they are not part of the air compressor package, get them away from the airstream, as in at least 48" away. If the compressor is loaded and you are using higher pressures (100 psig por ejemplo) the air temp will be above 95F.....too high for digital stuff.

 

[MintJulep]

How strong does the wind blow?

 

[RossABQ]

Is this an Atlas-Copco? Sounds like it. They have requirements for obstructions over the discharge, or dP if you use a hood/duct to redirect the air. Check the installation manual.

 

[nickpa]

It's a Cameron Centrifugal Air Compressor. The requirements in the handbook state "The compressor should not be installed in a confined area where the discharge air would be allowed to recirculate back through the inlet ports." So, it's not very specific.

 

[chicopee]

What is the rating (Free air CFM and max. PSIG) of this air compressor?