Corporate Buyers Guide

A compressor aftercooler takes the air from the air compressor and cools it. By cooling the air, the aftercooler also removes some of the moisture from the compressed air. The cooling causes the water in the air to condense out since cool air cannot hold as much moisture as warm air. Aftercoolers can be either air or water cooled, depending on your needs. Air cooled aftercoolers can reduce the temperature of the compressed air to about 20 F (10 C) over room temperature. Water cooled aftercoolers can get the temperature lower, to about 40 F (5 C). Either type are usually put near the compressor so the air coming out of the compressor can be cooled immediately.

Now, why is this desirable? Air coming out of a compressor is very hot, 200 F (90 C) to 400 F
(200 C). This can damage your equipment. Since it is both warmer and compressed, the air will contain a lot of moisture. The moisture causes corrosion and pressure drops which will require your compressor to run longer to get the same amount compressed air. It also causes damage to the tools and equipment which will require them to be repaired or replaced more frequently. Running the compressor longer, increased repairs, and more frequent replacements all cause costs to increase. An aftercooler can reduce these costs.

We are a group of manufacturing engineers and purchasing professionals who want to simplify the search for capital equipment used in manufacturing, warehousing and distribution.

We look forward to your suggestions and criticism about what we should add or delete.

Chairbound

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