05-08-2014, 08:30 AM
It's been awhile, but I've bought, installed and serviced a number (more than ten fingers will let me count) of commercial sized (7-1/2 to 10 HP) compressors and don't recall any of them coming with an aftercooler, I usually added a dryer to them. I think it would be a mistake for a manufacturer to equip a compressor with an aftercooler (they come as water, air, chemical, or freon cooled and are downstream from the tank). They are accessories.
To the best of my knowledge, all two stage pumps come with intercoolers between the cylinders (copper tube w/fins located in the flywheel airstream). This is so the second stage doesn't burn up (valves getting carboned) and no other reason. I don't think it's possible to control water except downstream from the tank, not in the environment I'm familiar with. The method I use at home (very intermittent use) is to leave the tank drain cracked open all the time and to turn the motor off when not using it. Commercially, a solenoid and timers ("electronic tank-drain") are used to pop off every day. They're a huge improvement over the float and differential pressure types.
As to what brand, I've seen a number of Speedaire's used in dry pipe fire sprinkler systems with descant dryers. You kinda want something light-duty, reliable and cheap there... Like at home, although mine is a Cambell-Hausfeld because is was grey and matched the lathe.
To the best of my knowledge, all two stage pumps come with intercoolers between the cylinders (copper tube w/fins located in the flywheel airstream). This is so the second stage doesn't burn up (valves getting carboned) and no other reason. I don't think it's possible to control water except downstream from the tank, not in the environment I'm familiar with. The method I use at home (very intermittent use) is to leave the tank drain cracked open all the time and to turn the motor off when not using it. Commercially, a solenoid and timers ("electronic tank-drain") are used to pop off every day. They're a huge improvement over the float and differential pressure types.
As to what brand, I've seen a number of Speedaire's used in dry pipe fire sprinkler systems with descant dryers. You kinda want something light-duty, reliable and cheap there... Like at home, although mine is a Cambell-Hausfeld because is was grey and matched the lathe.