Plumbing School Year 3 Module 8
Measured at sea level, air pressure expressed in psig is
0
It takes 7 cubic feet of air to make 1 cubic foot of compressed air at
100 psig
The barometric pressure at standard conditions is
29.92 inches of mercury
In a typical building system, the operating pressure of an air compressor is generally no more than
500 psig
________________________________ is a measure of the air volume at the air-compressor inlet under actual temperature and pressure conditions.
Actual cubic feet per minute
All air receivers and relief valves are required by code to meet the safety standards set by the
American Society of Mechanical Engineers
When air expands, what does it absorb from its surroundings?
Heat
Centrifugal air compressors are also available, but these are large systems used in highly specialized applications.
Plumbers are less likely to encounter these on the job than rotary and reciprocating types.
__________________________ is the set of physical laws governing the motion of air and other gases.
Pneumatics
If the design of a compressed-air system requires supply pipe with a diameter of 2.5 inches or greater, use
Schedule 40 black-iron pipe
_________________________ is the measure of the air volume at the air-compressor inlet under standard conditions.
Standard cubic feet per minute
Use caution during installation of piping form compressed-air systems. Wear appropriate personal protective equipment (gloves) when installing threaded pipe.
The chips made from threading pipe are sharp and could cut you.
Wear proper hearing protection.
The very high pitch of some air-operated tools could cause hearing damage or loss.
True/False: Air dryers are installed to remove all moisture. Refrigeration air dryers and desiccant air dryers are the most common types.
True
True/False: Compressed-air pressure is measured in pounds per square inch gauge (psig). Psig uses local air pressure as the zero point, At sea level, 0 psig is 14.7 pounds per square inch absolute (psia).
True
True/False: When air is compressed, its temperature increases, and it gives off heat. Consequently, compressed-air systems are designed to protect operators against temperature extremes. Compressors have insulation to prevent operators from touching a hot surface. Pneumatic tools are designed to protect operators from the cold.
True
When is it safe to place a compressed-air source in or near your nose, mouth eyes, or skin?
Under no circumstances
To remove excess oil from pipe, always use
a rag
A device that cools air by passing it through a heat exchanger, causing moisture to condense out of the air is called an _______________.
aftercooler
A device that removes all moisture from compressed air is called an
air dryer
If all moisture must be removed from compressed air, it is passed through an
air dryer
A chamber at the end of the rotary screws in a rotary compressor where air is compressed is called an
air end
In a reciprocating compressor,
air is compressed by a piston. The compression stroke pumps the air into the supply line. Reciprocating compressors are most widely used in residential applications and to power smaller tools such as nail guns.
A valve taht keeps air pressure within the control range is called an
air pressure regulator
An _____________________________ is a storage tank for compressed air.
air receiver
An ___________________________ is a spring-loaded valve used to control or shut off airflow in a compressed-air system.
air throttle valve
In addition to removing moisture from compressed air, refrigeration air dryers are
also effective at removing compressor lubrication oil
Before replacing bits or starting any servicing tasks on any pneumatic tools,
always discharge the pressure
Before operating tools that use compressed air,
always refer to the manufacturer's manual
rotary compressors
are widely used in commercial and industrial applications.
When threading or handling pipe, you should always wear gloves
as protection against sharp metal chips
Scfm is the volume of air measured
at standard conditions.
When installing a compressed-air system, locate the takeoffs for branch and feeder lines
at the top of the main line
Always discharge the air pressure for any tool
before you replace parts such as bits, blades, or discs
A type of compressor that plumbers are not likely to encounter on the job is the
centrifugal compressor
To be able to be reduced in volume is to be
compressible
Insulation is used on compressors because
compressors get very hot
As compressed air passes through an after cooler's heat exchanger, the moisture in the air
condenses
A control that vents excess air pressure from ain air compressor is called a
constant speed control
The ____________________________ is the range between the highest-and lowest-allowable air pressures in a compressed-air system.
control range
A _________________________ is a snap-fit plug connecting a tool or machine to a compressed-air system.
coupling
A ______________________ is a type of air dryer in which chemical pellets absorb moisture from compressed air.
dessicant air dryer
The chemical pellets used to remove moisture from compressed air are called
dessicants
To eliminate the transmission of vibrations from the compressor to the rest of the system, install
flexible metal hoses
Plumbers use portable air compressors
for pressure tests on water supply systems.
In an after cooler, air is cooled by passing it through a
heat-exchanger
The set of physical laws governing the motion of water and other liquids is called
hydraulics
An _________________________ is a heat exchanger that removes heat from air as it moves through a multistage air-compressor system.
intercooler
Multistage compressors are usually equipped with an
intercooler
The unit scfm
is a measure of air volume under conditions that are standard
One of the most common problems in compressed-air systems is
low pressure
A device that injects a fine oil mist into the air supply line, lubricating tools and machines, is called a _________________________.
lubricator
Aftercoolers must use pipe
made from materials that will not corrode
When using any air-operated tool or machine,
make sure that all hoses and couplings are secured. Otherwise, the pressure may be too low for the tool or machine to operate properly.
A device that controls multiple compressors by linking them together into a single network controlled by a computer is called a
network control
A ________________________________ is a device that allows an air compressor to operate at a given percentage of its normal output.
part-load control
Water cooling systems requires the use of
pipe materials that will not corrode when exposed to water.
Systems that involve the use of compressed air are governed by principles of
pneumatics
The pressures of compressed air are measured in
pounds per square inch guage
When air is compressed,
pressure increases
Plumbers use portable air compressors to
pressure-test water supply lines
Water vapor is removed from compressed air
prevent rusting of the system's components
Avoid pressure loss at connections between tools and the compressed-air source by using
properly sized couplings
At the end of the compressed air systems, main line and each branch line,
provide drainage by installing a water drip leg
A ___________________________ is a type of air compressor in which air is compressed by a piston.
reciprocating compressor
The type of compressor most commonly used to power small pneumatic tools such as nail guns is the
reciprocating compressor
An air dryer in which air is cooled as it passes through a heat exchanger cooled by a liquid refrigerant is called a
refrigerant air dryer
The two common types of air dryers are
refrigeration and dessicant
Refrigeration air dryers are also effective at
removing compressor lubrication oil from the air.
Marking 1 cubic foot of compressed air
requires 7 cubic feet of air at 100 psi
The most widely used type of compressors on commercial applications is the
rotary compressor
A helical device in a rotary compressor that compress air by passing it down a screw-shaped path is called a
rotary screw
Flexible hoses used to connect compressed-air sources to tools are reinforced to prevent them from
rupturing
A commonly used desiccant material in desiccant air dryers is
silica
An air pressure of 14.7 psi, temperature of 68 degrees F, and barometric pressure of 29.92 inches of mercury are considered
standard conditions
A device that turns an air compressor off when the control range is exceeded is called a
stop/start control
Compressed air is dangerous because of its high air pressure and its high
temperature
From the compressor,
the air flows into an air receiver, which acts as a storage tank and also smoothes out the airflow from a reciprocating compressor.
After being compressed,
the air is stored in an air receiver
If a compressed air tool functions poorly because of low air pressure,
the cause is most likely an improperly secured hose or coupling
Water vapor in the air can cause rust inside
the compressed-air system and inside the machines that use the air.
Hearing protection should be worn when working with many types of compressed tools because
the very high-pitched sound can cause hearing damage
A ___________________ is a device that controls airflow into an air compressor by adjusting the compressor's intake valve.
throttle
The process of relieving excess air pressure from an air compressor is called
unloading
The process of removing excess air pressure from a compressor when the control range is exceeded is called
unloading
The _____________________, expressed as a percentage of an average hour of use, is the amount of time that a tool or machine will be operated.
use factor
A vertical pipe on an air supply line that acts as a drain for condensed water in the line is called a
water drip leg
Wear appropriate personal protective equipment
when using any air-powered tool
A __________________________ is a cable attached to the ends of an air supply hose and a tool, or to the ends of two hoses tat are connected to each other, to prevent the hose from whipping uncontrollably when charged with compressed air.
whip check
To prevent injury from loose air hoses, OSHA requires hoses to be secured by cables called
whip checks
Before operating a compressed air tool for the first time,
you should refer to the manufacturer's manual