ACFR Series Compressed Air Aftercoolers

Pipe-Size Shells for Compressor Package Duty

The ACFR range uses pipe-size shells, which is why its dimensions read as 3-1/2, 6-5/8, 8-5/8 and 10-3/4 inches rather than the round numbers used elsewhere in the catalogue. Nameplates carry both ACF and ACFR designations depending on vintage.

The duty is the same as the ACA. Cool compressed air so that moisture condenses out before it reaches the dryer and the distribution system. What differs is the construction and the size band, not the job.

Pressure drop discipline still applies. Air-side pressure drop across an aftercooler is compression energy already spent, and it is spent every hour the compressor runs. The single-pass arrangement keeps it low, and oversizing the air side is a legitimate way to buy that back.

Separation and drainage are not optional. An aftercooler produces liquid water by design. Without a separator and a working trap, that water enters the distribution system in slugs. Any aftercooler installation that has a water problem downstream should have its drain checked before the exchanger is blamed.

Identifying an ACFR. Part numbers in the 5-005 range cover the series, alongside legacy designations such as ACFR-8151 and ACF-847. The pipe-size shell dimension on the nameplate is a useful confirmation.