A Definitive Guide to Sizing Your Air Receiver Tank
What Is an Air Receiver Tank?
Compressed air systems rely on air receiver tanks to cool air and remove water from the system. Air receiver tanks also function as temporary reservoirs during peak demand. While an air compressor does not need an air receiver tank to run properly, having one helps it run more efficiently.
Many factors govern air receiver tank consideration, including air tank capacity and air receiver tank size. Most importantly, you should consider your chosen air tank compressor’s ability to successfully integrate with your existing systems. We summarize below the four main factors to be considered during air receiver tank selection.
Minimizing Pressure Changes
Air receiver tanks should accommodate expected excess air volumes while allowing for pressure changes. Effective air receiver tanks reduce pressure variations to improve the production process. To help monitor and regulate pressure, the federal government requires receiver tanks to include pressure gauges and relief valves.
Meeting Air Demands
Most systems’ compressed air requirements fluctuate constantly, and the size of the air receiver tank should reflect these changes in demand. An incorrectly sized tank could lead to improper changes in pressure levels, causing pressure buildup or system failure. The air receiver tank should act as an emergency compressed air reservoir when the system experiences a demand spike beyond its main compressor’s capacity. An improperly sized tank may lead to a shortage in the system.
Energy Saving
Properly sized air receiver tank also save energy due to increased air processing efficiency. Compressors with air tanks lose less excess air to their surroundings, meaning they are able to operate on larger volumes of air at a time. Optimized efficiency also bolsters the system’s lifespan.
Safety Factors
Improperly configured air receiver tanks could pose significant risks to your employees. Inspectors should take proper care to ensure that the working pressure of the receiver never exceeds the allowable limit. Your air compressor system must undergo routine maintenance and inspections by qualified technicians. Crucially, inspectors must regularly drain the receiver, either manually or with an automatic drain system, to reduce potential unwanted pressure buildup.
Calculating Air Receiver Tank Size
Determining the best size for your system’s air receiver tank relies on many factors, including the potential for volume and pressure fluctuations, size and capacity of the compressor, expected temperatures, and the overall system. System demand and utilization factors determine maximum usage, and compressed air receiver tank sizes vary to accommodate the needs of a system. It is important to understand exactly what size compressor will work best with your system if you want to optimize the system and ensure that safety concerns are addressed.
