Air Receivers Tech Tip

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AIR RECEIVERS
There are two different applications air receivers in your compressed air system. They differentiate their location. The first I will refer to as the PRIMARY receiver and is located near the compresso aftercooler but before any filtration and/or drying equipment. Every positive displacement (recipro screw or vane) air compressor should be piped to a PRIMARY air receiver after the aftercooler an provides the following for your air compressor and system: a. Dampens fluctuations in pressure so that compressor control functions are smoother and slower b. Acts as a secondary separator to help remove condensed oil and water. c. Provides a vent point for performing certain service and troubleshooting functions. d. Allows you to perform certain time vs. volume tests with regard to compressor capacity or incre requirements. A rule of thumb for sizing primary air receivers for applications from 90-125PSIG is as follows:

CFM Compressor Capacity = Gallons Receiver Size OR Miscellaneous 240 CFM Compressor = 240 Gallon Air Receiver Or Closest standard size View All Manufacturers

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SECONDARY receivers would be located very close to the point of air use at a piece of equipmen volume of air on an intermittent basis. Intermittent is the key word here. If you had a piece of equi large volume of air on a constant basis, a secondary receiver won't do anything to help your system you buy a new piece of equipment for your plant that uses 240 CFM for 3 minutes, then it uses 0 C and the cycle repeats. You have a compressor that delivers 300 CFM at 125 PSIG. The new equipm equipment in your plant requires 100 PSIG minimum to operate correctly. The other equipment us CFM. Your system started out at 125 PSIG but when you turned on the new unit the pressure drop PSIG and never recovered. A secondary receiver will definitely help in this case, but what size sho following formula: V = T (C-S) P0 P Where: V T P0 = receiver volume in cubic feet = time in minutes = atmospheric pressure (psia) P = difference between initial pressure and final pressure

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23/04/2007

Air Receivers Tech Tip

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C S V V V

= intermittent air requirement in CFM = Constant air supply available in CFM = 3 (240-200) 14.7 25 = 1764 25 = 70 cubic feet

The closest larger standard size I could find was 89 cubic feet. Since this is considerably larger, w point the pressure will drop to? Use the same formula, substituting X for 89 = 1764 X X=19.8 initial pressure 125 P -20 PSIG min. receiver pressure 105 Now we need to make sure that the system has time to recover between cycles. Use the following T=VP P 0S T = 89 x 20 14.7 x 200 T = 1780 2940 T = .6 minutes to recover or about 36 seconds Pressure Rating - There is a danger in the use of air receivers of unsound or questionable constru American Society of Mechanical Engineers has established a code, now incorporated into the laws municipalities, governing the construction of unfired pressure vessels. Receivers should satisfy thi any other state or municipal codes which apply locally. the code receiver will have a stamp stating working pressure of that vessel. Safety Relief Valves - You must have a relief valve capable of relieving the capacity of the conne at the pressure you intend to operate. The relief valve can not be set higher than the maximum rate pressure shown on the ASME stamp affixed to the tank. In addition, you can not operate your syst below the pressure relief setting. If you did, the relief valve will tend to chatter or whistle and was escape to atmosphere. Another "rule of thumb" is to have your relief valve set 10% above the high pressure of the system. Example: Maximum system pressure +10% Relief valve set at Minimum receiver working pressure - 125 PSIG - 12.5 PSIG - 137.5 PSIG - 137.5 PSIG P

Condensate Drains - the various types of condensate drains - manual valve, float drains, and elec covered in TECH TIP 1.

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23/04/2007

Air Receivers Tech Tip

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Pressure Gauges - A 4" pressure gauge with large graduations makes it easy to read. If you buy a range double that of your anticipated working pressure, then the needle will point straight up when operation. A combination snubber/shutoff valve allows you to change out the gauge without bleed system and prevents pressure spikes from damaging the gauge. Installation Suggestions - Mount the receiver on a 4" high concrete house keeping pad. Pipe inlet opening and out an upper opening that is on a perpendicular axis to the inlet. This will assist in pre condensate carryover.

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http://www.pyebarker.com/TechTips/techtip3.htm

23/04/2007