Everything You Should Know About Compressed Air Receiver Tanks

We need air compressors for our business daily, and we are in a fix whether we should purchase a receiver tank with it or not. Even the regular operators of the air compressors wonder the actual usage of the air receiver tank. We have gathered some essential questions that will help you understand the vital role of any efficient compressed air system. 

The primary role of a compressed air storage tank

Well if we look from the micro perspective, there are three main functions of compressed air storage tank: 

• Storage of compressed air
• Secondary heat exchanger
• Steady air signal to the compressor control

As we know, the main task of a compressed air storage tank is to provide a high capacity of air storage to meet the high demands events that last for a short period of time. These high demand works can be anything from the sandblasting being done by a production worker or a person using a blowgun to dust off their workbench. The air receiver tank majorly works in the same way as that of a car battery. They facilitate a small horsepower compressor to complete a larger task by using the stored energy. 

Receiver tanks help in regulating the compressor control to prevent over pressurization and short-cycling. If the receiver is too small or not present at all, it is going to quicken the cycle resulting in a variety of control issues. 

The air tank also plays a vital role as a heat exchanger. As the air passes from the bottom port to the exit port, it leads to a decrease in temperature. The temperature can go below 10℉ and the air compressor tank helps in passing the heat whenever required. 

How does air compressor storage tanks manage their efficiency?

Basically, the air compressor storage tanks do two things: 

• They reduce the cycle counts, and the stored energy in the tanks reduces the stress on the compressor. When you add the right kind of tank for the system, it adds to the efficiency of the overall system. 

• • A storage tank helps in reducing the wastage of the compressed air thereby reducing the cycles. This is because they store the compressed air that is released during the ventilation process. 
  • When the compressed air is stored at a place, it automatically reduces pressure on the air compressor. For every 2 PSI of increasing pressure, the energy is wasted by 1%. When the users set load and unload points well, this issue can be sorted as well. 

• The air that is stored in the storage tanks approaches that dryer at a lower temperature resulting in reduced pressure on the dryer as well. The dryer becomes more efficient with the stored air because the receiver tank passes air at a slow and steady rate. In this pursuit, the temperature of the air cools down a little. This allows moisture to condense and drain out at the bottom of the tank only. 

What can be the advantage of placing the receiver tank outdoors?

The ideal place to keep the receiver tank will depend upon the following things: 

• The climate where your plant is located. 
• It is a secondary heat exchanger
• Reduces heat in the compressed room

Mostly, the air storage tanks are kept outside because this will save space. However, this idea works only when the temperature is not freezing. When your plant is located in freezing temperature, the air will freeze and rupture unless they are insulated and monitored well. On the other hand, if the temperature is pleasing outside, you can easily keep your storage tank out. 

Another advantage of placing the storage tank outside the room is that the heat released from the tank goes outside instead of spreading inside. This way, you can reduce the internal temperature of the compressor room 

The benefits of having an air storage tank?

Ideally, there can be many benefits to having an air compressor storage tank. The notable ones are explained here:

• It helps in extending the life of the pre-filter element. 
• It reduces the workload on the dryer. 
• It extends a clean signal to the compressor

These wet tanks are usually located between the dyer and the compressor. The wet compressed air enter the receiver tank via a port near the bottom of the tank and the air exits out of the port from the top. When you use a properly sized receiver tank, the air travels slowly. This way, it does not put pressure on the pre-filter element and prolongs its life. Waterlogging is sorted and the life of the machinery is enhanced.

These compressed air receiver tanks are very helpful as they promote a steady pressure signal to the compressed controller. 

If you still have doubts about them, reach out to Indo Air for help. We are the renowned industrial air compressor manufacturers in town.