Air Compressor Tank - Benefits and Working Principle
Air Compressor applications require an air compressor tank or air receiver tank to make the compressed air mechanism efficient and effective. Air that is kept under greater pressure than atmospheric pressure to be used for energy transfer in industrial processes and other applications is typically known as compressed air.
Compressed air
Example: By inflating a balloon, air gets forced into a smaller volume. The energy contained in the compressed air within the balloon is equal to the energy needed to inflate it.
The air compressor tank or air receiver tank plays a major role. Air storage is something most industrial players tend to overlook in terms of a crucial function to increase production and efficiency. Amidst the variety of air receiver tanks available, having an adequate tank ensures:
- The safe and efficient operation of your system
- Provide a reservoir of extra power for use during periods of peak demand
- Overall system reliability by avoiding frequent compressor load / unload
- Reduce condensation load on the dryers
Today, we take a deep dive into air receiver tanks and why you must buy the right fit for your industrial needs.
Why should you need an air compressor tank?
Installation in a compressor room
Air receiver tanks are a crucial component of any compressed air system. It acts as a buffer and also allows the system to perform more efficiently. Compressed air tanks have immense pressure and enable manufacturers to use air when the compressor is not functioning. Additionally, receiver tanks, provide system stability during periods of high air demand.
Primary tanks are usually located near the air compressor systems, whilst secondary tanks can be located away from the compressor room but close enough to major consumers on the production floor to avoid sudden drop in pressure during air demand peaks.
On air-cooled system in hot summer climate, adding a receiver tank upstream of dryer, helps to improve dryer efficiency by cooling the inlet air first and partly removing the condensate.
Compressed air tanks are designed to be exceptionally strong to withstand compressor pressures and are ideally according to international standards like ASME or CE, supplied along with necessary safety and monitoring instruments – like pressure gauges, safety valve and water drain. Application pressures can be Low, Medium or High and these need receiver tanks with suitable pressure rated for design and test conditions, i.e. usually above the operating pressure of the compressors. There is a well-defined and widely accepted formula for sizing adequate capacity of air receiver, which is as follows: Yet another advantage buffer tanks provide is a solution to the problem of turning on the compressor system when air is only needed for a few seconds and hence save resources. This reduces cost and improves the efficiency of the output.
Benefits of having an air compressor tank
Having a suitable tank for your air compressor system carries various benefits. However large the system, using an air compressor tank delivers capabilities that you start benefiting from right away:
- Maintain constant pressure: Air compressors use pistons or screw elements to create pressurized air. The piston operates in up and down or the screws in a rotary motion to compress air and release it. The cyclical operation that delivers compressed air in pulses can be challenging when it comes to long-term use. A tank dampens the pulsation, improving the flow of compressed air and at constant pressure. Uniform airflow ensures reduced wear and tear on your compressor.
- Store compressed air: Air compressor tanks as the name suggests are reservoirs of compressed air. They are available in a wide range of sizes and work with virtually any compressor type. Having an apt compressor tank helps you meet peak demand while ensuring enough supply for dependable and continuous air delivery.
- Prevents wear and tear: Compressor motors activate automatically when the system senses a need for air. If you run a system without a tank, the motor will end up working over a longer period of time to meet the air demand. Compressor tanks provide the support a system needs to reduce cycles and prevent excessive loading and unloading of air into the system. It makes sure that there isn't excessive wear and tear of components and ensures that your system is cost and energy efficient.
- Removing condensation: Atmospheric air contains water as vapor. Water vapor often contains traces of impurities like dust and oil. In the longer run, when your system compresses air, these vapors will cool down and the condensation will end up in your system. As the contaminants build, the system performance goes down. This will eventually lead you to replace the unit. Tanks collect this condensation into moisture traps that you can quickly drain.
Secondly, in certain cases with partly removal of condensate and cooling of compressed air in the receiver tank before the dryer, enhances drying performance by delivering better air quality.
Conclusion
The air receiver tank is often the undermined component of the air compressor world and yet so crucial. Ensuring adequate capacity for your air receiver tank will help you improve the efficiency and performance of your compressed air system. A compressed air system designed for perfection can help you find the right air receiver tank for your industrial applications.
What is really intriguing is that the air receiver tank is relatively a small investment compared to the total cost of an air compressor system and the recurring electricity bills - the air compressor tank once installed will last for several years and provides an almost immediate ROI. We hope this article helped you reach a consensus on what air compressor tank is best for your compressed air systems.
