Champion

The Myth:

Upgrading to a larger air receiver will provide more compressed air and solve all inadequate compressed air supply problems, every time.

Analysis:

Both the compressor and the air receiver are vital to the performance of a compressed air system. However, it is the compressor, not the air receiver, which governs the available compressed air output. Inadequate compressed air supply can be caused by a number of system faults - an undersized air compressor, pressure drops associated with the compressed air reticulation pipework, and compressed air demand spikes that intermittently exceed the compressor2019s output capabilities.

A genuine lack of compressed air production capability can be the obvious cause of inadequate compressed air supply. If so, the problem can be easily diagnosed at the heart of the operation: the compressor. Generally, a compressor struggling or unable to maintain its minimum design pressure output for at least one minute, can be considered too small to meet the compressed air demands of the particular application. A larger air receiver will not solve this problem. Installing an additional compressor in parallel with the undersized compressor, or replacing it with a larger one is the only way to increase the compressed air output.

Frequently and incorrectly considered less important than the compressor itself, the design of the compressed air reticulation pipework is crucial to the performance of the compressed air system. Users often experience a drop in pressure between the compressor output and the point of use, resulting in a diminished compressed air supply. While some pipework-induced pressure-drop is expected, significant and sustained drops in pressure in healthy compressed air systems is uncommon and should be investigated. This pressure drop is often a result of undersized pipework. In some cases, the addition of an extra air receiver at the point of use may assist in minimising the impact of pipework-induced pressure drop. A more cost-effective solution to this problem is to upgrade to larger pipework, allowing a more efficient transfer of compressed air.

Finally, inadequate compressed air supply can be a direct result of temporary spikes in compressed air demand experienced during peak periods of operation and start-ups. In this case, a larger air receiver may indeed provide a 2018buffer2019 solution, temporarily enabling the compressed air system to satisfy the increased compressed air demand. Compressed air specialists will agree that this solution is limited to few applications.

Conclusion:

It is the compressor itself, not the size of the air receiver, which ultimately dictates the compressed air system supply capabilities. While it is true - in very rare cases - that a larger air receiver may enable the compressed air system to satisfy increased compressed air demand for short periods, the installation of a larger air receiver is not a long-term solution, and is an unnecessary expense. It is essential that compressors and associated pipework are designed and sized adequately to satisfy the compressed air requirements of the particular application. The right compressed air solution can only be determined through expert advice.

The 'Compressor Myths and Truths' series first appeared in InMotion magazine.