Air Receivers Tech Tip
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AIR RECEIVERS
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There are two different applications air receivers in your compressed air system. They differentiate
themselves by their location. The first I will refer to as the PRIMARY receiver and is located near the
compressor after the aftercooler but before any filtration and/or drying equipment. Every positive
displacement (reciprocating, rotary screw or vane) air compressor should be piped to a PRIMARY air
receiver after the aftercooler and separator. This 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.
Blowers & Vacuum
Pumps
c. Provides a vent point for performing certain service and troubleshooting functions.
Cylinders
Valves
d. Allows you to perform certain time vs. volume tests with regard to compressor capacity or increased
air requirements.
Filters/Regulators/
Lubricators
A rule of thumb for sizing primary air receivers for applications from 90-125PSIG is as follows:
Fittings & Couplers
Compressed Air
Accessories
CFM Compressor Capacity = Gallons Receiver Size
Service & Fabrication
240 CFM Compressor
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Month
OR
= 240 Gallon Air Receiver
Or Closest standard size
SECONDARY receivers would be located very close to the point of air use at a piece of equipment that
uses a large volume of air on an intermittent basis. Intermittent is the key word here. If you had a piece
of equipment using a large volume of air on a constant basis, a secondary receiver won't do anything to
help your system. Let's say that you buy a new piece of equipment for your plant that uses 240 CFM for
3 minutes, then it uses 0 CFM for 1 minute and the cycle repeats. You have a compressor that delivers
300 CFM at 125 PSIG. The new equipment and the other equipment in your plant requires 100 PSIG
minimum to operate correctly. The other equipment uses a constant 100 CFM. Your system started out
at 125 PSIG but when you turned on the new unit the pressure dropped below 100 PSIG and never
recovered. A secondary receiver will definitely help in this case, but what size should it be. Use the
following formula:
V = T (C-S) P0
P
Where:
V
= receiver volume in cubic feet
= time in minutes
P0
= atmospheric pressure (psia)
P = difference between initial pressure and final pressure
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Air Receivers Tech Tip
= intermittent air requirement in CFM
= Constant air supply available in CFM
= 3 (240-200) 14.7
= 1764
25
25
V
= 70 cubic feet
The closest larger standard size I could find was 89 cubic feet. Since this is considerably larger, what is
the lowest 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
formula:
T=VP
P0S
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
construction. The American Society of Mechanical Engineers has established a code, now incorporated
into the laws of most states and municipalities, governing the construction of unfired pressure vessels.
Receivers should satisfy this code, as well as any other state or municipal codes which apply locally. the
code receiver will have a stamp stating the maximum working pressure of that vessel.
Safety Relief Valves - You must have a relief valve capable of relieving the capacity of the connected
compressor/s at the pressure you intend to operate. The relief valve can not be set higher than the
maximum rated working pressure shown on the ASME stamp affixed to the tank. In addition, you can
not operate your system at or right below the pressure relief setting. If you did, the relief valve will tend
to chatter or whistle and wasted energy will escape to atmosphere. Another "rule of thumb" is to have
your relief valve set 10% above the highest working pressure of the system. Example:
Maximum system pressure - 125 PSIG
+10% - 12.5 PSIG
Relief valve set at - 137.5 PSIG
Minimum receiver working pressure - 137.5 PSIG
Condensate Drains - the various types of condensate drains - manual valve, float drains, and electric
drains were covered in TECH TIP 1.
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Air Receivers Tech Tip
Pressure Gauges - A 4" pressure gauge with large graduations makes it easy to read. If you buy a
gauge with a range double that of your anticipated working pressure, then the needle will point straight
up when you are in normal operation. A combination snubber/shutoff valve allows you to change out the
gauge without bleeding down the system and prevents pressure spikes from damaging the gauge.
Installation Suggestions - Mount the receiver on a 4" high concrete house keeping pad. Pipe inlet air
in the lower opening and out an upper opening that is on a perpendicular axis to the inlet. This will
assist in preventing condensate carryover.
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