An Air receiver is a pressure vessel used to store compressed air supplied by the compressor. The reciprocating compressors and other intermittent discharge compressors will require an air receiver to discharge compressed air in the tank Ibr storage and further use. An Air receiver is a cylindrical vessel mounted vertically or horizontally with inlet and outlet connections of compressed air.
Construction and Parts of Air Receiver
The size of air vessel is specified by the volume of air in m3 stored under pressure. The capacity of air receiver should be at least equal to hold air delivery of compressor in 1 min. Generally, the receiver capacity should be about 1/10th of free air delivery per minute. Air receiver is provided with various mountings as shown in Fig. 1.
Fig.1: Air Receiver.
Water separator
It removes the water particles from the compressed air.
Air inlet pipe
The compressor delivers high pressure air and allow to enter in the inlet pipe of receiver.
Pressure gauge
It is provided to indicate the pressure of compressed air which is stored.
Air outlet pipe
It is provided with outlet valve to supply compressed air to the pneumatic system.
Safety valve
It is the safety against the excess pressure generated due to some failure in case of emergency situation.
Water drain
It is provided to drain out condensate water particles.
Function of Air Receiver
It has following functions :
- It stores the compressed air.
- It smoothness out the pulsations in flow of compressed air (intermittent discharge) from reciprocating machine.
- It helps to cool the air.
- It condensates the moisture of compressed air.
