Compressed air system Buffer Vessel sizing
Compressed air system Buffer Vessel sizing
(OP)
Hi
I am installing a compressed air system that is made up of 4 air compressors approx 1400l/s in total.
What size buffer vessel should I install down stream of the compressor on the main line. Is there any rule of thumb.?
I am installing a compressed air system that is made up of 4 air compressors approx 1400l/s in total.
What size buffer vessel should I install down stream of the compressor on the main line. Is there any rule of thumb.?





RE: Compressed air system Buffer Vessel sizing
What is the capacity of each of the four compressors? What is their advertised operating cycle?
What is your desired operating cycle of the compressors?
RE: Compressed air system Buffer Vessel sizing
4 air compressors, 300l/s, 300l/s, 700l/s (on a VSD) & 1100L/s
The load is fairly consistant at 800L/s but can go to 1200L/s over the spate of an hour only or down to 500l/s over an hour also.
We have an existing buffer vessel that is about 4m3. Do you think this is enough?
RE: Compressed air system Buffer Vessel sizing
RE: Compressed air system Buffer Vessel sizing
"We don't believe things because they are true, things are true because we believe them."
RE: Compressed air system Buffer Vessel sizing
Power surges (power costs) are highest at the starting surges, particularly when the surges start during a high-cost time of day from your provider. Running time and maintenance costs are proportional to each other and probably near equal between all 4 compressors. Unless you can tell that one unit seems to always start first, or another run longest when two are running - as if its setting were slightly higher start pressure. Worse case, you may find that one machine doesn't carry any load at all.
What are the current start-stop trips on the units? What are the running times and running costs? An automatic current data logger on each of the 4 power cables could be very effective, but would require maybe 2 weeks research time.