Tag: receiver tank

Wet Receiver Tanks: Why Use Them, and How to Size Them

Published on by John BallLeave a comment
9500-60 Receiver Tank

Compressed air is used to operate pneumatic systems within a facility, and it can be separated into three categories; the supply side, the demand side, and the distribution system.  The supply side will include the air compressor, after-cooler, dryer, and receiver tank.  It produces and treats the compressed air before it travels into the distribution system.  They are generally located in a compressor room somewhere in the corner of the plant.  In this blog, I would like to cover the wet receiver tank that is used as part of the supply side.

What is a receiver tank?  I like to compare pneumatic systems to electrical systems.  The receiver tanks store the pneumatic energy produced by an air compressor like a capacitor stores electrical energy.  The reason for this is to have a ready source of energy to increase efficiency and speed through the ebbs and flows of demand. 

A wet receiver, like the name imparts, is positioned downstream of the air compressor but before the air dryer.  A dry receiver would be located after the air dryer.  Some systems will utilize both types.  With the wet receiver, you remove some of the load of water that reaches the air dryer, which helps to make the air dryers more efficient and extends the life cycle.  When ambient air is compressed, the humidity will condense, making water.  Also, as air cools in the wet receiver, water vapor turns into liquid condensate—often mixed with traces of oil and dirt from the air compressor. To get rid of the contaminants, a condensate drain will be required to get rid of this unwanted liquid.

For sizing the wet receiver, it is roughly 1 to 3 gallons per cfm for a compressor.  So, for a 100 SCFM air compressor, you should have a tank that is roughly 100 to 300 gallons.  If you have large fluctuations on the demand side, you can also use Equation 1 below to calculate the minimum tank volume.  If you are using wet and dry receiver tanks in your system, you can divide the total volume.  The wet receiver tank should be one-third of the volume, and the dry receiver tank should be two-thirds of the volume. 

Equation 1:

V = T * C * (Pa) / (P1-P2)

Where:

V – Volume of receiver tank (cubic feet)

T – Time interval between pressure limits (minutes)

C – Air demand for system (cubic feet per minute)

Pa – Absolute atmospheric pressure (PSIA)

P1 – Upper Pressure limit (PSIG)

P2 – Lower Pressure limit (PSIG)

Compressed air systems are the backbone of countless industries and operations.  But behind the scenes, components like the wet receiver and condensate drain play pivotal roles in ensuring these systems deliver clean, reliable air.  If you wish to discuss more ways to optimize your compressed air system, EXAIR has Application Engineers that would like to help you. 

John Ball
Application Engineer
Email: johnball@exair.com
Twitter: @EXAIR_jb

Receiver Tanks: Why They Matter and How to Size Them for Compressed Air Systems

Published on by Jordan T ShouseLeave a comment

In many compressed air systems, receiver tanks are an overlooked component. While compressors and end-use devices often get the most attention, a properly sized receiver tank can dramatically improve system performance, efficiency, and reliability—especially when operating compressed air devices such as those from EXAIR.

Understanding why receiver tanks are important and how to size them can help prevent pressure fluctuations, reduce compressor cycling, and ensure that air-powered devices like vortex tubes, air amplifiers, and air knives operate at their optimal performance.

What Is a Receiver Tank?

A receiver tank (also called an air receiver) is a storage vessel that holds compressed air before it is delivered to the system. It acts as a buffer between the compressor and the demand side of the system.

Think of it as a shock absorber for compressed air demand. When demand spikes suddenly, the receiver tank supplies stored air, so the compressor does not need to instantly ramp up.

Why Receiver Tanks Are Important

1. Stabilizing System Pressure

Many compressed air applications—especially precision devices like those from EXAIR—perform best when the supply pressure remains stable. Without a receiver tank, short bursts of demand can cause pressure drops that reduce device effectiveness.

2. Reducing Compressor Cycling

Frequent compressor starts and stops can:

  • Increase energy consumption
  • Increase wear on compressor components
  • Reduce system reliability

Receiver tanks provide stored compressed air, allowing the compressor to run fewer but longer cycles, which improves efficiency.

Basic Receiver Tank Sizing

Receiver tanks are typically sized based on:

  • Compressor output (CFM)
  • System pressure range
  • Allowable pressure drop
  • Duration of air demand spikes

A commonly used rule of thumb:

3–5 gallons of receiver capacity per CFM of compressor output

Example:

Compressor output: 100 CFM

Recommended receiver tank:

  • 300–500 gallons

However, for systems with intermittent high-flow devices like air knives or amplifiers, additional storage may be beneficial.

Receiver Tank Calculation Example

A more precise calculation can be used when determining storage needed for peak demand.

Formula:V=T×C×PaP1−P2V = \frac{T \times C \times P_a}{P_1 – P_2}V=P1​−P2​T×C×Pa​​

Where:

  • V = receiver volume (cubic feet)
  • T = time (minutes) air is needed
  • C = air demand (SCFM)
  • P₁ = maximum system pressure (psia)
  • P₂ = minimum system pressure (psia)
  • Pₐ = atmospheric pressure (14.7 psia)

Example Scenario

An application uses:

  • EXAIR Super Air Knife
  • Air demand: 60 SCFM
  • Peak usage duration: 30 seconds (0.5 minutes)
  • System pressure drop allowed: 100 PSI → 90 PSI

Converted pressures:

  • P₁ = 114.7 psia
  • P₂ = 104.7 psia

Calculation:V=0.5×60×14.7114.7−104.7V = \frac{0.5 \times 60 \times 14.7}{114.7 – 104.7}V=114.7−104.70.5×60×14.7​ V=44.1 cubic feetV = 44.1 \text{ cubic feet}V=44.1 cubic feet

Convert to gallons:44.1×7.48=329 gallons44.1 \times 7.48 = 329 \text{ gallons}44.1×7.48=329 gallons

Recommended receiver tank: ~330 gallons

This ensures the air knife can run for 30 seconds without causing system pressure to drop below the acceptable range.

Where to Install Receiver Tanks

Most systems benefit from two receiver tanks:

Primary Receiver

Located near the compressor.

Purpose:

  • Reduce compressor cycling
  • Provide bulk storage

Secondary Receiver

Located near high-demand equipment like:

  • Air knife stations
  • Blow off systems
  • Cooling devices

This provides localized air storage for equipment like EXAIR compressed air products, preventing pressure drops across long piping runs.

Receiver tanks are one of the simplest and most cost-effective ways to improve compressed air system performance. For facilities using high-performance compressed air products from EXAIR, a properly sized receiver tank ensures these devices operate at their maximum efficiency and effectiveness.

Jordan Shouse, CCASS

Application Engineer / Sales Operations Engineer

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Six Steps To Optimizing Your Compressed Air System — Step 5: Intermediate Storage

Published on by Russ BowmanLeave a comment

If you use compressed air for ANYTHING, odds are EVERYTHING you use it for has a minimum supply pressure for proper operation. And if the supply pressure drops below that:

  • Blowoff devices won’t develop enough flow & force to effectively clean or dry the object(s) you use them for.
  • Air-operated chucks on CNC machines won’t hold the piece steady enough for proper cutting, and tool changers will operate slowly/sluggishly. This is a bad combination…increasing the time it takes to make something, AND making it poorly.
  • Pneumatic cylinders will actuate slowly…if at all. This can cause a big problem if, for instance, they’re used to lift a lid on a mixing tank for an automated chemical add, which ends up pouring all over the partially closed lid of the tank instead of going inside it.

These are just a few of the problems that inadequate supply pressure can lead to, and I list them specifically because I experienced them all during my storied (and strange) career path before EXAIR made me the compressed air know-it-all expert I am today. It wasn’t my job to fix those problems (I was on site doing field service on a scale, a hydraulic motor, and a chemical pump, respectively), so I had no idea HOW to fix the compressed air-related problems…but I do now.

One quick & easy fix would have been to increase the compressor discharge pressure. That’d work just fine, but it comes with a cost. Every 2psi increase in discharge pressure increases the power consumption of the compressor’s motor by 1%. Let’s say you increased the discharge pressure from 100psig to 120psig – that’s a 10% increase in power consumption…and operating cost. To add insult to injury, that also increases the magnitude of any leaks in your system, making them more costly as well.

EXAIR Model 9500-60 60 Gallon Receiver Tank.

Actually, that probably IS what I’d have done as a scale, hydraulics, or industrial pump technician. The RIGHT answer, though, is intermediate storage. A properly sized Receiver Tank, located close enough to those operations, would have prevented those problems without increasing operating costs. In fact, it could have even brought them down, if the compressed air header pressure was already set to overcome any pressure drops on the way to those air guns, CNC machine, or mixing tank lid cylinders. Every 2% DECREASE in discharge pressure will also decrease the compressor motor’s power consumption by 1%. Which is actually Step 6 in our Six Steps To Optimizing Your Compressed Air System.

You electrical-types out there could also think of it as a capacitor – absorbing demand spikes & helping the circuit run more evenly.

Sizing a Receiver Tank is fairly straightforward, and we’ve written about it here, here, and here. You can, of course, always contact an Application Engineer to do (or check) the math…give me a call.

Russ Bowman, CCASS

Application Engineer
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Compressed Air Pipe

How to Handle High-Demand Events with Compressed Air Systems

Published on by Jordan T ShouseLeave a comment

When production ramps up, deadlines tighten, or seasonal demand spikes, your compressed air system becomes one of the most heavily relied-on utilities in your facility. High-demand events, whether planned or unexpected, can create inefficiencies, consume excessive energy, and create bottlenecks across your entire operation.

The good news? With the right forethought and the right equipment, you can maintain performance, protect uptime, and even reduce operating costs during these peak loads. EXAIR’s engineered compressed air products are specifically designed to help manufacturers meet high-demand challenges without compromising efficiency or output.

Start with System Efficiency: Reduce Air Consumption at the Point of Use

During a high-demand event, every SCFM counts. One of the fastest, most cost-effective ways to free up capacity is to replace outdated, inefficient blowoff methods. Open pipes, drilled holes, and homemade nozzles waste tremendous amounts of compressed air and can violate OSHA safety standards. EXAIR’s Super Air Nozzles, Safety Air Guns, and Super Air Knives are engineered to:

  • Reduce air consumption
  • Maintain or increase blowoff force
  • Operate safely under OSHA dead-end pressure limits
  • Lower overall system load, freeing capacity for critical processes

By upgrading just a few high-usage blowoff points, facilities often recover enough compressed air to handle peak demand without purchasing additional equipment.

Engineered solutions (like EXAIR Intelligent Compressed Air Products) are the efficient, quiet, and safe choice.

Stabilize System Pressure During Peak Use

Pressure drops become more common when demand spikes. That decline leads to reduced quality, slower cycle times, and even unplanned downtime. EXAIR products are engineered to deliver more output force with less compressed air. For example:

  • Super Air Amplifiers entrain up to 25 parts room air for every 1 part of compressed air, multiplying output while drastically reducing consumption.
  • Super Air Knives produce a laminar, high-velocity sheet of air—even at lower pressures—helping extend system stability during peak loads.

These technologies lighten the load on your compressor while maintaining performance at the point of use.

Add Extra Compressed Air Storage to Handle Peak Demand

One of the most overlooked strategies in high-demand planning is preloading your system with stored compressed air. Storage acts as a buffer, preventing pressure drops and reducing the load on your compressor during short, intense spikes.

  • Provides supplemental airflow during short bursts of high demand
  • Reduces compressor cycling, improving efficiency and equipment life
  • Helps maintain system pressure and air quality
  • Offers a cost-effective alternative to purchasing an additional compressor

How to Integrate Storage Into Your Strategy

  • Add receiver tanks downstream near high-consumption equipment
  • Use strategic storage at point-of-use
  • Pair storage with efficient EXAIR blowoff, cooling, or conveying products to reduce total system demand.

Pro tip: If your system is already stretched thin, combining extra storage with EXAIR air-saving solutions often eliminates the need for new compressors entirely.

High Demand Doesn’t Have to Mean High Stress

High-demand events are inevitable in manufacturing—but system strain, energy waste, and reduced performance don’t have to be. By optimizing efficiency, stabilizing pressure, preparing with modular tools, and using engineered products, your facility can handle peak demand confidently and cost-effectively.

EXAIR products are purpose-built for these challenges, offering efficient, OSHA-compliant, high-performance solutions that help your compressed air system keep up with whatever you throw at it.

If you’d like to help identify opportunities in your facility, explore EXAIR’s full line of compressed air-saving products. Or reach out to a Application engineer at techelp@exair.com.

Jordan Shouse, CCASS

Application Engineer

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