Three major treatment methods for water in air compressor storage tank

It is very common for water to accumulate in the air tank of the air compressor. If it is not handled in time, it will affect the quality of the gas and even damage the equipment. Here are the three most commonly used treatment methods, and at the same time talk about the water lubricated air compressor in this matter what is different.

Conclusion first

the three major treatment methods are automatic drainage at the bottom, regular manual drainage, and installation of pneumatic drainage. If the water-lubricated air compressor is used, the amount of water will be significantly less and the handling will be easier.

The first method of automatic bottom drainage

this is the most convenient way. An automatic drain valve is installed at the lowest point of the gas storage tank. This valve can sense the water level by itself. When the water accumulates to a certain height, it will automatically open to drain the water and close it after discharging. The whole process without human tube, suitable for continuous operation of the air compressor.

There are two kinds of automatic drain valves. One is to sense the water level by floating ball. When there is more water, the floating ball will open the valve to drain water. The other relies on an electronic sensor that automatically opens the solenoid valve to drain the water. Both can be unattended, and the effect is similar, depending on the factory conditions.

The second method of regular manual drainage

if there is no automatic drain valve installed, or the automatic valve is broken, you have to manually drain the water. There is usually a drain at the bottom of the gas storage tank. Just open the valve and let the water flow out. The key is to get into the habit of putting water every day or every few hours according to the amount of gas used.

The advantage of manual drainage is that you don't have to spend extra money to buy equipment. The disadvantage is that it is easy to forget. Once you forget to drain the water, the accumulated water will be carried into the back pipeline by the airflow, polluting the compressed air and affecting production. Therefore, this method is only suitable for small factories with small gas consumption and not too busy.

The third method is equipped with pneumatic drainage device

this approach is more thorough than the first two. Pneumatic drainers do not rely on electricity or floating balls, but use the pressure of compressed air itself to promote drainage. When the water level in the tank rises to the set position, the compressed air will push the piston of the drain to open the valve and discharge the water quickly. After the row, the piston is reset and the valve is closed.

The advantage of pneumatic drainer is that it does not need electricity, is not afraid of humid environment, and will not be unable to open because of circuit failure. Moreover, the drainage speed is fast, and the water at the bottom of the tank can be drained relatively clean, and it is not easy to remain. Suitable for scenes with high air quality requirements.

Why does the water-lubricated air compressor make this easier?

When the air compressor is lubricated with oil, the water discharged is a mixture of oil and water, and the oil will float on the water to form a layer of oil film. It is difficult for ordinary drain valves to completely separate the oil and water, and some oil will be brought out while draining., Causing waste and pollution.

However, the water-lubricated air compressor discharges clear water, without oil, and the water and air are very clean. Therefore, no matter what kind of drainage method is used, clean water is discharged, and there is no problem of oil-water separation. Moreover, the amount of condensed water produced by the water-lubricated air compressor itself is less than that of the oil-lubricated air compressor, because the cooling efficiency of the water is high, and the water vapor produced during the compression process is less.

In this way, the frequency of water accumulation in the gas tank is reduced, the workload of drainage is also small, and the burden of drying equipment behind is also light.

To sum up

automatic drainage at the bottom is the most convenient, regular manual drainage is the most economical, and pneumatic drainage is the most thorough. If it is used together with a water-lubricated air compressor, the accumulated water is less and the water quality is clean. Any one of the three methods is enough, and the trouble of subsequent maintenance will be much less. For factories that do not want to spend too much energy on drainage, replacing them with water-lubricated air compressors and automatic drainage valves can basically do without worrying for a long time.