Accumulator tanks

[Ggg]

Is there a general rule of thumb for when to plumb in an accumulator tank into an air system?
My compressors are located in another building about 120' from the far end of my shop, and about 60' to the close end.

 

[A_Pmech]

If your piping is sized correctly, there is no need for an accumulator.

1" PEX, easily sourced from any home center, will handle over 100 CFM.

 

[matt_i]

The accumulator delays cycling of the compressor, somewhat, until it has to be "paid back" later, and allows longer run-times of the compressor instead of short-cycling.

Consider no accumulator, just the compressor hooked to a pipe. Just accumulation inside the pipe. Almost as soon as the air starts to flow to the "need" the compressor will start to run, and may also stop very fast as well because pressure will rise rapidly when the airflow is shut off.

You can draw a similar analogy to the hydraulic accumulator in a well-pump water system, except that's even less forgiving because of the incompressibility of the liquid.

In your situation if the incoming pipe length is restricting airflow where you can't maintain an acceptable psi with the air flowing, is when I would consider an accumulator. If the air is used in bursts then the accumulator can be a bank between deposits and withdrawals so to speak. If the continuous airflow isn't enough psi to start then I would recommend upsizing the pipe.

 

[jubilee]

One thing about running an accumulator tank is that it usually is the "dry" tank and the first tank is the "wet" tank. I run an accumulator tank for this reason.

 

[The Tool Tyrant]

the accumulator delays cycling of the compressor, somewhat, until it has to be "paid back" later, and allows longer run-times of the compressor instead of short-cycling.

Consider no accumulator, just the compressor hooked to a pipe. Just accumulation inside the pipe. Almost as soon as the air starts to flow to the "need" the compressor will start to run, and may also stop very fast as well because pressure will rise rapidly when the airflow is shut off.

You can draw a similar analogy to the hydraulic accumulator in a well-pump water system, except that's even less forgiving because of the incompressibility of the liquid.

In your situation if the incoming pipe length is restricting airflow where you can't maintain an acceptable psi with the air flowing, is when i would consider an accumulator. If the air is used in bursts then the accumulator can be a bank between deposits and withdrawals so to speak. If the continuous airflow isn't enough psi to start then i would recommend upsizing the pipe.

^^ x2

 

[Ggg]

I don't know if there is an airflow issue, the new shop is not plumbed yet. I have 1" copper supply line. The big usage items will be arc air, sand blaster, plasma cutter. None of which will be used simoutaneously. I have two different compressors one low psi (125) and a high psi (180) Depending on what my needs are.

 

[md21722]

In some cases accumulator tanks are put near heavy use equipment, like near a sandblaster. In your case, it may make sense to put it at the entry of your new shop. As jubilee noted, they are great for taking moisture out of air. Another best practice in larger shops is to create a loop around the shop rather running a straight line that dead ends. A lot of what you do depends on how the shop is laid out. I would be concerned about moisture build up in the line between the two shops, especially in your cold climate.