Air compressor tank

[pitciblackscotland]

Does anyone know about compressor air tanks Got this large tank for $50 60cm Diameter and 110cm long. What would be the min size compressor pump that i can use
Cheers,
Mark.

[gidge348]

Hi Mark,

There is no real minimum or maximum size of compressor you can use with this, it will just of course take longer to fill with a low CFM rather than a high CFM compressor.

The main thing is what you will be running off it? If you have several tools running at the same time or a sand blaster you will need more feed air. A sand blaster uses heaps of air and a small compressor would always be trying to catch up. I have a 14CFM compressor and it only just keeps up with the sand blasting cabinet.

One thing to check is if you take the inspection plate off the side and check the bottom of the tank. Water collects there and should be drained every day but usually isn't. Serious rust there would be a killer.

Cheers
Ian...

[pitciblackscotland]

Hi Ian,
Yeah would like to run a sand blaster and run some air tools but one at a time. Took the inspection plate and bottom plate off no water but rust and grime on the bottom, i would expect that for a 50+ year old tank. Some photos of the top and side of the tank will take some more photos once i give it a good clean. It is built to my heavy duty standards the tank wall is ~6mm thick. I think this tank still has some life left in her
Cheers,
Mark.

[gidge348]

Hi Mark, the water condenses in the bottom when the compressor is running, once you have it hooked up they should be drained every day I would not expect any there when it is disconnected. That is what has caused the rust in there.

By the look of that I would be a little bit careful with that one. Definitely clean the rust with some Ranex or Molasis and repaint the inside. The tank says 150psi Working Pressure but would be very carful running it at that kind of pressure.

If you can get it pressure tested I would recommend it.

You can do it yourself if you have a porta-power or some type of hydraulic pump. All you do is fill the tank with water and use the porta power to pump in more water until you get to say 250psi. If the tank lets go with water all you will have is a crack and lots of water. If it lets go with air it will be a BIG explosion.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=KVP_A7eGYxw


www.google.com.au/search?q=compressor+tank+explosion&safe=off&biw=1536&bih=770&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&sqi=2&ved=0ahUKEwiVtqazt_vJAhUjeaYKHSIiAHkQ_AUIBigB#imgrc=_

If it tests ok put a pressure relief valve set to say 120psi in the tank and the compressor to 100psi, no more.

The compressor for running a sand blaster probably 16-20 CFM should be fine with all that air in storage, but please be careful with that tank.

Cheers
Ian...

[pitciblackscotland]

Thanks for the tip Ian. Yes will give it a good clean, there is a place not far from me were i can get a test done or maybe do a Hydrostatic test like this chap www.youtube.com/watch?v=RjoJvkFb7II
As for repaint inside the tank i did a bit of research it's not recommended as rust can get underneath the paint and start rusting away, you need to drain the tank every day as you said. Will keep you up to date on this project.

Cheers,
Mark.

[gidge348]

Yep Mark that guy's use of a pressure washer seems a great idea. Last time I tested a tank was about 30 years ago and pressure washers were not so popular but I had a porta-power.

Fair call on the painting I had not thought of that, it is probably the reason why they are not coated in the factory.

Just be safe with that thing, have you seen the Mythbusters episode with the water heater / rocket ?...

Cheers
Ian...

[pitciblackscotland]

Yeah the combustor i'm using for the jet mower was a air tank which had some type of paint inside and the AB tank had no paint but did have a drain tap. Yep did see water heater / rocket on Mythbusters
Don't worry i will be safe with this tank and will take the necessary precautions before i can use the tank. I already had a bad accident at work years ago when i was fitter and turning so i am very cautious in what i do.
Cheers,
Mark.

[bbiggs]

Mark
A minimum of 5hp will work. Most sandblasters come with a variety of nozzles. For years I used a tank similar to yours as a reservoir, I connected my 5 hp compressor to it when I needed to sandblast. I waited for the compressor to come up to pressure and automatically shut off, then sandblasted til the blaster quit removing the pain or rust. Then I let the compressor come back up and shut off and started again.(of course leave the compressor on thru the process) I used the smallest nozzle. Use 3/8" air hoses as short as possible. You can even gang together multiple compressors.
I now have two 5hp compressors, one is a large commercial, the other is a roll around. I gang them and can blast until I run out of 80lbs of sand.
Wonder if you could use bleed air off one of your turbines :-) sand blasting usually requires less than 100 psi just LOTS of volume.
Bill

[pitciblackscotland]

Thanks for the tip Bill, can get a 7 HP 240 V motor but i think that would be overkill. Hehehe!! yeah i could try out my GTC20-1 Turbines it has a HP air outlet port.

Cheers,
Mark.

[pitciblackscotland]

Done some more cleaning of the tank today, got most of the flaky rust from inside the tank looks good i have a good fleeing this tank has some life in it. Will do more cleaning tomorrow and then start planing on doing a Hydrostatic test.

Cheers,
Mark.

[pitciblackscotland]

Well i decided to scrap this project and sell off the parts witch sold today The amount of time and money to get this project finish i might as well buy a new compressor.

Cheers,
Mark.