Starting an Air Compressor Under Pressure
By Ernie Parker, CFPAI, CFPSD, CFPS, CFPMM, CFPMT, CFPMIP, CFPMMH, CFPMIH
Many smaller inexpensive air compressors have a hard time starting up under pressure, especially in a cold building. A check valve right at the tank inlet bleeding down the line between the compressor and the air tank will make an easier startup, providing the line is properly sized. The problem gave you the following:
850 Nlpm (30.017 SCFM) @ 1000 rpm
3.73 KW (5 hp) not needed information
19 mm (.748”) diameter tubing
500 mm (19.685”) long
.7 MPa (101.5 psi) in the air tank
0 pressure in the line
No change in temperature
Calculate the pressure in the air line between the compressor and the check valve after just one revolution of the compressor starting up.
See the Solution
