air tank question

[bwilson6561]

For an application, an air tank the size of 1 L or so is needed. It need to hold air up to 150 psi. Are there any manufacturers that make tanks like this? I don't want it to be unnecessarily expensive. For example, I don't need a tank to be rated 3000 psi.

Cost is very important and it may be a mass produced item. Are there manufacturers out there that already make something like this or do I have to make it myself?

Thanks

 

[itsmoked]

You don't even want to think about making this yourself. You will not have an ASTM tank.

If I were you I'd consider something like paintball gun tanks. They come in many standard sizes - all of them small. Most of them very light even though they're rated @ 800-3000psi. They are mega mass produced so you can leverage all that design work. Your task then comes down to adapting to the threaded fitting.

Examples:

http://www.anythingxtreme.com/CO2-Bottles-C1390.aspx?UserID=16073242&SessionID=AMWkzlIcmHyucv7A3y0i

Keith Cress
Flamin Systems, Inc.-

http://www.flaminsystems.com

 

[crjones]

The compressor industry uses many different sizes and configurations. All pressure vessels are required to have the manufacturer's name on a nametag. See one you like check the nametag, if they don't do what you want they will recommend someone else in PVMA (Pressure Vessel Manufacturer's Association)

 

[unclesyd]

As stated above there is no need to go through the riqours of design and fabrication when you can buy one off the shelf.

Here are some light weight AL tanks.

Checkout low pressure cylinders.

http://www.catalinacylinders.com/index.html

 

[Golestan]

Bell and gossett and TACO have tanks that are rated ASNE vessels are used in the HVAC systems made for water. They are light weight and thin wall steel. I am not sure how small they go. May be 1 Gallon.

Call your loca TACO or B&G pump guy for info.

regards,

 

[JohnBreen]

Hi bwilson6561,

In summation of the information provided above:

If it is a PRESSURE VESSEL that will contain air at internal pressure of 15 psig or greater (note, NOT this is not a "tank") it would normally have to be an American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) VESSEL which means it would be designed, fabricate, examined and tested in accordance with the requirements of the ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code, Section VIII, division 1. It will therefore have a manufacturer's nameplate on it with an ASME "U" stamp and a serial number.

However, check with your local (State or Province) jurisdiction regarding the size. Most jurisdiction exempt PRESSURE VESSELS under a certain size. You will save yourself much trouble.

At the size that you are describing this will be a commodity item that you can buy "off the shelf" and it will likely be exempt from the normal ASME requirements. You can buy a professionally manufactured (and legal) vessel of this size much cheaper than you can (legally) fabricate one in your shop.

Keep in mind that this vessel will have a great amount of stored energy in it when it is up to operating pressure. Protect it from abuse and keep it out of harm's way. Be sure to inspect it periodically for damage and corrosion. It will likely have a drain valve on it (when compressing air you will usually see some condensation (water) collect in the vessel). Drain it regularly to prevent accelerated internal corrosion. Treat it with the respect that stored energy commands.

Regards, John.

 

[BronYrAur]

I guess the issue is that of lagality and whether you need an ASME vessel. You can have any welding pipe fitter make a "tank" out of a piece of pipe and 2 end caps, but it will not be ASME rated. You may find one of those small tank-mounted air compressors (found in any hardware store) to be a good fit, although I'm not sure if they go up to 150 psig.