Lesson 8 - Gases
In this lesson we take a closer look at gases, including compressed air. We will look at the quality requirements and specifications for use in the brewery. Different compressed air generation methods will be considered. For nitrogen and oxygen, we will look at the common uses, quality requirements, and options available for supply, storage, usage, and generation.
Air Storage, Distribution, and Pressure Control
Air is a utility very much like water, and it needs to be stored and distributed in a way that satisfies customer requirements in terms of quality, quantity, and pressure.
Air receivers
The storage tank for air is called an air receiver. These are sometimes integrated as part of the compressor system in the form of small tanks. For bigger installations, these are often standalone vessels that contain their own instrumentation which feed either directly into the compressors or into a compressor control system. The figure below shows a typical standalone air receiver. It is important to note that air receivers are pressure vessels and are subject to statutory safety requirements. Thus, they require pressure relief equipment to ensure they never operate above their rated pressure.
Figure: Typical air receiver
What would happen if we didn’t have an air receiver? What would the implications be for the compressors?
Give yourself 5-10 min to think about this, and then click ‘Next’ to continue with this lesson.