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We offer a complete range of air receivers designed to be used with vacuum, more commonly referred to as vacuum tanks.
A vacuum tank is designed to hold materials under vacuum pressure and consists of a cylindrical tank with a vacuum pump attached to the end.
How does a Vacuum Receiver work?
There are 4 stages that occur for a vacuum tank to work, evacuation, media intake, storage, and retrieval.
The first step is the evacuation of the air within the vessel. When the pump is activated it removes all the air within the tank creating a negative pressure.
After the air has been evacuated the media can be introduced through an inlet valve normally located on the top of the tank.
Once the inlet valve is sealed the media is then stored within the tank until required. When the media is required the inlet valve is opened and the vacuum pressure in the tank is released which allows the media to flow out of the tank.
What are the Benefits of using a Receiver with Vacuum?
Using a vacuum tank has several benefits, especially within the food and beverage and pharmaceuticals industry including the below.
- Increased shelf life – Vacuum tanks can store materials under controlled conditions extending the shelf life of perishable media such as food, pharmaceuticals, and chemicals.
- Improved product quality and reduced contamination – Materials stored within the vacuum tank are protected from oxygen and moisture which can cause oxidation, degradation, and spoilage. This also protects the media from bacteria, dirt, and other impurities.
What are the Disadvantages of using a Receiver with Vacuum?
While vacuum tanks are useful in many industries there are some potential disadvantages too such as the below.
- Limited capacity – Vacuum tanks typically have a limited capacity compared to a standard air receiver of the same size. This is because the vacuum inside the tank puts stress on the walls of the tank resulting in a limit to the amount of media that can be stored.
- Risk of collapse – Vacuum creates a negative pressure which can cause the tank to collapse on itself if it’s not designed or maintained properly. This is an extremely big safety concern especially if the media is hazardous or flammable.
- High initial cost and maintenance costs – Vacuum tanks are typically more expensive than a standard receiver of the same size due to the added complexity of the vacuum pump this also results in much higher maintenance costs as if it’s not properly maintained then this can result in the pressure within the tank being lost in turn spoiling the media or potentially letting the media escape.
Conclusion
Overall using a vacuum tank depends on the specific application and the media being stored. A vacuum tank can offer significant benefits for many industrial applications but also comes with potential issues.
Get in touch today with one of our expert sales team to discuss your requirements and what we can offer you on 01634 297298 or you can send your application details to sales@fluid-air.co.uk.
