When the unloader valve opens the compressor pump to atmosphere, if there were no compressor tank check valve, as soon as the compressor stopped and the unloader valve opened, not only would the air bleed off from over the compressor piston, all of the air in the compressor tank would bleed out the unloader valve to atmosphere too. The tank check valve is open as the compressed air generated by the air compressor pump is above the cracking pressure of the tank check valve – air flows only into the tank. Another check valve on the rotary screw compressor is installed just after the compressor component, and as previously explained, this check valve ensures that the compressed air and possible oil mixture does not flow back into the compressor section of the unit.
Located between the compressor and the air receiver tank or main header, a check valve is designed to prevent air from bleeding out of the tank or header and back into the inlet line when a compressor shuts down. More often than not we see check valves fail when they’re closed. Your compressed air system should also be outfitted with filters to keep compressor lines and check valves free of debris.
What Check Valves Do. You need to have a thorough understanding of how check valves work within your compressed air system if you want to be able to care for your compressor properly. The primary role of a check valve is to control air flow within an air compressor system. A maintenance quality check will provide you with the opportunity to test, clean, and replace the check valves that serve your industrial compressor system.
Now it’s time to learn about how you can fix an air compressor tank check valve. The main purpose of check valve in an air compressor is to stop air to flow back in when it is flown out through one way. This guide on air compressor troubleshooting: check valve has already given the solution if the check valve fails.
The sole purpose of installing a check valve in an air compressor is to ensure thorough passage of air from only one direction and blocking the passage of air from another while discouraging any reverse flow of compressed air. There are numerous types of check valves, including but not limited to Diaphragm Check Valve, Ball Check Valve, Swing Check Valve, Wafer Check Valves and the more commonly used Foot Valve. The air in a compressor should only move from the pump into the air tank and check valves to ensure that the air doesn’t flow in the wrong direction.
