air compressor safety valve keeps opening quotation
If the tank is over pressurized, the pressure switch isn"t shutting off the motor when the air tank fills to the cut-out pressure. Move the pressure switch lever to the off position. If the compressor continues to run, replace the pressure switch, because the switch isn"t shutting off the compressor motor.
If the compressor shuts off when you move the pressure switch lever to the off position, pull the safety valve ring and release all air from the tank. Switch the pressure switch lever to the on position and allow the tank to fill. If the compressor doesn"t shut off when the air tank fills to the cut-out pressure, replace the pressure switch, because the switch isn"t shutting off the compressor motor when tank pressure reaches the cut-out pressure.
Today I am going to explain why this happens and how you can fix it. But first, I would like to give a short introduction about a safety valve and how it works, if you are not familiar with it.
It is also called a pressure relief valve as it reliefs pressure whenever the compressor pressure reaches a critical point. Usually, the pressure level of a safety valve is kept below to the maximum pressure that a compressor can take.
Whenever the pressure of your compressor is about to reach this maximum level, the safety valve will relief air from the compressor so that the pressure drops.
A safety valve follows a very simple mechanism to work. Here is how it actually works –There is a Nozzle inside the valve. From the inlet part of the valve, this nozzle first gets an amount of pressure on it. In other words, the nozzle is there to inlet the air at a certain pressure.
You have to set a pressure level initially for a safety valve. As I have already said, this pressure needs to be lower than the compressor’s maximum pressure level. When the nozzle reaches this pressure, the Disc inside the valve starts to lift and relief the air from the tank.
There is a Spring inside the valve, which is attached to the disc. The spring is made in such a way that it will only bend when the pressure reaches the level you have set. So, the disc is lifted up and drawn down by the spring.
There are a number of components inside a safety valve but it is typically three main components, the nozzle, the disc, and the spring. You have already known how these three components work.
However, if any of these three components get damaged, then the problem begins. For example –If the nozzle is not functioning properly, there will be a problem with the air inlet. In this case, it will accidentally push a lot of air inside the valve and the valve will open.
Finally, if the spring is old or damaged, then it will lift up the disc way before it reaches the set pressure. In this case, air will also discharge from the valve.
Another reason for a safety valve to pop open is when the pressure switch is damaged. A pressure switch has a very serious function in an air compressor. It is set with two pressure level, a cut-out, and a cut-in pressure.
When the pressure switch reads the cut in pressure from the pump, it starts to run the compressor. And, when the pressure reaches the cut-out level, it shuts the compressor down.
In this case, the compressor will go to critical pressure level. When it happens, the safety valve will automatically pop open. This is how the pressure switch is responsible for the safety valve to open suddenly.
There are a number of ways that you can follow to stop a safety valve from opening suddenly. Here are the best ways to keep your compressors safety valve from opening unnecessarily.At first, check if the internal part of the safety valve is damaged or not. If you find a damaged part (i.e. the nozzle or the disc) replace this part and it should be fine.
If you cannot replace the damaged part of the safety valve, you can simply change this safety valve and place a new one. A newer safety valve is always better than a repaired one.
The pressure switch is also responsible for this. So if you don’t find any problems with the safety valve, then check the pressure switch. If the pressure switch is broken, change it.
Sometimes, there are troubles with adjusting the pressure switch. If you are also having trouble, check out this article on air compressor pressure switch adjustment to adjust your pressure switch.
First of all, you need to find out how much pressure your air compressor can take. You will see there is an option to set a pressure level on the safety valve.
When you find out your compressors limit, you can set the pressure level on the safety valve according to that limit. Always use a lower pressure level than the maximum level of pressure that a compressor can take.
The purpose of a safety valve is to discharge air from the compressor when the pressure level reaches too high. High pressure can explode the tank and cause critical accidents. To stop this from happening, a safety valve is used on a compressor.
Most of the safety valves are built to last for years. An average safety valve can easily last for 18 to 24 months. However, you should frequently test your safety valve and change it if there is the slightest chance of malfunctioning. Never take the risk of keeping a faulty safety valve attached to your compressor.
In most cases, you should check your safety valve at least once a month to see if it is in good condition or not. But I recommend you to check at least once every time it discharges.
You already know how to fix it if the air compressor safety valve keeps opening, but it is also important to test the safety valve when it discharges.
Because after discharge it will leave debris around the nozzle and the disc. You have to clean this to keep the safety valve away from malfunctioning.
I can see there are markings on the valve,but I can"t read them in situ. Once I get the new valve, I"ll read the markings on the existing valve once I have it out.
You need to get that fixed and not let the pressure get that high. Although its on the air dryer, that"s not the purge valve. Its a safety valve that should not reliese air.
There is a air pressure governor that controls the tank pressure and its not doing its job. It tells the compressor to stop pumping at about 125 PSI and it sends an air signal to the air dryer to purge out water.
The air compressor pressure switch measures the pressure inside your air tank and shuts off your compressor when it reaches the air pressure you need.
The air compressor pressure switch will also help your machinery maintain the proper pressure level as you go about your work. The switch can turn on your compressor when tank air pressure levels drop and more air is needed.
This makes your air compressor pressure switch a part that gets used often, and so it may wear down sooner than others. You’ll want to keep it properly maintained and fix it, or replace it when any problems arise. The switch is your best protection against an over-pressurized tank and air lines for your compressor, keeping you safe from ruptures and dangers.
Air compressor pressure switches use air lines to monitor pressurized air as it moves to and from your air tank. All pressure switches have an element that reacts when pressure is applied to it. The most common device is a diaphragm that will deform or compress when exposed to pressurized air.
Air pressure in your compressor tank will increase and eventually build up enough backward pressure — also called cut-out pressure — to change the shape of this diaphragm. Deformation here will cause movement in the pressure switch.
When your air compressor pressure switch’s diaphragm is deformed enough, its movement will break contact inside the switch so that power stops flowing to the compressor’s motor circuit, preventing the compressor from further pressurizing the air in your tank.
Constant air pressure at a specific volume will keep the diaphragm deformed. When the air pressure in your tank drops far enough, the membrane will revert back to its normal shape. Once this pressure — called cut-in pressure — lightens to a certain level, an internal operator within the diaphragm will deform in an opposite manner. This movement closes the circuit and starts the motor back up again.
Your air compressor pressure switch continues this dance as long as your machinery is using compressed air. The cycle is broken when the unit is no longer powered externally or when there is an issue. Leaks at any point in your compressor’s pressure switch and nearby casing can stop your work and cause major problems.
The switch is usually mounted on the reservoir so the air in the air tank can flow freely to the switch. Your pressure switch will monitor the air coming from this compressor tank, so you know how much pressure you’re using and can determine if there is an issue.
Compressed air will push equally in every direction and on all sides of the switch at the same time, so damage to the housing or the reservoir can cause a problem in getting correct readings.
Terminals: The pressure switch completes or breaks an electric circuit, thus telling the air compressor when to turn on. The incoming and outgoing wiring is connected through the terminals to the pressure switch.
Contacts: The contacts are two points in the pressure switch which separate and come together to complete or break the circuit. They are made of a conductive metal, and when the contacts are separated, and the circuit is interrupted, the motor of the air compressor will shut off.
Diaphragm: Also called a membrane, a diaphragm is a piece of flexible material that moves when the pressure inside the air tank changes. When the pressure increases, the air pushes against this membrane. When the desired pressure is reached, it pulls the conductive contact points apart, breaking the circuit.
Pressure switch relief valve: This safety valve is designed to relieve pressure trapped between the pump and the check valve. It can be found on the base of the pressure switch control, where it’s connected to the check valve with a nylon or copper tube. The valve is activated when the contacts separate.
Adjustment springs: You can adjust the cut-in and cut-out points for the air compressor with a spring. When you tighten the spring, more pressure needs to be applied from the diaphragm before the spring forces the contacts apart. When you loosen the spring, it will move with less pressure.
Auto/on/off lever: Some pressure valves have an auto/off or on/off knob or lever to control the pressure switch. When it is on the “auto” or “on” setting, it will work with the determined cut-in and cut-out settings to determine when the motor turns on and off. When it is off, a piece of plastic becomes wedged between the contacts, keeping the power to the engine off.
You can easily test your own air compressor pressure switch with an ohmmeter and a separate air source. Proper testing can save you a lot of time and headaches on air compressor switch repair:
Locate the valve and apply air to your pressure switch. Be sure to use a source that delivers more air pressure than the switch’s current setting. If you’re not using enough pressure, the switch won’t engage.
Compressor switches often end up leaking after a long life of use. Thankfully, you’ll find that the most common cause for switch leakage is something you can check and fix.
Over time, the diaphragm inside the air compressor pressure switch can crack or get a hole worn in it. When this occurs, air will blow around and leak from the tank, moving through the diaphragm and out of any opening in the switch housing.
When your switch’s unloader valve is located on the outside of the housing, this is the first place to look for leaks. Air leaking from this valve or near its connection to the cover will usually indicate a hole or other problem with the diaphragm.
These types of leaks can be difficult to resolve for many people. Sometimes problems occur with getting the proper diaphragm replacement. Customers have also noted concerns with parts or new issues after they’ve disassembled and reassembled their air compressor pressure switch.
Depending on cost, you might be able to save money and effort by replacing the pressure switch. Purchase a new switch, and you can expect a longer life from your air compressor because you’re getting a new diaphragm, points and other parts that tend to wear down over time.
Concerned you may be having an issue with the unloader valve and experiencing air compressor pressure switch leakage? Let’s look at the unloader valve itself and see what its leaks may look like.
The unloader valve is a needle valve that monitors your pressure switch and responds to the pressure switch’s movements. It activates and is opened when the compressor motor shuts off, creating that telltale hiss present in any properly working air compressor.
You can tell air is leaking from this valve when the hiss lasts for more than a few seconds or if you can feel a steady stream of compressed air at the bottom of the valve. Sometimes these unloader valves just need to be cleaned, though a major crack or distortion means they’ll need to be replaced.
Some air compressors will have a 100 percent duty cycle that means they can be used continuously and not overheat. These heavy-duty models are designed to prevent motor damage through constant use. Other compressor systems will have a limited duty cycle, so that prolonged use may cause harm to the unit.
Not adhering to a limited duty cycle can cause significant overheating and damage to your air compressor. The damage not only threatens the motor, but the heat can lead to an air compressor pressure switch leaking if friction is caused or the heat generated is localized near your pressure switch.
This type of issue often occurs when workers are using two compressors with a single compressor tank. That dynamic changes the workload on each compressor. If you’re running this setup and aren’t sure how to adjust operations or swap compressors, reach out to us today to make sure you’re not at risk of a major equipment failure.
Picking the right air compressor pressure switch starts with learning the pressure requirements of your air compressor. Perhaps most important is to find the manual and determine the cut-in pressure range. Your new switch should operate at the lowest cut-in pressure value in your range to prevent damage.
Aim a little higher for the cut-in pressure, setting your unit 5 psi to 10 psi higher than the requirement to keep everything running smoothly. This buffer will give your air compressor enough time to start working and catch up.
Electrical load:Make sure your new pressure switch can handle motor currents if you’re using a smaller compressor. If you’re unsure about the requirement, look to your manual or contact our staff for assistance.
Pressure maximums: Compressors are rated for a specific max pressure. Make sure your new switch is rated for that pressure or higher. Also, be careful to never set a pressure setting higher than your compressor or switch can handle.
These are just a few of the elements central to your air compressor pressure switch. Matching your new switch as closely as possible to the older switch is always your best bet unless an upgrade has been made available.
In most compressors, replacing the switch is straightforward. This is a general process, and your steps may vary, but it is standard for air compressor pressure switch repair:
Remove the quick-connect compression fitting, pressure regulator and top gauge from the pressure switch. You’ll either have to use a small pipe wrench or a set of slip-joint pliers to get these off. Start by loosening the nut attached to the unloader valve’s air line, and pull this up out of its fitting.
That is the basic set of steps to replacing your pressure switch and unloader valve. Advanced compressors may have larger systems that are more complex and require a broader set of tools and parts to successfully replace your air compressor pressure switch and other parts.
Sometimes a pressure switch leaks air when there is another problem in your system. One common cause comes from the unloader valve itself. If your unloader valve is leaking, you may want to reach out to a professional for a full inspection and repair.
To tell if your issue is from the unloader valve, we’ll check for a leak when the air compressor is off. This type of leak means you’re looking at a problem with the valve as well as the compressor tank’s check valve. Problems can include failures in the valve to close, improper sealing, or even damage and cracks to one of these parts.
In this case and with leaking due to wear over time, it can be difficult to get the parts you need for your air compressor pressure switch. Reach out to our professional staff for a quick check if you’re finding it tough to get parts or aren’t sure what parts you need.
Let’s say you tried to fix it yourself, and you’re still experiencing air compressor pressure switch leaking. Don’t just assume your new pressure switch is faulty. The tank check valve, unloader valve and other elements may be responsible for your woes.
An OSHA COMPRESSED AIR SAFETY SHUT-OFF VALVES should be placed immediately after the air control shut off valve and before the hose on a compressor, and after each discharge port that a hose is connected to.
Before starting the compressor the air control valve should be closed completely. When the compressor unloads, open the air shut off control valve very slowly. Full port ball valves tend to work better than gate or butterfly type valves.
The air shut off control valve must be fully open for the OSHA COMPRESSED AIR SAFETY SHUT-OFF VALVES to work. Some portable air compressor manufacturers recommend start-up with the air control valve slightly open. In this case you may have to close the valve and reopen it slowly to the full open position, or wait for the safety shut-off valve to reset itself.
If the OSHA COMPRESSED AIR SAFETY SHUT-OFF VALVES fails to operate despite meeting all condi-tions, check the hose line for obstructions or a hose mender restricting normal air flow.
• Turn on air supply slowly (to avoid tripping OSHA safety valve). Prior to fully reaching operation conditions, the OSHA COMPRESSED AIR SAFETY SHUT-OFF VALVES should suddenly activate and stop air flow.
• If the OSHA COMPRESSED AIR SAFETY SHUT-OFF VALVE is not activated the unit should be disconnected and the lower flow range OSHA COMPRESSED AIR SAFETY SHUT-OFF VALVES should be used. This means you need to use a different valve with a lower scfm range.
• At temperatures below 40°F ensure that OSHA COMPRESSED AIR SAFETY SHUT-OFF VALVES are not subject to icy conditions which may prevent proper functioning.
A reciprocating air compressor is a positive displacement mechanical device that relies on a cylinder and crankshaft-driven piston to produce compressed air. An unloader valve is one of the many small but essential parts and components that ensure the effective, efficient operation of a reciprocating compressor.
A compressor unloader valve is a small part, typically measuring approximately 4-5 inches in length and width. It performs the critical function of releasing trapped air inside the tank, enabling the motor to restart. An unloader valve malfunction is one of the more common air compressor issues. If the trapped air cannot escape, the accumulated pressure may be enough to keep the motor from restarting.
The type of unloader valve found in an air compressor depends on the machine’s make and size. Some operate via a toggle switch on the side of the unit’s pressure switch. Others have an integral valve installed under the pressure switch.
During the operation of a typical reciprocating air compressor, the machine’s electric motor-driven tank fills with air. The device contains a pressure switch that responds to the air accumulation by shutting off the motor’s power supply. The compressor pump, which is attached to the motor shaft, also stops.
When the motor attempts to restart, the air trapped inside the cylinder generates a load that makes it more challenging to execute the task. By venting the air, the unloader valve reduces the load over the piston, facilitating the restarting process.
If you own a smaller reciprocating air compressor, you’ll likely find the unloader valve mounted on or inside the pressure switch. When the switch shuts the compressor off, it actuates the valve. A small tube or pipe runs from the check valve, a device that keeps the entire tank from draining, to the unloader valve.
A larger air compressor often features a more sizeable unloader valve controlled by air pressure emanating from a smaller pilot valve. In this arrangement, the valve typically sits next to the compressor.
When the air pressure inside the compressor’s tank reaches the pressure switch’s cut out pressure (the point when air is no longer delivered), the switch automatically trips off and interrupts the power supply to the motor. This process causes the unloader valve to open and vent the accumulated air.
When the tank pressure drops back down to the predetermined setting on the pressure switch, it causes the switch to trip again. This action results in the release of the unloader valve’s pin, preventing the escape of compressed air into the atmosphere.
As a leading provider of high-quality compressed air equipment for companies in a wide range of industries, Quincy Compressor can answer all your questions about unloader valves, their purpose and how they work. Feel free to contact us today for more information.
Conventionally when we talk about oil lubricated screw air compressor maintenance, it is mostly about replacing consumables such as filters and lubricant on time. While these consumables have a defined usable life and have a direct effect on the efficiency and the life of the air compressor itself when not replaced on time, there are a few critical valves in the air compressor that require maintenance as well. Compressor valves directly affect the efficiency, safety, and the functionality of the screw air compressor. Let us understand some of the commonly available valves in a screw air compressor, why they need maintenance, and discuss some of the frequently asked questions about screw air compressor valves.
A screw air compressor is very similar to a human heart. While a human heart has tricuspid, pulmonary, mitral, and aortic valves, a screw air compressor has four critical valves namely air inlet, minimum pressure, blow down, and safety valves.
Air inlet valve is also commonly known as the ‘Intake valve’ which is typically assembled on the airend’s intake. The air inlet valve of a conventional fixed speed screw air compressor controls the air intake into the compressor. It remains closed when the compressor starts to lower the starting load on the main motor and when the desired working pressure is attained in the compressed air circuit and thus enabling the compressor’s motor to run without any load. In some compressors that are capable of providing a variable output by modulating the amount of air it sucks in, the inlet valve holds various opening positions to regulate the volume of air entering the compressor. The effective performance of the inlet valve directly affects the compressor’s capacity and its power consumption during load and no-load conditions.
The minimum pressure valve is typically assembled on the exit of the air-oil separation tank of a compressor. The minimum pressure valve acts as a check valve preventing back flow of compressed air into the airend, retains a minimum pressure in the compressor system for lubrication, offers a restriction to avoid a collapse of the air-oil separation filter, and ensures a suitable velocity of flow across the air-oil separator that ensures efficient air-oil separation. The effective performance of the minimum pressure valve directly affects the compressor’s lubrication, air-oil separation efficiency, and power consumption during load and no-load conditions.
The blow down valve is typically found on a dedicated exhaust line from the air-oil separation tank. The blow down valve evacuates the compressed air in the air-oil separation tank each time the compressor runs on a no-load and when the compressor shuts down to ensure there is no back pressure when the compressor starts to load next time. The blow down valve of a conventional screw compressor is typically actuated by a solenoid valve. The effective performance of the blow down valve affects the compressor’s power consumption during un-load, capacity of the compressor when running on load, and the life of the motor.
The safety valve is typically mounted directly on the air-oil separator tank. The only function of the safety valve is to blow off the compressed air in the air-oil separation tank when the pressure in the air-oil separation tank exceeds the set pressure of the safety valve and there by prevents the tank from cracking under high pressure. A malfunctioning safety valve affects the safe operation of the air compressor or results in leakage of compressed air continuously.
Though each compressor manufacturer has their own unique valve design, compressor valves in general contain moving parts such as springs, valve plates, and plungers that affect the opening and closing of the valves and rubber seals / seats that offer perfect sealing when the valves remain closed. These moving parts wear or lose their mechanical properties over a period of time and the sealing components typically ‘age’ over time and lose their effectiveness and will need to be replaced.
Compressor manufacturers typically design these components to operate efficiently for several thousand or millions of operation cycles. However, several factors such as variability in the demand pattern, sizing of the air compressor against a certain air demand, the environment in which the air compressor operates, promptness of preventive maintenance, etc. determine how long these valves efficiently operate.
Many times, it is difficult to identify a malfunctioning valve or a valve operating with worn-out parts as the compressor continues to generate air. The typical symptoms of a malfunctioning valve are loss in compressor"s capacity, increase in power consumption during load or/and unload, drop in discharge pressure, increase in oil carry-over and more load on motor. These symptoms are either difficult to notice or have other frequently common assignable causes such as air leak before suspecting the compressor valves.
Case studies show that operating a screw air compressor with a worn-out / malfunctioning valve could increase its overall power consumption by 10 - 15%. Power cost contributes to more than 75% of the compressor’s total life cycle cost over ten years and hence this is a significant impact. Unserviced valves also lower the life span of downstream accessories by half. In some cases, a malfunctioning safety valve may result in a catastrophe.
Air compressor manufacturers typically offer convenient valve maintenance kits for customers that contain the internal parts of the valve that wear or age out. Changing the valve kits is a much more sensible and economical option than changing the complete valve.
It is difficult or almost impossible to identify a malfunctioning valve unless it is opened for inspection. Hence it is absolutely mandatory that these valves are inspected for effectiveness every year and the internal moving parts replaced as a part of preventive maintenance once every year or two depending on the operating conditions of the air compressor. It is typical for compressor manufacturers to mandate a valve kit replacement once every two years as a proactive measure.
In particular, the safety valve must be inspected and certified every year per the local safety laws to ensure they are functional and efficient. Sometimes, replacing the safety valve entirely with a valid certificate for one year is more economical as the certification procedures could be equally expensive on an existing valve.
As stated before, it is challenging to identify a valve that is worn out unless it is opened and inspected, but there are a few indicators that a qualified compressor technician can use to deduct a malfunctioning valve.
Low duty cycle operation: A sophisticated screw air compressor in today’s day and age carries a convenient microprocessor-based human-machine interface that keeps track of operating hours of the compressor under load and un-load conditions and the number of load/unload counts the compressor is subjected to over a period of time. A higher un-load hours and load/unload count indicates that the air compressor is oversized against the actual air demand. This in turn indicates the air compressor ‘cycles’ frequently between load and un-load mode as opposed to running continuously on load. Every time a compressor ‘cycles’, the inlet valve, blow down valve, and minimum pressure valve is brought into play where their internals ‘actuate’. Frequent actuation of these valves results in a faster wear of the internals and hence results in shorter life.
High operating temperature: A compressor that runs on a high operating temperature affects the life of the valve’s sealing components, which causes them to ‘age’ fast.
Compressor not building pressure: If the air demand has not changed over time and the facility is relatively free of any air leakage, the air compressor is probably not delivering the rated output. There is a high probability that there is a malfunctioning valve.
Increase in compressor’s power consumption: An increase in the air compressor’s power consumption profile over a period of time where there has been no abnormal change in the air demand and usage pattern indicates an increase in either the load or un-load power. There is a high probability that this is because of a malfunctioning valve.
Based on the design philosophy adopted by the air compressor manufacturer, the oil lubricated screw air compressors could have a few more valves that are critical to functional performance that must be maintained as well. Some of the other valves frequently used in an air compressor are as follows:
Temperature control valve (also known as thermal valve) is used to regulate the flow of oil through the oil cooler based on the operating temperature.
Drain valves are used to drain lubricant at the time of lubricant change over or cleaning. Air compressors equipped with a moisture trap at the outlet of the after cooler also has a drain valve (automatic or timer based) to discharge water collected
The presence or absence of one of these valves and the type of actuation of these valves (electronic / mechanical) depends on air compressor’s design architecture. The Operation and Maintenance Manual (OMM) and the Piping and Instrumentation Diagram (P&ID) supplied by the air compressor manufacturer are excellent resources that explain the purpose, functioning, and maintenance requirements of these valves.
Many of the air compressor valves are highly specialized and exclusive. Their designs are usually complex and some even need special tools to service them. The internal components" build quality and material selection are extremely important and proprietary. Hence it is highly critical that only genuine valve kits issued by the air compressor manufacturer are used to maintain the valves. An inferior after-market replacement will most certainly compromise the performance of the entire compressor, void the original manufacturer"s warranty of the compressor, cause consequential damage to other parts of the compressor, and above all, be a safety hazard.
In conclusion, while it is important to change the screw air compressor"s filters and lubricants on time, it is equally important to perform preventive maintenance on these critical valves in a screw air compressor as recommended by the air compressor manufacturer. While the intake valve, minimum pressure valve, safety valve, and blowdown valve are critical to the performance and safety of the compressor, there could be other valves in the compressor that are critical and need maintenance. The air compressors sizing and the environment in which it operates are crucial factors that affect the life of the air compressor. Finally, it is critical to proactively service these valves using genuine kits issued by the compressor manufacturer to enable the air compressor performs efficiently and safely.
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However, it is not a big issue to fix the safety valve. Depending on the model and the manufacturer of the compressor, the type of valve may vary. So, you will have to act accordingly.
Here we are going to discuss the causes of issues in the air compressor safety valve. Also, we are sharing the steps that you could take to solve the matter.
Suppose you are working with an air compressor for your home garage. Now based on your project, you will set the air pressure. But it is not a surprising fact that the pressure may reach a higher psi. In that case, the safety valve or pressure releasing valve will open and release the access air. Thus, it helps to keep the air compressor safe.
The primary reason for the air compressor safety valve staying open is a damaged pressure valve. It also could be the compressor pressure switch that controls the air circulation in the compressor. A faulty pressure switch won"t be able to shut the motor to control the air, and as a result, the safety valve remains open.
The safety valve attached to the compressor usually comes with a nozzle in it. This nozzle helps to inlet air from the compressor when needed. If the nozzle has any leakage or it is damaged internally, there is a good chance that the safety valve will stay open.
On the other hand, the valve itself could get damaged because of usages. For both of these issues, the relief valve may blow air from the compressor, and you won"t get enough air pressure for your projects. It usually happens when you buy a cheap air compressor without checking the quality.
The Air compressor is built with several parts, and the pressure switch is one of the most crucial parts. The pressure switch is designed to monitor pressurized air from the tank. It reacts depending on the applied pressure on it, and it is used to maintain through a diaphragm.
The pressure switch creates a backward pressure or cut-out pressure when there is high pressure inside the compressor. In that case, the diaphragm will be deformed to break the contact inside the switch and the power will shut down. At this point, you will see the air compressor safety valve keeps blowing.
Now for any reason, if the pressure switch is damaged or not working in the right way, even if the air pressure is not high, it will try to release air through the safety valve. As a result, the relief valve keeps opening even though it is not necessary.
Step-1: Set the pressure limit for the safety valve according to the manufacturer"s instructions. If the pressure limit is lower than the instructed point, reset it by changing the pressure limit
Step-2: Check for the damages to the valve and the nozzle attached to it. If there is an issue with the nozzle and it inlets air without reaching the optimum level, you need to replace it.
Step-4: Inside the compressor, the safety valve used to have a small spring that bends when the pressure reached the level you have set. It lifts the disc in the air compressor to release excess air. If the spring is not bending properly, replace it from the inside.
Step-5: Check the pressure switch of the compressor. Try to identify if it can monitor the cut-in and cut-out pressure. If it fails to monitor the pressure level, probably it is damaged, and you need to replace it.
For air compressor pressure relief valve adjustment, turn off the compressor. Now remove the cover from the valve with a screwdriver. There you will see a big set screw to adjust the pressure. Use a Flathead screwdriver to adjust the screw. If you want to increase the limit, turn the screw clockwise and check the shut-off point. To reduce the pressure level, just turn the screw anticlockwise. Once you find the desired level, attach the cover, and you are ready to go.
If your air compressor PRV valve is faulty and doesn"t work accurately, you need to replace it. To replace the safety valve, you need to remove the previous one. For this, you may have to remove the meter from the top.
Now you should get access to the safety valve. Use a wrench and hold the pressure valve tightly. Turn it anticlockwise until it comes off from the air compressor. Add the new safety valve and secure it at the right point. Apply the wrench to secure the valve and turn it clockwise until it gets set on the compressor.
If you have read the article thoroughly, you won"t be disappointed again if the compressor relief valve keeps opening. Find out the exact issue as described in this article. Solve the problem by following the guideline described here, and you will be ready for the next project.
Sullair’s spring-loaded safety valve is used as the compressor’s high-pressure shutdown protection function to ensure that the compressor stops before the safety valve is opened. This prevents the safety valve from opening and loss of lubricating oil when the compressor is running. out). The opening pressure of the spring-loaded safety valve has been set before leaving the factory, please do not change it without authorization.
The Sullair oil and gas separator tank is equipped with a Sullair spring-loaded safety valve. When the pressure in the tank exceeds the rated pressure of the safety valve, the safety valve will open automatically. The rated pressure of the safety valve has been set at the factory. For more safety, the monitoring system is generally set to shut down in the following situations:
If the spring-loaded safety valve is dirty and blocked, the safety valve cannot be opened or cannot be closed automatically after opening. If the safety valve cannot be opened, it will lose its function of protecting the pressure system, and the safety of the unit will not be guaranteed. If the spring-loaded safety valve cannot be closed automatically, a large amount of lubricating oil in the oil-air separator will spray out accidentally, causing property damage. Stop the machine every week to check the status of the safety valve.
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