What a receiver actually does
A receiver is not storage for its own sake. It absorbs the pressure swings caused by intermittent demand, gives the dryer and filters a calmer inlet, and lets the compressor unload and rest rather than chasing every short draw. Undersized receivers show up as short compressor cycles, wet air downstream and pressure at the tool dropping every time a second machine starts.
| Parameter | Options |
|---|---|
| Volume | 300 L, 600 L, 1,000 L, 2,000 L |
| Pressure rating | 8 bar, 10 bar, 13 bar, 16 bar |
Choosing a volume
A common starting rule is one to two litres of receiver volume per litre per minute of compressor free air delivery, with the higher end used where demand is spiky. A system with a large single consumer that starts and stops, such as a sandblaster or a press, needs more buffer than a steady plant load of the same average flow.
Choosing a pressure rating
The rating must exceed the highest pressure the vessel will ever see, including the compressor's unload pressure and any boost from a pressure booster downstream. A 16 bar rated tank on an 8 bar system is not wasted margin, it is insurance against a set point being raised later. Never fit a tank rated below the system's safety valve setting.
Placement
Put the receiver after the compressor and before the dryer where possible. The tank gives the air time to cool and drop bulk water, and it smooths the pulses that otherwise reach the dryer and the filters. Where a second receiver is used near the point of use, it buffers peak draws without forcing the whole system pressure up.
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