Quote Originally Posted by Frank S View Post
One of the main causes for compressor tanks going bad is the drains are so inaccessible most folks don't drain theirs regularly
Even when accessible a lot of people just don't bother, in Academia CBA is all too common. We made a frame to tumble small lab 'silent' compressor tanks with s/s nuts as the cleaning medium to remove surface rust before treating and pressure (hydraulic) testing them. One was so full the compressor hydrolocked, even though the lab SOP specified the 1/4 turn valve should be opened and the tank drained daily.

Our main system compressor receiver, 9 feet long and 6 feet diameter has electric solenoid vales triggered by an internal float switch in the valves housing, as does every other drain from the compressor, the air passes through a drier so or dew point is ~-30°C as a lot of the kit it's used in/for is very moisture sensitive.