10 replies to this topic

[zx532]

I am planning on making a double tank air reservoir system, but I don't know if it is better to connect the tanks in series, or parallel, or if there is no difference whatsoever (excuse the electrical circuits terminology, I don't know what the equivalent is)

[Funky Mutha Facko]

Why do you need two tanks instead of just one?

[zx532]

Why do you need two tanks instead of just one?

belt fed RF20 (still in planning stages)

two tanks would be more air and therefore longer firing time correct?

[lech]

Add a mspaint sketch of what you are talking about.

[shmmee]

Guessing at a clarification here, but are you asking about a dual bladder reservoir system? If so I can see your concern. I've been wondering the same thing. It seems natural that one bladder might be slightly weaker than its partner and that it might fill to burst pressure before its partner starts to fill.

I've been told that when a bladder fails, the sudden release of air can sound like a shotgun going off. The resulting calls to 911 about a gunshot at a public park would be some bad press for a nerf war.

I'm hoping Doom still lurks this site. He knows more about bladder systems than anyone I know. Anyone else tried dual bladder reservoirs?

[zx532]

Add a mspaint sketch of what you are talking about.

Ill do you one better

Guessing at a clarification here, but are you asking about a dual bladder reservoir system? If so I can see your concern. I've been wondering the same thing. It seems natural that one bladder might be slightly weaker than its partner and that it might fill to burst pressure before its partner starts to fill.

I've been told that when a bladder fails, the sudden release of air can sound like a shotgun going off. The resulting calls to 911 about a gunshot at a public park would be some bad press for a nerf war.

I'm hoping Doom still lurks this site. He knows more about bladder systems than anyone I know. Anyone else tried dual bladder reservoirs?

I'm not talking about bladders here, I'm talking solid tanks
(and I dont know about shotgun blasts, but I will say they are very loud indoors, I had one blow on me during a game of zombies last semester)

[kevne]

In my opinion, the parallel setup is the safer option.

With the series setup, when you fill the tanks, the one nearest the end of the system will fill first. Therefore, when the end tank is at max pressure, you will still be forcing air in to pressurise the other. I can see this causing problems, unless of course the end tank has a higher pressure rating but you really don't want to go into that. Either way you will have issues with each tank filling uniformly unless you employ some one way valves and OPRVs.

That being said, one larger tank would be far superior. But I guess you've already explored that option.

[The Manta]

I would have to say the first option looks like a better idea. A bladder would be much better in this situation, If you are still using the original piston. Anyway, with the connected tanks option, one pump tube goes equally into two bladders, theoretically filling both in the same time instead of one more than the other. But if you look at how a RF20 bladder is setup, you might want to set it up like this:

If you actually are using air tanks, what would you plan on using? I know Titan tanks have two inputs on the back, so that might be useful.

Edited by The Manta, 24 June 2012 - 10:04 AM.

[zx532]

If you actually are using air tanks, what would you plan on using? I know Titan tanks have two inputs on the back, so that might be useful.

this will be the tank(s) that I am going to use
http://www.pneuaire....reca44cuin.html

why would the bladder be better? Isn't it the same thing as a hard tank, but with a cheaper and easier way of putting an OPRV on it?

[kevne]

why would the bladder be better? Isn't it the same thing as a hard tank, but with a cheaper and easier way of putting an OPRV on it?

A bladder will deliver the air at a more uniform pressure as it empties. A tank will have a pretty much linear decline in pressure over time whereas a bladder will follow a curve maintaining a higher pressure for longer.

[zx532]

Awesome, thanks for everyone's help