PRV Valve opening
by Mark
I have a 25 HP speedaire compressor that when it comes on the PRV valve on the head of the center cylinder automatically opens and stays open until the compressor shuts off. I changed the prv valve thinking it may be bad but it does the same thing. Does this indicate a problem with the valves in the head? Bill answers... Howdy Mark. Welcome to you and all the other visitors form Florida. The PRV valve is constructed with an internal piston that has enough surface area (force = pressure x area) that will allow air pressure to force open the port to atmosphere when the pressure in the system is great enough to do so. That will allow air to exhaust rather than allow pressure levels to increase to a dangerous level. That the PRV valve opens when your compressor cuts in suggests to me that the PRV has failed. Since you've replaced it, and assuming that it works properly, then the only other thing I can think of is that the check valve on the air line from the compressor head to the tank has somehow jammed closed, preventing air from the compressor head from entering the tank. In this scenario the fairly small line from the compressor head to the tank (also joined to the PRV valve) would very quickly build up enough pressure to blow the PRV. Disconnect the air line where it enters the tank and check out the check valve contained within. I suspect that's your problem. Cheers, Bill
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