ABOUT ACCUMULATORS, INC. ASSEMBLIES, PARTS AND ACCESSORIES

1. Are Accumulators, Inc. accumulators interchangeable with other manufacturers accumulators?

Yes, Accumulators, Inc. catalog accumulators are interchangeable with accumulators supplied by other manufacturers. Accumulators, Inc. units are part for part interchangeable with major competitors and interchangeable for form, fit and function for most of the rest. Our SPECIAL ORDER units are proprietary for each customer, and may not be fully interchangeable. We maintain an extensive cross-reference of our competitor's products. Contact the Accumulators, Inc. Sales Department for detailed information.

2. Are Accumulators, Inc. components interchangeable with the components manufactured by other accumulator manufacturers?

For the most part, yes. Accumulators, Inc. catalog components are 100% interchangeable with most of the competition. In some cases, however, Accumulators, Inc. parts are of newer design and may not be fully interchangeable. Many older designs, however, are available from Accumulators, Inc. SPECIAL ORDER components are only available from Accumulators, Inc. We maintain an extensive cross-reference of our competitor's products. Contact the Accumulators, Inc. Sales Department for detailed information.

Helium has several characteristics that can cause system failures. Gas leakage, explosive thermal expansion and a negative Joules-Thompson coefficient are all causes for major concern. Accumulators, Inc. recommends that only dry nitrogen gas be used to precharge accumulators.

Caution! While nitrogen is non-explosive, it is still very dangerous when pressurized

There are several grades of nitrogen gas available. For use in bladder accumulators, we recommend Commercial/Industrial Grade. This is the most common grade available and the most cost effective. It has been used with bladder accumulators for over 50 years. The average purity is 99.5%. Higher grade gas is, of course, acceptable. The N₂ MSDS is available from the factory at no cost.

10. What oil port threads are available?

NPT is standard; SAE or SAE Split-flange is optional at no additional cost. Metric, special NPT, BSP and other threads are also available. Call the factory for availability and pricing.

11a. What are the advantages of bladder accumulators versus piston or the non-separator type?

1. Rapid response to pressure changes and work cycle.
2. Complete separation of gas and fluid.
3. Highly resistant to fluid contamination.
4. Low maintenance, trouble-free operation.
5. Readily available, low cost replacement parts.
6. Eliminates costly down time on expensive systems due to simple repair.

11b. What are the advantages of piston accumulators versus bladder accumulators?

Piston accumulators are more highly-customizable and can handle much larger volumes and pressures than bladder accumulators. Additionally, a wider tolerance for the initial precharge setting allows for a higher fluid-to-gas ratio for certain applications.

12. What is the correct pre-charge for an accumulator?

Each application has different pre-charge requirements. Consult the Accumulators, Inc. Service Manual for guidance or contact the Accumulators, Inc. Sales Applications Department.

13. How often should the pre-charge be checked while the accumulator is in service?

If the accumulator unit is on a high cycle application it should be checked weekly. If the unit is used for emergency standby or pressure holding, it should be checked at least once per month.

14. What is the correct way to pre-charge an accumulator?

Consult the instructions listed on the accumulator, shipped with replacement bladder kits and in the Accumulators, Inc. Product Catalog.

Generally: Use an Accumulators, Inc. C&G Assembly and a regulator to slowly pre-charge the unit to 40 psig. This is the most critical part of the pre-charge. Next, you may begin to high-charge your unit to the pressure required to operate appropriately.

15. What is the proper way to mount an accumulator?

The preferred orientation is vertical; however, a horizontal mounting is acceptable when lubricated properly, with a small loss of efficiency. Accumulators, Inc. recommends bolting the accumulator to the skid unit using approved mounting brackets. We manufacture several acceptable types.

16. Can Accumulators, Inc. make a special accumulator for my application?

Yes. We're experts in "Special Orders" design and manufacture. Among our clientele are Fortune 500 companies, government agencies and the military. Each design is proprietary to the customer.

17. Does Accumulators, Inc. accept any major credit cards?

YES!

18. How can I request a quote?

Use our RFQ tool to receive price and availability on any of our products

19. Is Accumulators, Inc. environmentally conscious?

Our manufacturing process produces no pollution and uses only minimal electricity. In addition, we recycle cardboard, office paper, junk mail, glass, plastic and aluminum. Employees are encouraged to bring their recyclables from home as well. We pride ourselves on being Earth-friendly.