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

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. An extensive cross-referencing service is available. Contact the Accumulators, Inc. Sales Department for detailed information.

3. Do Accumulators, Inc. pressure vessels meet any type of codes?

Most Accumulators, Inc. units are designed to the strict guidelines of the ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code and are so stamped with the "U" symbol and registered with the National Board of Boiler and Pressure Vessel Inspectors. Many other design approvals or authority reviews, such as CE, DNV, ABS, CRN, Lloyds, etc. are available by request at additional cost. Acc Inc can also modify existing units under the National Board Inspection Code "R" stamp

4. What type of testing do Accumulators, Inc. pressure vessels receive?

Most Accumulators, Inc. pressure vessels are subject to ASME specified high-pressure hydro tests, magnetic particle tests, chemical analysis, physical analysis, hardness tests, charpy test analysis, and dimensional inspections. Other tests are available, some at additional cost.

5. Does Accumulators, Inc. have a quality control program?

Yes, Accumulators, Inc. has an extensive quality control program that is periodically reviewed by local, state, national and international agencies. All code designs; code quality control records; quality control manuals and procedures are open to authorized inspectors.

6. Are certifications and traceability available from Accumulators, Inc. and what is the fee?

ASME U-1A Data Reports are available upon request at no charge. Certifications, or Material Certificates appropriate to the respective code(s) are available at additional cost. Shells are traceable to the day of manufacture, bladders to the month of manufacture. All vessels are registered with the National Board of Boiler & Pressure Vessel Inspectors.

7. Are Accumulators, Inc. products covered by any warranties?

Yes, Accumulators, Inc. product warranty is the strongest in the industry.

8. What is the proper method of bladder storage?

To obtain the maximum storage life:

1. Leave bladder in the black UV bags they were shipped in.
2. Store in a closed box, lay flat. Avoid folding. If space permits, bladders can be slightly inflated.
3. Do not expose to light, particularly sunlight or fluorescent lighting.
4. Avoid extreme temperatures. Optimal storage temperature is 65-70 degrees F.
5. Avoid dirt, dust, grease, chemicals and fumes.

9. Why use dry nitrogen gas (N₂)? Is it safe to use helium?

Nitrogen is a safe, inert, non-explosive gas that is readily available at reasonable costs.

WARNING! NEVER USE SHOP AIR OR OXYGEN!

Shop air has oxygen and when exposed to petroleum based fluids or grease, can diesel (explode) under pressure. Pure oxygen is even more volatile. Other gases are expensive, corrosive or explosive.

WARNING! THE USE OF HELIUM IS NOT RECOMMENDED

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.

11. 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.

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 a 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 Acc Inc C&G Assembly and a regulator to slowly (40 psig) pre-charge the unit. 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 with a small loss of efficiency when lubricated properly. Accumulators, Inc. recommends bolting the accumulator to the skid unit using approved mounting brackets. Acc Inc manufactures 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.