How Does a Compressed Air Paintball Tank Work?
Paintball Markers
Paintball markers (guns) have been used for agricultural purposes long before they were used for recreation. Yet, the concept of the marker has not changed. To expel a paintball from the barrel of a gun, a propulsion system is used. The air needed for the expulsion comes from the compressed air paintball tank. Paintball tanks can be filled with nitrogen, CO2 and compressed air. The differences between the types of air used slightly differ.
Paintball Propulsion System
A valve tube can be found in the barrel of the marker. It goes through the spring, bolt and hammer to the air inlet valve. The tank of compressed air is connected to the gas inlet valve. This provides the energy needed. When the gun is cocked, a paintball comes into the barrel from a hopper (paintball term for loader). The spring is released when the trigger is pulled. This allows a burst of air from the tank to travel through the inlet valve and expel the paintball through the barrel to the target,
Compression
Air compression is something used in the field of pneumatics. Compression occurs when the pressure of a gas is increased by losing volume. Volume is how much space something occupies. Pressure happens when a force is applied. Paintball tanks usually come in sizes of 20, 12, or 9 ounces. A 20 oz. tank can supply enough air to fire up to 1,500 shots.
Filling a Tank
A compressed air paintball tank is filled by being attached to a larger tank that supplies the air. The larger tank has a much higher volume. When the valve on the larger tank is opened, the compressed air in that tank escapes to the smaller tank until the pressure is too high.
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