🔍 Key Concepts

• Function and location of an intercooler in a multi-stage air compressor • Purpose of relief valves versus unloaders in compressor systems • Normal flow path of compressed air between stages of compression

💭 Think About

• Ask yourself: At what point in the compression process does the intercooler operate, and what is its main job? • Which component is specifically designed to protect a pressure vessel from excessive pressure, and which component is designed to control when a stage compresses or not? • Trace the air path from the first stage to the last stage and identify which protective device is attached to which part of the system.

✅ Before You Answer

• Verify which option is a pressure safety device (opens at a set pressure) rather than a control device. • Confirm which cooler (intercooler vs aftercooler) is located between stages of compression. • Make sure the device you choose is physically connected to the intercooler section, not to the first or last stage cylinders themselves.