About Air Compressor

An Air Compressor is a pneumatic device that converts power (using an electric motor, diesel or gasoline engine, etc.) into potential energy stored in pressurized air (i.e., compressed air). By one of several methods, an air compressor forces more and more air into a storage tank, increasing the pressure. When the tank's pressure reaches its engineered upper limit, the air compressor shuts off. The compressed air, then, is held in the tank until called into use.The energy contained in the compressed air can be used for a variety of applications, utilizing the kinetic energy of the air as it is released and the tank depressurizes. When tank pressure reaches its lower limit, the air compressor turns on again and re-pressurizes the tank. An air compressor must be differentiated from a pump because it works for any gas/air, while pumps work on a liquid.

Compressors can be classified according to the pressure delivered:

1,Low-pressure air compressors (LPACs), which have a discharge pressure of 150 pounds per square inch (10 bar) or less

2,Medium-pressure compressors which have a discharge pressure of 151 to 1,000 pounds per square inch (10.4 to 68.9 bar)

3,High-pressure air compressors (HPACs), which have a discharge pressure above 1,000 pounds per square inch (69 bar)

They can also be classified according to the design and principle of operation:

1,Single-stage reciprocating compressor

2,Multi-stage reciprocating compressor

3,Compound compressor

4,Single stage rotary-screw compressor

5,Two-stage rotary screw compressor

6,Rotary vane pump

7,Scroll compressor

8,Centrifugal (roto-dynamic or turbo) compressor

In another way of classification, there are two main types of air-compressors: oil-injected and oil-less. The oil-less (or Oil-Free) system has more technical development and delivers air of better quality for critical applications where oil contamination cannot be tolerated (such as food and medicine production) although it is more expensive, louder and lasts for less time than oil-lubed pumps.

There are numerous methods of air compression, divided into either positive-displacement or roto-dynamic types.