What is an air compressor?
An air compressor is a device that generates compressed air. Compressed air provides a powerful force that can be used to power many different types of tools, applications, and industries.
The equipment widely used in major industries such as manufacturing, food and beverages, household appliances, energy, and oil and gas.
Type of air compressor
In the compressed air industry, it's mainly divided into oil-injected and oil-free air compressors. Each application has its advantages and markets. The main difference is that the oil-free air compressor does not contain oil and is suitable for industries that have strict requirements for compressed gas; the latter is ideal for enterprises with fewer requirements on air purity.
Oil-free air compressors: These compressors do not use any lubrication in the compressor chamber.
Oil-injected air compressors: These devices use oil to lubricate the air compression chamber, lubricate moving parts and seal the air. These are the most common compressor types with lower initial and maintenance costs and longer service life.
Air compressor technology
rotary screw type: Rotary screw air compressors use rotary-type circular movement to compress air. They are one of the most popular compressors in many industries.
The air enters through the intake valve and pressurizes the air through a twin-screw (called rotors). As the screw rotates, the volume decreases, and the air pressure increases.
When the industry needs a large amount of high-pressure air, a rotary screw compressor can use.
Piston (reciprocating) air compressor: The most widely used air compressor is the piston air compressor. When the piston moves down, a vacuum is created above it, so that the outside air pushes open the intake valve and fills the area above the piston. When the piston moves upward, the air above it compresses, keeping the intake valve closed and pushing the exhaust valve open. The air moves from the outlet to the air tank. With each stroke, more air enters the tank, and the pressure rises.
Air compressor design
The compressor can be a fixed speed or variable speed drive (VSD).
Fixed speed compressor: As the name shows, fixed-speed air compressors operate at a constant or fixed voltage and frequency. It is more efficient when the machine is running at 100%. Fixed speed compressor was suitable for the plant which operations 24/7. But when the machine unloaded, it wastes energy. Before the motor stops completely, it will continue to run without generating air to protect the motor from excessive start/stop cycles.
Variable speed drive (VSD) compressor: A variable speed drive(VSD) air compressor use adopts variable speed drive technology. The compressor uses an inverter to control the RPM of the motor, to varying the air displacement of the compressor. This done to improve the efficiency of the compressor to save electrical cost for the user. This technology can avoid the problem like no-load loss, more efficient than a fixed speed air compressor.
