Uses of Air Compressors

An air compressor functions on either of two mechanisms - a positive-displacement mechanical assembly or negative-displacement assembly. Positive-displacement mechanism forces air into a chamber where the volume of the air is reduced to cause its compression.

This mechanism involves movement of one or more pistons, pumping air into an air chamber via a constant motion of these pistons. These air compressors have unidirectional (i.e. opening up only in one direction) valves, which guide air into this chamber, where the air gets compressed. A separate assembly of simple motors or rather “rotary screw” compressors compresses air by matching two helical screws, which turn and draw air into this air chamber. The volume of the air pulled in reduces as the screws turn. It is as if two screws with threads moving in opposing directions, which are snugly lined up against each other. This causes air to be sucked in, much like the propeller of a jet engine of an aircraft. Another type of air compressors using positive-displacement is the Vane compressing system. Vane compressors feature a slotted rotor with varied blade placement, which channelizes air into a chamber and compresses the volume of the air sucked in.

Air compressors working on the negative-displacement mechanism consist of centrifugal compressors. This mechanical device uses a centrifugal force generated by a spinning impeller that accelerates and then decelerates captured air, which causes the difference in the air pressure, which results in the compression. Products based on this mechanism, which are common backyard tools such as a leaf blower or even the blowing mechanism of your household vacuum cleaner.

Air compressors are the primary 'engines' that drive several different kinds of appliance like a refrigerator as well as an industrial grade equipment like a furnace at a smelting factory.

Few other applications of Air Compressors include:

Blowing up deflated tyres

Pumping high-pressure clean air to fill gas cylinders

Supplying moderate-pressure clean air to a submerged surface supplied diver

Pumping moderate-pressure clean air for powering office and/or school building's pneumatic HVAC control system valves

Producing a large amount of moderate-pressure air to power pneumatic-powered tools like a nail gun, an air brush, a sand blaster, etc

For generating heavy quantities of moderate-pressure air for macroscopic industrial processes (for e.g. cement plant bag house purge systems or oxidation for petroleum coking)

Scuba divers use air compressors for compressing and storing air for breathing underwater for long durations. Scuba divers carry air tanks (for oxygen) along with them for diving into deep ends of the oceans, when diving for longer periods since they do not intend to come up to the surface frequently for air. Even researchers, science enthusiasts, environmentalists, marine biologists, geo-thermal research scientists, etc. venturing out to the seas or oceans require air compressors for filling up their air tanks for use underwater. Such type of air compressors are usually oil-lubed since they need to last longer and only small amounts of air is needed while filling air tanks, in cases involving usage of air tanks.

Many industries have adopted and designed several hand tools, machinery, and even robotics tools essentially driven by air compressors. For e.g.

Nail guns for securing planks of wood or even affixing objects to walls etc.

Jackhammers or pneumatic hammers for breaking up hard materials like roads, walls, or any other structure created by brick and cement, etc.

An engine may require compressors for heating and cooling its high-performance systems

Specially designed air compressors are also used in large power plants for delivering energy to huge machinery

Johnathan J - About Author:
PowerAir is a leading supplier of Industrial Air Compressors NI region. Ever since 1978, PowerAir has extensive technical expertise in the development of premium Air Compressors Belfast

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