Sunday, 2 July 2017

Buying the Right Industrial Air Compressor

Air compressors have numerous applications in the industrial sector and are used in a variety of fields including automation and assembly, chemical manufacturing, agriculture and construction. All compressors operate by converting the power of an external source, such as an electric motor or diesel engine, into stored energy that can be released in the form of pressurized air. Pressurized air is used to power tools and machinery.

Choosing the Right Air Compressor

Compressors, however, differ in how they operate, the capacity of the air, and the pressure levels they can provide. Appropriate compressors can not only accommodate sufficient air, but can also apply sufficient pressure to the job, but performance must be balanced with considerations such as cost and durability. Compressed air is measured in cubic feet per minute (CFM), and there is a high requirement for CFMs that require greater air capacity and higher horsepower (HP).

Types of Industrial Air Compressors

There are three main types of industrial air compressors, depending on how they work. These are reciprocating compressors, rotary screw compressors and centrifugal compressors.

Reciprocation

A reciprocating compressor is a positive displacement compressor that increases the pressure by reducing the volume of air. The reciprocating motion includes a piston-driven pump, which is compressed and moves the air. There are two types of direct drive compressors and belt driven compressors. Belt driven compressors are durable and can deliver higher pressures. Reciprocating compressors are available in single and multi-stage. Multistage compressors provide higher pressure and operate more efficiently, thus reducing power consumption and cost. Reciprocating compressors are portable and suitable for people engaged in construction and similar fields.

Rotary Screw

Rotary screw air compressors also operate with a positive displacement process. Use two helical screws to forcibly push and compress air. Operation is a smoother process than pistons with fewer surges and vibrations than those occasionally found in reciprocating compressors. They are durable and easy to maintain. Rotary screw air compressors generally have greater capacity than reciprocating compressors and can provide higher air pressures. Some types have variable speed drives that allow for close control of airflow and pressure and can save considerable energy if the airflow requirements are variable. Rotary screw air compressors have a variety of applications that are used in fields such as construction sites, factories and hospitals.

Centrifugal

Centrifugal compressors work with different mechanisms. They use the momentum obtained from the rotating disk to deliver and compress air. This process is known as dynamic displacement and is a continuous process so that pressurized air is supplied reliably. They can deliver very high pressures. However, this method requires higher speed and higher air capacity than other compressors. Capacity and air flow can be controlled via inlet guide vanes. Centrifugal compressors have many applications and are used in pneumatic drills, car turbochargers and turbochargers as well as air conditioning and refrigeration machines. It is also found in gas turbines, gas pipelines, refineries, petrochemical plants and chemical plants.

No comments:

Post a Comment