Various Types of Air Compressors For Home Use

Increasing the amount of air in a particular space increases the pressure within the container and creates a force. Air compressors convert electrical power or gas into kinetic energy by pressurizing air. The force created by the pressurized air has functional industrial, commercial and personal purposes. Compressed air is most commonly used to power pneumatic tools such as a nail gun, for filling tires, and to fill gas cylinders like those used to outdoor grills. The three basic types are specified by compression stages, drive method, cooling method and lubrication.

Reciprocating air compressors are the most common machines available. They are positive displacement tools which work by filling an air chamber with hair and then reducing the chamber's volume. A reciprocating compressor can be either single or double acting, depending on whether one or both sides of the piston are used. These machines offer a large horse power range from one to fifty horse powers. Reciprocating compressors are available as air or water cooled and in lubricated and non-lubricated configurations.

There are two types of rotary compressors:  rotary screw and sliding vane. A rotary screw compressor operates by filling a void between two helical mated screws with air and, as the screws are turned, the volume of the air-filled space is reduced resulting in increased pressure. Rotary screw Commercial Air Compressor Australia are easy to maintain and operate. They can be air or water cooled and since the cooling occurs within the compressor, the machine provides continuous, pulse-free, high volume air output. A sliding vane compressor primarily uses a slotted rotor and eight blades with varied placement to guide air into a chamber. As the rotor turns, the volume of the chamber is compressed and pressure is increased to create force. All sliding vane machines are oil lubricated which makes them well equipped for use in dirty environments.

Centrifugal compressors are non-positive displacement machinery. They use velocity to cause an increase in pressure within a chamber. The velocity is generated by a high speed spinning impeller to accelerate the air and then decelerated with a diffuser which causes the pressurization. Centrifugal air compressors are more often used in large commercial or industrial settings. They are powerful machines, reaching 500 horse powers.