What is an Industrial Air Compressor and How does it work?

When it comes to workshop equipment, the industrial air compressor has become an irreplaceable ally when it comes to using pneumatic energy for certain daily tasks.

It is used in seemingly simple tasks such as filling a rubber too much more complex jobs such as irrigating energy to a car wash.

Jobs like these involve the use of industrial air compressors.

Energy, power, and optimization are the results you need to get from your tools.

That is why Link Compressors tells you what an industrial air compressor is and how it works.

Industrial Air Compressors

Industrial air compressors are tools that belong to the field of pneumatic technology.

The device uses compressed air as a means of transmitting the energy necessary for the movement and operation of mechanisms.

There are different types of industrial compressors. We could mention many of them.

There are pistons, direct drives, belts, diaphragms flat tanks. As well as supports and others designed not to make noise there is an infinite number of devices that perform this function.

However, here you will know what Link Compressors has to offer, precisely the most powerful and used at an industrial level: the piston compressor and the screw compressor.

What exactly is a compressor?

As we have already told you, an industrial compressor is a device that compresses air and helps us to use a wide range of pneumatic tools.

They are machines whose function is to move fluids progressively increasing and according to the need of the task, the pressure it exerts.

The fluids that circulate inside the air compressor are known as “compressible”, these are air, gases, and vapors.

In short: it is a machine made to increase the pressure of so-called compressible fluids to displace them by mechanical compression.

Even simpler: they are compressed air generating machines.

And what do we call compress air?

Well, compressed air is that which is at a pressure greater than atmospheric pressure.

To achieve this pressure, the air is compressed. It is subject to the compression of opposing forces. That is, it subjects the air to the action of two opposing forces so that its volume decreases and more pressure is generated.

Our industrial air compressors, the piston compressors screw and are also known as positive displacement compressors, which, incidentally, are most commonly used because of their efficiency, performance, and pneumatic power.

How does a piston compressor work?

A piston compressor comprises a simpler operation, that is, it compresses the air by means of pistons.

In certain small spaces, it encloses a certain amount of air and the parts (the pistons) increase the internal pressure through their movement.

There are piston devices that use several types of movements, that is, some for a certain displacement (downward), and others use both movements, that is, up and down, inputs and outputs of a mechanism within a cylindrical part.

These parts are mobilized thanks to the lubrication of special oil.

In short, a piston compressor is a kind of metal grip inside a cylinder that produces compression as the mechanism exerts force and movement.

How does a screw compressor work?

A screw compressor represents a continuous compression cycle as air enters one side and leaves the other end. Its interior consists of a kind of (2) giant grease screws that allow air to enter and compress it.

The compression point starts from the entry of ambient air through a filter, to remove impurities and protect the compressor unit; This filter must be replaced from time to time or it will decrease its ability to function.

It has an intake valve and allows air to enter the screw valve each time it is open and prevents contamination of the filter with oil after closing.

The air enters the head, made up of two helical rotors (the giant screws), one driven by an electric motor that gives movement to the second. The air it displaces is measure by liters per minute.

The space between the rotors while the movement occurs becomes smaller, allowing air compression.

In short: a screw compressor compresses the air through two long screws and is lubricated with oil which is separate from the air by means of a filter.

Also Read: A Guide to Choosing an Energy-Efficient Air Conditioner for your Home

Why do industrial air compressors use oil?

The oil fulfills 3 vital functions:

1. Lubricates the components
2. Seals the gap between rotors and internal mechanisms
3. It controls the temperature of the screws and other mechanisms, that is, it keeps them cold in the face of constant friction.

And now that we know a bit, what are industrial air compressors for?

Now that you know that industrial air compressors, both screw compressors such as piston compressors are devices for fluid compression that transform the air into energy through a compress air system, we told you what they can do these machines are capable to transform air into energy.

They are generally used for large tasks in the automotive industry, such as:

• Being a source of energy and power in industrial pneumatic systems

• They are used in tough tasks such as laser cutting of automotive metals and others

• They are great allies in automating automotive paint systems

• The number one tool that powers industrial presses

Advantage? Of course!

The technology that makes the movement of industrial air compressors possible has low energy consumption. Especially screw compressors and piston compressors, which are the devices that work in Link compressors.

Let’s see:

• These devices work at lower temperatures than other traditional industrial air compressors

• They have a duty cycle that uses 100% energy

• it generates less noise than other machines of a similar nature

• It reduces vibrations, therefore their components have greater durability

• All of these attributes make them highly energy-efficient devices.