What is compressor used for

On average, it takes about seven or eight horsepower hp of electrical energy to produce one hp of compressed air energy. Quincy Compressor designs its product with energy efficiency and the environment in mind, and we have several models that offer considerable savings in operation over conventional air compressor designs.

Compressed air is the only option for some industries that require the safety of a non-heat-producing power source and a reliable flow of that power. Since the first mechanical air compressor was manufactured in the early s, the demand for compressed air systems has steadily grown from the specific beginnings of better equipping the mining and metal fabrication industry to a necessity in almost all industries.

This consistently growing demand has also driven advancement in the engineering of air compressors and vacuum products.

When Quincy Compressor started operations nearly years ago, we designed a few models of high-quality reciprocating air compressors that served our customers and their various applications. In , we added the rotary screw technology to our line in response to the increasing use of compressed air for industrial environments. Efficient and reliable performance was needed for some of the most demanding applications like energy exploration, food and beverage processing and manufacturing.

All air compressors perform the same basic function — they increase the pressure and reduce the volume of a gas, like air. However, each of our models has been designed with specific applications in mind to deliver a solution for production requirements. Both our reciprocating piston and our rotary screw air compressor represent the best air compressor for every industry.

Here is a list that shows the wide range of uses for industrial-sized air compressors for almost any application. For productive and profitable farming operations , compressed air provides long-lasting performance and a low cost of ownership. Compressed air is used for:. Whether in refineries, plastics, assembly plants or metal fabrication, an air compression system is the central power source that keeps a business in production. Powerful air compressors aid in manufacturing by:.

Reliable air supply and a dependable system are required for the dry cleaning industry , which demands quality cleaning of garments. Remaining clean, dry and oil-free are top priorities for this highly regulated industry that needs precision equipment and high-performance systems. A pharmaceutical air compressor setup works by:. The remote nature of energy exploration requires the most dependable power to minimize repair and maintenance costs.

An air compressor will be:. All types of food and beverage manufacturing facilities use air compressor systems for various production tasks. They need contaminate-free and consistent compressed air to run their constant operations. Having power in the form of compressed air provides end-users with much more control over usage and air quality since it is generated on-site.

Around 90 percent of all manufacturing companies use compressed air in their production and plant processes in some form. Due to the long lists above of the many uses of an air compressor, you can already guess that this utility has a number of features that make it the ideal power source for a vast range of uses.

Here are a few features of compressed air, each combined with an example of a situation that benefits from the feature:. Some applications listed below reveal how an air compressor can be used in non-conventional ways:. The filtered compressed air is stored in diving cylinders that can feature numerous variations depending on the specific dive.

Professional scuba diving and related recreational forms of diving may require scuba air compressors for different depths. With reliable high- and low-pressure models, underwater divers can obtain the correct pressure levels needed for safe diving. Many careers depend upon safe diving or the routine use of compressed air diving cylinders.

Some surprising professions that require compressed air stored in diving tanks include firefighters, underwater welders, marine contractors and submarine workers. Compressed air is needed for a wide range of tools and systems throughout the medical field. Hospitals rely on medical air compressors for air filtration in operating rooms and the ICU, as well as to power various equipment required for providing medical services.

Air compressors are necessary to deliver oxygen to patients and provide clean air throughout the building for physicians and visitors. Most people know how compressed air is used to inflate tires, but air compressors are required for many tools and systems in the automotive industry. Auto body shops use compressed air for sanding and painting vehicles. Automobile mechanics and repair shops power various air tools with air compressors. From vehicle assembly to shell construction, air compressors are used throughout the manufacturing of automobiles to elevate the speed and quality of the work.

There are not too many choices when it comes to piston-compressor control. When the lower setpoint is reached the compressor switches on and runs until the upper setpoint is reached. A variant of this method, dubbed constant speed control, lets the compressor run for some length of time after reaching the upper setpoint, discharging to atmosphere, in case the stored air is being used at a higher-than-normal rate.

This process minimizes the number of motor starts during periods of high demand. More options are available for helical-screw compressors. This is a very common system on oil-less screw compressors. Inlet-valve modulation uses proportional control to regulate the mass-flow of air into the compressor.

Sliding-valve control effectively shortens the length of the screws, delaying the start of compression and allowing some intake air to bypass compression to better match demand.

Variable-speed drive slows or increases rotor rpm by electronically altering the frequency of the AC waveform that is spinning the motor. Compressor sequencing allows loading to be distributed among multiple compressors, assigning, for example, one unit to run continuously for handling baseload, and varying the starts of two additional units to minimize the restart penalty. In selecting any of these control schemes, the idea is to strike the best balance between meeting demand and the cost of idling versus the expense of accelerated equipment wear.

In selecting compressor machinery, specifiers have three main parameters to consider in addition to the many points outlined above. These air compressor specifications include:. Although compressors are typically rated by horsepower or kilowatts, these measures do not necessarily give any indication of what it will cost to operate the equipment as this is dependent on the efficiency of the machine, its duty cycle, and so forth. Volumetric capacity defines how much air the machine can deliver per unit time.

Cubic-feet per minute is the most common unit for this measure, although just what this is can vary between manufacturers. An attempt to standardize this measure, a so-called scfm, seems to be dependent on whose standards you follow.

Actual cfm, of acfm, is another measure of volumetric capacity. It relates the amount of compressed air delivered to the outlet of the compressor, which will always be less than the displacement of the machine owing to losses from blow-by through the compressor.

Pressure capability in psi is largely based around the needs of the equipment the compressed air will be operating. While many air tools are designed to operate at normal shop air pressures, special applications, such as engine starting, require higher pressures. Thus, in specifying a piston compressor, for instance, a buyer would find a single-stage unit that delivers pressure up to psi adequate for powering everyday tools but would want to consider a two-stage unit for special, higher-pressure applications.

The power required to drive the compressor will be determined by these volume and pressure considerations. A specifier will also want to think about system losses in determining compressor capacity: piping losses, pressure drops through dryers and filters, etc. Compressor buyers also have drive decisions to make such as motor belt- or direct-drive, engine gas- or diesel-drive, etc. Compressor makers will often publish compressor-performance curves to enable specifiers to evaluate compressor performance over a range of operating conditions.

This is especially true for centrifugal compressors which, like centrifugal pumps, can be sized to deliver different volumes and pressures depending on shaft speed and impeller sizing.

The Dept. As more manufacturers publish these data, compressor buyers should have an easier time sorting through the energy usage of comparable compressors. Compressors find application in different industries and are also prevalent in settings that are familiar to everyday consumers.

For example, the portable 12V DC electric air compressor that is often carried in the glove compartment or trunk of a car is a common example of a simple version of air compressor that finds use among consumers to inflate tires to the correct pressure.

Vehicle-related use of air compressors and common vehicle applications involve truck mounted electric air compressors , truck mounted diesel air compressors, or other vehicle-mounted air compressors. For example, air brake systems on trucks involve the use of compressed air to operate, thus requiring an air compressor onboard to recharge the braking system. Service vehicles may require onboard air compressors to perform needed functions or to permit the compressor to be mobile and able to be deployed as needed to various job sites or locations.

For example, fire trucks may include breathable air compressors onboard to provide air tank filler capability to replenish breathable air tanks for firefighters and first responders. Dental air compressors provide a source of clean compressed air to assist in the performance of dental procedures as well as to power pneumatically operated dental instruments such as drills or toothbrushes. Choosing the right dental air compressor , requires several considerations, including the horsepower and pressure required.

Medical air compressor uses include the generation of a supply of breathing air that is independent of other gases stored in gas cylinders and that can be used as an option for patients who may be sensitive to oxygen toxicity, for example. The medical breathing air compressors may be portable or stationary systems within a hospital or medical facility. Laboratory air compressors and air compressors for other specialized industrial applications are used to process and generate supplies of specialized gases, such as hydrogen, oxygen, argon, helium, nitrogen, or gas mixtures for example, ammonia compressors or carbon dioxide, where it may be used in the food and beverage industry.

Helium compressors would supply the gas to storage tanks for use in laboratory applications such as fine leak detection, while other gas compressors, such as oxygen compressors, might serve the need to store tanks of oxygen for use in hospitals and medical facilities. Food-grade air compressors serve a critical role in the food and beverage processing industries.

Finding application throughout the entire production cycle, these compressors can be used to facilitate processing operations, such as sorting, preparation, distribution, packaging, and preservation. Additionally, compressed air can be used to maintain the sanitary environment necessary when manufacturing consumable products. The use of compressors is also prevalent in the oil and gas industry, where natural gas compressors are used to generate compressed natural gas for storage and transport.

Some of these gas compression operations require the use of high-pressure compressors , where discharge pressures may be anywhere from 1, to 3, psi and upwards, with 10, — 60, psi range possible, depending on the application. This guide provides a basic understanding of compressor varieties, power options, selection considerations, applications, and industrial uses.

For more information on related products consult our other articles and guides or visit the Thomas Supplier Discovery Platform to locate potential sources or view details on specific products. Here are some applications of such compressors;. An air compressor can be used for countless jobs. It is compatible with many household and industrial equipment.

Use your compressor to blow dust from crevasses, inflate your car tires, or put nails on your roof. There are countless things in your home that can go wrong. Many are the times when you are required to call an expert to come and repair something. With an air compressor, you can handle many of the small jobs around your home. You can use a hammer, pressure gauge, drill, or blower when you have an air compressor. With a compressor, you can repaint your car or house.

It makes life easy. A compressor pressurizes air for your use. Air is one of the free tools of the trade we have, and yet few people appreciate this. A compressor makes your quality of life improve drastically.

Your business will reap huge profits when you invest in the right air compressor. First, identify your needs. Then it becomes easier to recognize the many areas where the device can make your life easier.

This device is compatible with almost every type of business, whether small or big. For air compressor hire across Australia, browse through our air compressor suppliers in Brisbane , Sydney and Melbourne to Canberra , Adelaide , Darwin and Perth. Alternatively, call us on or email us at projects iseekplant. To keep up to date with all of the latest industry and project news, subscribe to iSeekplant's Flapping Mouth blog below! Download our App. Posted on 15 June Related Articles.

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