Compressors
Compressors are mechanical devices that reduce a gas's volume in order to increase its pressure. As a compressor condenses air molecules their speed accelerates, resulting in increased temperature and pressure. The increased pressure provides power for the job at hand, like operating an air-powered sander. Each compressor contains two essential parts: a compressing mechanism and a power source. Different designs use varying compressing mechanisms, such as pistons, vanes, or screws. Compressors can be powered by
electric motors, gas or diesel engines, or various kinds of turbines. Compressors are used for a variety of applications, from large compressors used by big companies to small compressors for personal use. They are widely used in the industrial, medical, dental, construction, railroad and automotive industries. They are used for powering tools and equipment, storing and transporting gases, transferring energy, filling tires, pressurizing cabins, and operating air brakes.
Compressors always function with a gas and most often are used to compress air, but are used in certain industries to compress other gases. In comparison, basic
hydraulic systems function similarly to compressors, except they utilize a liquid instead of a gas. The two categories of compressors are positive displacement and dynamic compressors. A reciprocating compressor is an example of a positive displacement compressor, which works by filling and then emptying an air chamber. A centrifugal air compressor is an example of a dynamic air compressor, which uses a rotating device to accelerate and then decelerate air. Several different designs of compressors are available, including reciprocating compressors, screw compressors, centrifugal compressors, diaphragm compressors, and axial-flow compressors. The compressors differ from each other by the compression device they employ. For example, reciprocating compressors use pistons to compress the gas. Comparatively, in screw compressors, gas is compressed in between two inter-meshing, counter-rotating
screws.