Choosing an air compressor
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=Types= | =Types= | ||
'''What are the different types of air compressors?''' | '''What are the different types of air compressors?''' | ||
| + | In the automotive world there are different types of air compressors used in different situations. | ||
| + | Most compressors are measured in CFM (Cubic feet per minute), and PSI (pounds per square inch) per CFM. A good example of this would be advertized as 11CFM @ 14PSI. | ||
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| + | Two of the most common are | ||
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| + | *[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reciprocating_compressor]'''Reciprocating''' | ||
| + | *[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rotary_screw_compressor]'''Rotary''' | ||
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| + | == Reciprocating == | ||
| + | The most commonly used by hobbyists and professionals alike. Reciprocating compressors are more suited for uses where a constant demand for compressed air is not great. These compressors have a tendency to cycle and pressurize a storage tank depending on the amount of air used during a certain process. | ||
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| + | There are two types of '''Reciprocating''' compressors: | ||
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| + | *'''Single Stage''' | ||
| + | *'''Dual Stage''' | ||
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| + | A '''single''' stage compressor acts akin to a two stroke combustion engine. When the piston moves down, creating vacuum, opens a reed to allow air into the cylinder. After the piston changes direction, the intake reed is shut and the compression reed opens allowing the volume of air trapped in the cylinder to compress into the holding tank. | ||
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| + | A '''Dual Stage''' Two-stage compressors consist of one or two first-stage cylinders with the same bore size and one second-stage cylinder with a smaller bore size. On the suction stroke of the first-stage piston, air enters the cylinders through the inlet in the head. On the compression stroke of the first-stage piston, the air is compressed to an intermediate pressure and discharged through the discharge valves into common manifold. From the manifold the air passes through inter cooler tubes, where the heat of first-stage compression is removed. On the suction stroke of the second-stage piston this cooled air enters the second-stage cylinder through the inlet valve. The compression stroke of the second-stage piston compresses the air to the final discharge pressure and forces it out through the discharge valve into the | ||
| + | receiver tank | ||
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| + | This type of system allows for quicker cycle times and faster air pressure recovery times while allowing the user to work at a higher pressure than a single stage. | ||
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| + | == Rotary == | ||
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| + | This type of compressor is used more in situations where a high or constant demand of compressed air is needed. Examples of it's use include industrial factories, Large shops with many techs, trailer power unit running a jackhammer, and etc. Though this type of system will produce high volumes of compressed air at high pressures, but the pressures attained are comparatively lower than those reached by a dual stage system. | ||
=Uses= | =Uses= | ||
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