What is an air compressor and how does it work

Air compressor is a simple mechanical device which converts electrical energy into kinetic energy. Its main purpose is to provide high-pressure air for different industrial purposes. From filling the tires, manufacturing plants and small workshops all use high-pressure air to make their work easy and fast.Unlike the old fashion of using a single power source in the production plants and workshops, the use of air compressor is simple and helps in delivering high performance. It provides power to drills, sanders, nail guns, staplers and even sprays gun. The major advantage is that each tool now does not require bulky motors to run.

Here the air compressor motor runs all the equipment and converts electrical energy into kinetic energy. This makes them light, easy to use, increases performance and demands less repair. Let’s have a concise look at air compressor and its working principle.

What is an Air Compressor?

An air compressor is a machine which presses the working fluid and pumps it to anywhere at the same time. Here the working fluid is always gas or air. It is a versatile device which compresses air at the notable pressure.

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Featuring some examples:

• In the home workshops, we use air compressors to remove dust and to operate pneumatic devices like drills, nail guns etc.
• We use compressors for spray paints in paint workshops.

Types of Air Compressors

There are three types of compressors

• Reciprocating  Air Compressor
• Rotary Air Compressor and
• Centrifugal Air Compressor

Watch video on next page to understand the working mechanism of an air compressor-

Working Mechanism of Air Compressor

An air compressor consists of two major parts- a compression system and a power source. Here the compression system may vary with the type of compressor and it can be vane, piston or rotating impeller. The power source compiles with the electric motor. The basic process is compressing the atmospheric air by suction of air and compressing it by the power source.

The atmospheric air is drawn through the intake valve and passes through the filter which cleans the air. With help of piston, impeller or vanes a large amount of air is drawn in the lesser space of the storage tank. This reduces the volume of the working fluid and automatically increases the pressure.

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There is a pressure relief valve, which releases the excess pressure and prevents bursting. The high-pressure air is drawn with the help of pipeline to operate different tools in the workshop or manufacturing unit.