Types of Air Compressors

There are four main types of air compressors Air Logic deals with.

Reciprocating Compressors -
Reciprocating compressors are made up of a cylinder and a piston.Compression is accomplished by the change in volume as the piston moves towards the top end of the cylinder. The cylinder in these compressors may be air cooled or water cooled, depending on the size of the unit. This cooling action is important to increase the compressor's life and to keep maintenance and repairs low.

Rotary Screw Compressors -
Rotary screw compressors are made up of two close clearance helical-lobe rotors that turn in synchronous mesh. As the rotors revolve, the gas is forced into a decreasing inter-lobe cavity until it reaches the discharge port. There are both lubricated and non-lubricated types with lubricated types having oil injected into the cylinder serving as both a lubricant and coolant, and also as an oil seal t reduce back slippage. In non-lubricated compressors, timing gears are used to drive the rotors and multistaging is necessary to prevent gas temperatures from going too high.

Rotary Vane Compressors -
Rotary vane compressors operate at a very low speed and is made up of a rotor which has a number of slots which fit sliding vanes that ride on a film of oil. During rotation, centrifugal force extends the vanes from their slots, forming individual compression cells. These compressors provide little or no pulsation (pulseless) in the air output and a minimum of vibration also.

Dental Compressors -
Dental compressors are an oil-less compressor. They are designed with 'dry' self-lubricating materials, such as graphite or teflon. They effectively eliminate the presence of oil vapours in applications where these can cause contamination or stains or a safety hazard. They are useful in the food, textile, pharmaceutical and chemical industries.