In every type of industrial plant, there must be a machine, tool or device that requires compressed air. We must know further that the machine that produces compressed air is called an air compressor. Therefore, before we choose to buy the right air compressor, both the type, size and types of air compressors, we must first know how many types of air compressors there are. Each type has advantages, disadvantages, or is suitable for work or machines that require compressed air.
Air compressors are divided into 6 main types as follows:
1. Air compressor or piston air compressor (Piston Air Compressor)
2. Air compressor or screw air compressor (Screw Air Compressor)
3. Air compressor or diaphragm air compressor (Diaphragm Air Compressor)
4. Air compressor or sliding vane rotary air compressor (Sliding Vane Rotary Air Compressor)
5. Air compressor or rotary vane air compressor (Roots Air Compressor)
6. Air compressor or turbine air compressor (Radial and Axial Flow Air Compressor)
Details of each type of air compressor or air compressor (Air Compressor) are as follows:
1. Air compressor or piston air compressor (Piston Air Compressor)
It is the most popular air compressor or air pump because of its ability to compress air, which is able to create pressure or compressed air pressure from 1 bar (Bar) up to 1000 bar (Bar), allowing piston air compressors to do it from low pressure. Medium to high pressure, there are belt-driven models that are quiet, or built-in motor models called rotary pistons. This type produces air faster than belt-driven models.
Piston air pump operation
The piston moves vertically, causing suction and compression in the cylinder. During the air suction phase, the intake valve opens to draw air into the cylinder, but the valve on the air compression side is completely closed. Then, when it reaches the air compression phase, the piston pushes the air out through the outlet, causing the outlet valve to open. The suction valve closes. When the piston of the air pump moves up and down, air is sucked and compressed.
Recommendations for selecting a piston air pump
– For the motor driving the air pump, look at the size of the motor in the stator coil set to be large, not too small.
– The air pipe into the storage tank, if there are cooling fins, it will help cool the air before entering the storage tank.
2. Air compressor or screw air compressor
This is an air pump that is popularly used in factories and printing houses. This type of air pump has a screw rotor to produce air. There is no valve to open and close. This type of air pump requires a good cooling system. There is an air cooling system. And water cooling system If it is a large machine, the air pump can supply air up to 170 cubic meters per minute (m3/min) and create pressure of more than 10 bars (Bar).
How the screw air pump works
Inside the air compressor, there will be a pair of screw rotors, where the two screw shafts that mesh are called the male and female shafts. Both are screws that rotate towards each other, causing the air from the outside to be sucked and compressed around the pump jacket and sent through the outlet to the oil-air separator set. Then it will go to the air storage tank. The rotational speed of the male and female shafts is almost the same, with the male shaft rotating slightly faster than the female shaft. This type of air pump The flow of air is smoother than the piston type.
3. Air compressor or diaphragm air pump (Diaphragm Air Compressor)
It is an air pump that uses a diaphragm. It works like a piston and causes the air intake valve and the air outlet valve to work without touching metal parts. And the compressed air obtained will not be mixed with lubricating oil. Therefore, it is clean air. But can not create high pressure The advantage is that the air obtained from this type of air pump is very safe and is often used in the food industry, pharmaceutical industry, chemical industry. And popular in the aquaculture industry Because of the quiet sound and clean air
Operation of diaphragm air pump
This type of air compression system uses a diaphragm sheet as an air suction device. While the piston moves down, the diaphragm sheet will suck air from the outside through the suction valve to store in the air storage room. And when the piston moves all the way up, the diaphragm sheet will compress all the air in the pump room through the outlet valve to store in the tank or for direct use.
4. Air compressor or sliding vane rotary air compressor
The advantages of this type of air pump are quiet, smooth and consistent rotation, constant air compression, no valve or valve to open and close, limited working space, so it is easy to generate heat. If you want good efficiency, this type of air pump must be manufactured with high precision. It can produce air from 4-100 cubic meters per minute (m3/min) and a pressure of 1-10 bar (Bar).
Operation of sliding vane air pump
The machine will have blades attached to the rotation drive set, or the rotor, and placed off-center inside the pump housing. When the rotor rotates, the blades Air is sucked in through the inlet and compressed from a wide area to a narrower area, and the compressed air is sent out through the outlet for further use or storage.
5. Roots Air Compressor
This type of air pump has two rotating blades. When the two rotors rotate, air is sucked from one side to the other without changing the volume, so the air is not squeezed or compressed. Air is compressed only when the air is sent to the air storage tank. This type of air pump has an expensive production cost, has no valve, and does not require much lubrication during operation, but must have good cooling.
How a rotary vane air pump works
The two rotating blades rotate in opposite directions. When the rotors rotate, air is sucked from the inlet and goes out through the outlet without being squeezed or compressed.
6. Turbine Air Pump (Radial and Axial Flow Air Compressor)
This type of air pump will get a high air delivery rate. It is a turbine blade that sucks air from one side at high speed and sends it out to the other side. The design of the blade is very important in terms of the rate of air production and delivery.
How the turbine air pump works
This turbine air compressor uses the principle of a turbine blade. The rotor rotates at high speed. Air is sucked into the air inlet and the air is compressed and sent to the other side. In the air outlet, it flows along the blades and shaft. This type of air pump can produce air of up to 170-2,000 cubic meters per minute (m3/min).
