AIR COMPRESSOR

AIR COMPRESSOR -A pneumatic device known as an air compressor transforms power (from an electric motor, diesel or gasoline engine, etc.) into potential energy stored in pressurised air (i.e., compressed air). An  compressor raises the pressure in a storage tank by using one of several techniques to push more and more air into the container. The air compressor switches off when the pressure in the tank exceeds its designed upper limit. The tank then stores the compressed air until it is required. As the compressed air is released and the tank depressurizes, the kinetic energy generated by the compressed air can be used for a variety of purposes, such as pneumatic tools. The air compressor restarts and pressurises the tank when tank pressure falls below its minimum level.

Because it works for any gas or air, an air compressor must be distinguished from a pump, which operates on a liquid.

Aside from filling gas cylinders with high-pressure clean air, air compressors are also used to drive some pneumatic HVAC control valves in office and school buildings, supply moderately-pressure clean air to a submerged surface supplied diver, supply a significant amount of moderate-pressure air to power pneumatic tools like jackhammers, fill high-pressure air tanks (HPA, air tank), fill tyres, and produce (such as oxidation for petroleum coking or cement plant bag house purge systems).

The flushing medium, aerating muds in underbalanced drilling, and air pigging of pipelines are all common uses for air compressors in the oil and gas, mining, and drilling industries.

The pressure that is delivered by a compressor  can be used to classify it:

LPACs (low-pressure air compressors), which have a discharge pressure of no more than 150 psi (10 bar),
compressors for medium pressures with discharge pressures between 151 and 1,000 pounds per square inch (10.4 to 68.9 bar)
HPACs, or high-pressure air compressors, release air at pressures greater than 1.000 pounds per square inch (69 bar)