Industrial Air Compressors

Compare two major industrial AIR COMPRESSOR styles, industrial reciprocating compressors and industrial rotary compressors. Both come also as tank mounted compressors. Alternate names are piston compressors and screw typer compressors, Other compressor types are a minor part of the compressor market and apply only for special applications,

Reciprocating or piston compressors

Oil free or oil inject, the piston or reciprocating compressor is the original method for compressing gases. The small volume of the piston limits the volume of compressed air produced.

More efficient methods for producing high volume low pressure air have taken over the low pressure applications (less than 8 atm). When air pressure in the 8 to 35 atm (120 to 540 psi) is required, the piston, or reciprocating, compressor is still the answer.

The plastic bottle industry has set the standards for the reciprocating compressor industry. Oil free and oil injected designs are available..

Rotary or Screw Compressors, Oil Free

Rotary or screw air compressors are the workhorses of oil free compressor applications. They use water cooling, even though oil injection provides a better air seal and longer compressor life, certain applications such as food container forming, require totally oil free air.

The air capacity FAD is the measure of free air delivery

Rotary or Screw Compressors, Oil Inject

Rotary (or screw) compressors are the backbone of the compressed air and gas industry. Two screws rotating within each other move the air continuously into a smaller space. Finally the compressed air is expelled into a receiver or the compressed air line. The motion is smooth and in one direction. This reduces wear on the components and assures low maintenance and long product life.

Injecting oil reduces friction between components, absorbs some of the heat generated, and improves the seal between the rotating and stationary parts.

Tank Mounted Compressors

Tank mounted compressors are free standing or portable compressors. The main use is for low volume applications. The power ranges from a fraction of a horsepower motor to 10 hp.

Containers range in tank size capacity from a few liters (less than one gallon) to 600 liters (160 gallons).