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Ezine ready page
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Posted on April 1, 2006 by Adam Haymer | Posted under Shopping and Product Reviews
Learn How Air Compressor Works
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It all starts with a piston that goes up and down creating a vacuum which pushes open the inlet valve. During compression the inlet valve shuts forcing air into the tank. There are different types of compressors. There are compressors that use impellers that rotate to generate air pressure. The are compressors with positive displacement which are very common for use by home owners, contractors, and mechanics. With this system the air pressure increases by reducing the space size where the air is stored. A conventional piston compressor is like a small combustion engine complete with pistons, crankshaft, connecting rods, and valve heads. The crank is going to be driven by either gas or electricity. The valve head is located at the top of the cylinder and that's what holds the inlet and discharge valves which are made of thin metal flaps that are mounted on the valve plate which then creates a vacuum. Compressors utilize a pressure switch to stop the motor when the tank pressure reaches its preset maximum. That is accomplished by using a regulator. Many of the compressors are oil lubricated meaning they have an oil bath that keeps the bearings and cylinder walls as the crank rotates. Some of your air tools will also require oiling. Of course there are other compressor variations on the market. One model uses only a one piece piston on a connecting rod. The seal around the piston is what keeps contact with the wall of the cylinder so no air is allowed to leak past. One factor used to designate the power of the compressor is the motor horsepower although admittedly not the best indicator. You need to know the amount of air the compressor is capable of putting out when held at one pressure. It quickly becomes apparent that in most cases your compressor works much like an engine does which means understanding how air compressor works shouldn't be that difficult after all. About The Author: Adam works as a air compressor technician for over 7 years. For his work, he finds it advantageous to keep a notebook on the common problems and fixes of the various brands and models that he works on. At http://www.aircompressorhut.com, he makes this information open to the public to facilitate the evaluation of the different air compressor. |
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