What is an air compressor?
This term usually refers to a mechanically driven pump which takes in air from the atmosphere and delivers it at higher pressure, i.e. compressed. A bicycle tire pump does the same job, but since they are typically human-powered we don’t generally classify them as air compressors. On a side note, typical sea-level air pressure is about 14.7 pounds force per square inch (psi). Most air compressors can deliver air at more than 100 psi above this – including my bike pump. For people who use compressed air to do work – like driving power tools or spraying paint – the compressor must be able to deliver enough air per minute at the required pressure. This is why compressors come with such a wide range of motor sizes and tank sizes – to match the requirements of the tools and the job.
An air compressor increases the amount of air in a particular space. By packing in the air, the air pressure is increased which creates a force that is useful for a variety of purposes, from industrial and manufacturing to commercial and personal purposes. The original air compressor is the lung. When you take a deep breath to blow out your birthday candles, for example, you’re increasing the pressure of the air in your lungs, which effectively is an air compressor containing pressurized air. You then use the force of the air in your lungs to blow out the flames of your birthday candles. Eventually, man-made air compressors were created. These fall generally fall into one of two types, positive displacement or dynamic, defined by its mode of operation. A positive displacement air compressor works by filling and then emptying an air chamber. Three common types of positive displacement air compressors are: reciprocating, rotary screw and rotary sliding vane. A dynamic air compressor, on
Video Transcript What is an Air Compressor? Hi, this is John on behalf of Expert Village. In this video clip I’ll be answering the question, what is an air compressor? An air compressor is a tool used in many various trades. The purpose of an air compressor is to supply compressed air to other tools so that they can do their function. For example, a pneumatic nailer, air pressure will be applied to the nails that will shoot them into a piece of wood. There are many different types and sizes of air compressors.
