In this article, I will break down the basics of how an air compressor works. Air compressors are great for helping you run your car, impact wrench, nailers, blow up inflatable pools, basketballs or automotive spray guns, and do various other tasks at home or work. For those who want to know more about how it all works without going through an engineering degree, stick around! There is a good chance that by the end of this blog post, you'll have learned something incredible.
An air compressor creates pressure which can then be used to power tools such as nail guns and paint sprayers. Air compressors are also used on construction sites to keep workers supplied with compressed air to operate heavy machineries like jackhammers, drills, staple guns, crown staplers, etc.
Air compressors come in many shapes and sizes, as well as multiple types. However, the two main kinds of air compressors are rotary screws and reciprocating air compressor.
A rotary screw air compressor is most often used for industrial purposes such as air tools and paint spraying. In contrast, a reciprocating piston is a type typically found in home workshops.
Rotary screw compressors generally have larger engines due to their higher power consumption, so they're better equipped for heavy-duty needs such as pressure washing or nail guns but have a smaller tank size that translates to less runtime for non-constant operation tasks such as inflating tires on cars which require power more frequently in varying bursts over time.
Reciprocating pistons make up for their low overall power with the ability to operate for more extended periods at lower pressures. As a result, they're great for light-duty tasks such as inflating bicycles or car tires, running air tools along with a paint sprayer and other tools that require continuous long-term usage.
How Does an Air Compressor Work?
An air compressor mechanically compresses ambient atmospheric air through the use of electric energy. This compressed gas is then stored and used when needed or supplied to other services requiring compressed air.
The principle behind this machine is very simple- a piston inside a cylinder expands to suck in atmospheric air from outside the cylinder and store it in the only space available for storage inside the cylinder, which is called the "air box". When enough outdoor ambient atmospheric air has been sucked into its practical limits, typically 30 cm height by 60 cm width, an automatic shutoff switch kicks then fixes. Henceforth, a smaller piston squeezes on an expanding sealing disk that can no longer let any fresh outdoor ambient atmospheric air pass through it. Thus, it begins to create a higher pressure inside the airbox.
An automatic switchover then occurs where the smaller piston stays fixed while a bigger piston now moves against this sealed disk of slightly lower resistance. Thus, this machine is actually not very much different from how a typical household water pump (the kind that pumps out clean drinking water) works. The main difference is that at one point in time, the compressed gas is released by way of an outlet valve into a pipe or hose leading outside the cylinder allowing any supply tank or service requiring supplied compressed gases to be filled up directly without human intervention but for regulating its release rate via varying this outlet valve manually with something called an air regulator-in other words an adjustable flow control tap.
See how an air compressor works in this video:
The Benefits of Air Compressors
The Air compressor is one of the commonly used pieces of equipment in the workshop. Therefore, it is vital to operate the air compressor correctly to improve its life and prevent damage or reduce inefficiency.
The following are the benefits of using and operating an air compressor:
1) Preventing work fatigue
One of the significant problems done by the worker when carrying out construction, painting, assembly or other work is getting tired easily during working hours. Such a situation can be awful since it will cause employee's frustration which affects their productivity at work. However, this problem can be prevented by using an air compressor because compressed air enables workers to do their jobs faster with less effort. The result is a reduction of work fatigue that occurs due to long working hours or doing the same tasks repeatedly.
2) Productivity improvement
Using compressed air makes it possible to improve workers' productivity since they can do their jobs faster than generally if there are no compressed air tools in use. Compressed air powered devices typically allow for greater speed since the power required by them is significantly less than what is usually employed when hand-operated tools are used. In addition, there is also lesser fatigue felt by employees who use compressed air to perform their duties, resulting in better concentration on the task at hand and improved performance. As a result, production levels will be increased because fewer hours are now needed to complete works of equivalent duration compared to when manual labour was used instead of compressed air.
If you're in need of an air compressor for your impact wrench, look no further. Our selection includes models from top brands that can work with most compressors to get the job done right!
3) Safety improvement
Employees are exposed to high levels of danger when they are manually performing heavy duties or tasks. The use of compressed air tools minimizes this threat by making jobs much safer. It is because compressed air effectively helps reduce risk factors for employees such as excessive weight strain, back injuries and other similar problems caused by overuse or wrong posture. Most importantly, employees who operate compressed air devices get more enjoyment from their work because they feel safe and secure. This will make them want to work even harder with better results since safety protection is one of the essential features of using an air compressor.
4) Saving costs
Most people will agree that using full-body power to perform mundane or otherwise physically challenging jobs can be pretty expensive. This is because it requires enormous amounts of energy regularly replenished by eating meals and taking rest periods from work. Thankfully, air compressor helps reduce costs significantly since employees can now complete heavy tasks like never before with much less effort and avoid repetitive injuries that appear regularly. As a result, employee's productivity levels increase, which ultimately lead to savings because any form of expense associated with poor worker health will no longer exist in the long run.
5) Maintenance time reduction
Using compressed air powered tools instead of hands, maintenance times for equipment and machinery will decrease significantly. In addition, the use of compressed air ensures efficient usage and a faster cleaning process which reduces the amount of time needed to complete the task. In contrast, manual labour is prolonged. Furthermore, it takes more effort to get things done, which means that employees will spend more hours doing work than they should because of inefficient processes such as hand cleaning or inefficient use of equipment due to lack of proper training in handling procedures.
6) Materials protection
Materials used for construction needs to be protected from damage by workers who are using them. This can be done effectively with the help of compressed air tools since they allow users to treat their materials gently with less pressure exerted on them when compared with manual operations. Unfortunately, hands prove too weak and unreliable when guaranteeing a safe environment for machine parts or other instruments. Workers tend to apply heavy amounts of force while holding tools which can lead to severe damage in the long run.
7) More efficient production
Unreliable workers who are not very skilled can typically cause many problems for any company owner that is depending on them. It is because they take longer to complete simple tasks when compared with employees that use compressed air powered devices. Using hands occurs typically because of improper handling procedures, frequent mistakes and slower work speeds due to poor physique or general fatigue from prolonged physical activity. However, by introducing compressed air into the workplace, companies save money by increasing productivity levels and reducing frustration among staff members who performed inefficiently regularly before the change occurred.
You can't do any framing work without an air compressor! So if you're in need of the best one, click here and get everything explained.
8) Protection from injuries
Compressed air does an excellent job when it comes to protecting users against possible injuries since they eliminate risks associated with handling tools manually, such as heavy falls or back pain caused by poor posture and overall fatigue from long working hours performed regularly. In addition, employees can now work more effortless than ever due to improved workplace ergonomics, which ultimately leads to better results since employees get more time for resting than performing actual tasks.
9) Better worker management
Using compressed air in your workplace can help you identify problems among workers who might not be apparent under normal circumstances. For example, employees who rely on compressed air powered tools usually look tired or exhausted because they require significantly less physical effort to accomplish a specific task than individuals who use their hands for the same purpose. This helps improve productivity since staff members working effectively will get more breaks than visitors using their hands for performing tasks.
The Drawbacks to Air compressors
The drawbacks of air compressors are numerous.
1) Noise
Most internal combustion engines are noisy because of their design and construction materials; however, some manufacturers reduce noise by making modifications. Regardless of which air compressor you choose, be prepared for considerable sound levels. The main goal is to find one with a noise level that doesn't interfere too much with your daily activities -- another good to remember is to purchase a machine that emits its sound level from the engine and not the air outlet.
2) Heat-related injuries
Inappropriate handling or maintenance of an air compressor can cause temperatures-related severe injuries ranging from burns to carbon monoxide poisoning. A study conducted by the University of New Mexico School of Medicine found that as many as 70 percent of workers who have access to compressed air suffer some injury each year, ranging from bruises caused by flying metal parts to severe lacerations from flying glass shards. An air compressor is overheating signs include a rattling or vibrating noise, increased airflow, and loud sounds. Fumes are another warning sign that the system is malfunctioning, giving you time to shut off the machine before an explosion occurs. When the machine does overheat, stop using it immediately and cause whatever damage has occurred by letting it cool down on its own. Make sure to clean your hands before touching any part of the damaged air compressor, and contact a professional for repairs as soon as possible.
3) Carbon monoxide poisoning
Carbon monoxide gas is produced during engine combustion in generators that run on propane, gasoline or diesel fuel. Since carbon dioxide (CO2) also comes from these sources, CO poisoning can be complicated to detect if the CO concentration is high enough.
4) Misfuelling
If you have an internal combustion engine, such as the kind made for a lawnmower or any other small machinery, it requires the correct type of fuel to run properly. Unfortunately, people often switch out that fuel without realizing that they are using the wrong one and can seriously damage their equipment with this mistake.
5) Inconsistent performance
Industrial grade air compressors typically have tens of thousands of hours instead of household machines, which can usually run for about 1,000 hours without any problem. However, despite their long track record, they are by no means immune to breakdowns or unexpected maintenance costs; when an industrial size compressor does become inoperable, it requires immediate attention because they are too big and expensive to leave idle for long periods.
6) Higher risk of fire
Like other gasoline-powered tools such as lawnmowers and leaf blowers, air compressors entail the usual risks of using fuel- machinery. It's possible for leaks, spills or operator handling mistakes to ignite a fire. For this reason, they must always be used in well-ventilated areas. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, fires caused by internal combustion engines such as air compressors spike across North America and mostly occur when equipment is improperly maintained and stored.
Final Words
Hopefully, this article has helped to demystify the different types of compressors and their uses. You should now understand how each type works and when you would want to use it in your home or business. If not, please feel free to contact us with any questions about air compressor options before deciding on what's best for you! We are always happy to help our readers find the right product at the right price point that will meet all of their needs.