Air compressors are an incredibly beneficial tool
throughout the industry. But have you ever considered how these machines work
and which is best for you?
Direct Air have created an in-depth guide to
help you with your search for the appropriate machine and ensure you get the most out of your air compressor.
Below is a brief overview of the various types
that are available on the market.
Single and Dual Phase
The most common type of compressor. These
machines function in the same manor, but dual phase has one extra step to the process.
Single phase compressors drawn in air, this is
then compressed and sent to a storage tank.
Dual phase does the same, only the air is
transferred into a second cylinder to be compressed again before storage.
Single phase is more suitable for home use, such
as DIY. Dual phase are typically found in industrial use.
Oil-Free and Oil-Based
All compressors require lubrication in order to
draw in air safely and efficiently.
Oil-free use a non-stick coating, commonly
Teflon, to achieve this. They are often cheaper and easier to maintain. They
are great for home use as they are far lighter than their counterparts.
Oil-based requires regular oil top-ups but are
far more robust. Most industries will use oil-based, as even though they are
more costly to purchase, their lifespan is typically longer as the coating for
oil-free will eventually wear away.
Variable and Fixed Speed
In simple terms, a variable speed compressor
(VSD) automatically adjusts the speed to the motor in accordance with the
demand for air. This creates a far more energy efficient tool.
Fixed speed compressors send a continuous stream
of power, these are cheaper and easier to maintain than their counterparts.
They are more costly to run as they are not as energy efficient.
Scroll Compressors
This are a form of piston compressor and are the
most common models used.
A piston travels downwards, causing a sudden
change in pressure. This forces the cylinder open and draws in air. As the
piston travels upwards, the air is then forced out at a higher pressure.
These cool down quickly, but with more complex
components, they can be harder to maintain.
Rotary Screw Compressors
These work in a similar way to scroll compressors
but instead of using a piston, these rely on rollers.
Rollers are inserted within the shaft, with one
side always in contact with the wall, these rotate at extreme speeds to change
the pressure.
They have exceptional power capacity but feature
limited cooling abilities.
Low Noise Air Compressors
One of the most common complaints regarding air
compressors if the noise level.
Why not look into buying a low noise air compressor. This is
achieved by a separate acoustic tank that contains noise and reduces it to
roughly 40dB
