How Do I Choose the Right Type of Air Compressor?

There are many different types of an air compressor – rotary screw, reciprocating, axial and centrifugal – each suited as a power generator for different, specific applications. Here are some tips and advice on choosing the right piece of industrial equipment.

Application of an Air Compressor 

The first thing to consider is what you’re going to use the air compressor for. Rotary screw compressors are often used at large construction sites as a power generator for air hammers, drilling equipment, paint sprayers, angle grinders, and nail guns, while reciprocating compressors are generally used on small sites where continuous power isn’t required. Dynamic compressors like centrifugal and axial compressors are ideally suited to large-scale production facilities like chemical plants and natural gas processing plants or in chillers. 

Energy Efficiency

Operating costs are a significant consideration in most large-scale projects or applications where air compressors are utilized. Simply by choosing more energy-efficient industrial equipment like compressors, organizations can greatly reduce their day-to-day running costs. Some examples of energy-efficient air compressor include: 

• Variable Speed Driven Air Compressors: These automatically increase or decrease output as demand changes rather than simply maintaining a constant rate as a fixed-speed air compressor does. 
• Natural Gas Air Compressors: This industrial equipment is an energy-efficient power generator even while handling partial loads, running on natural gas rather than electricity or diesel. They also have superior heat recovery capabilities than their counterparts. They’re ideally suited to industrial plants like manufacturing facilities, petroleum refineries, and chemical processing applications. 

Air Quality Considerations

In some applications, industrial equipment needs to meet standards for clean manufacturing environments, which can be difficult with air compressors that require oil lubrication. Oil-free air compressors can greatly reduce the risk of air quality contamination while still functioning as an effective power generator, as they only require oil for protected, inner mechanisms that are sealed off from the compressor. Although they may cost more initially, they ensure facilities meet required standards, and this cost can be made up in that they usually have lower running costs and require fewer replacement parts over time. 

Additional or Custom Features

Air compressors can be further tailored to your project or facility’s requirements using a variety of additional industrial equipment features. These include multiple air hose splitters or couplers that allow you to use several tools at the same time of a single compressor power generator, or belt-drive systems rather than direct drive systems for quieter operation, both of which are ideal for construction projects in built-up residential areas. You can also get thermal monitoring systems that check operating temperatures and prevent motor damage in the event of high internal temperatures. 

Hire or Buy Power Generators, Air Compressors, and Industrial Equipment

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