Air compressors are used broadly in every professional field. Whether you are an automotive technician, mechanic, contractor, or own a large factory, air compressors are reliable and impactful. There are various kinds of air compressors built up to fulfill different jobs. This Energia’s guide to air compressors will assist you to select the correct air compressor according to the technicalities your job requires.

Air compressor converts power into potential energy in the form of compressed or pressurized air. The use of compressed air happens in its original form and does not convert into any other forms of energy during application.

When the air compressor reaches the maximum capacity of air pressure, it’s PSI or the duty cycle completes. The measurement of the volume of the air compressor generates is by cubic feet per minute (CFM). When choosing an air compressor, you need to keep a watch on the CFM of it. Let us look at all the questions and factors required to select the correct air compressor.

• The purpose of the air compressor:

If you need an air compressor for domestic work, a small compressor would be sufficient. Small air compressors use less power and are also compact for easy storage. If you own a commercial business or are a contractor, you need professional-grade air compressors for rigorous work. For manufacturers, there are industry-grade air compressors whose efficiency is the maximum among all the other compressors.

• You need to store the air or need a continuous air supply?

There are two types of air compressors in terms of storage. One is piston type, and the other one is the portable one. While the piston type allows us to store the air in tanks, portable air compressors do not include tanks and deliver air as its production takes place. Piston type compressors need motors to build up the air pressure.

• What horsepower is required?

Small, professional, and industry-grade compressors offer varied horsepower for the specific uses in these fields. The horsepower ranges from 1.5 to 6.5 HP. The higher the horsepower, the bigger will be its size, and will require more power to work.

• Which power source is available at your site?

Does your site have an uninterrupted electric supply or do you need gasoline to run the air compressor? There are both options available for them. As mentioned above, if your air compressor is of high horsepower, it will require more resources, for power generation.

• The amount you need to store

Since you require storing the compressed air, you’ll opt for a piston-type compressor, but what is the necessary volume that you need to stock? When using the compressor for domestic and professional purposes, small or medium-sized tanks would be appropriate.

When using it for industrial purposes, you need to opt for a large tank piston-type air compressor. According to the amount of air you require for your job, you need an equally big pump and motor. You can also opt for a small compressor with large tanks. You can opt for this only if you require air intermittently. When you use the air once, the air will start compressing until your later use.

• Where will you keep it?

The Air compressor needs a cool, dry, clean, and well-ventilated area to store it. Plus, you use it where there is a requirement for it. Keeping that in mind, you need to ask your manufacture which air compressor is preferable according to the ambiance of your work site. The air compressors need to be away from dirt or fumes, to avoid clogging its filter or valves.

• The types of air compressors:

Reciprocating Piston Compressors- This compressor uses a back and forth motion to create a vacuum to take in the air. These types of compressors heat quickly and become noisy as it wears out. The latest reciprocating compressors have dual-piston compressors which are efficient to generate less noise and heat.

Rotary air compressor- These compressors are for heavy-duty purposes and can work for long periods. Since they are heavy-duty, they generate more compressed air rapidly. The rotary screws present in these air compressors don’t touch each other and are oil-sealed. Unlike reciprocating air compressors, these air compressors don’t require much maintenance.

Scroll air compressor- These types of compressors are the most efficient, and according to ISO standards, it produces the cleanest industry-standard air. There are noise-free and also oil-free.

What should be the duty cycle of the compressor?

The duty cycle of an air compressor is mentioned in percentage. These percentages are according to the time it can run out of ten minutes. If the duty cycle of an air compressor is 50%, then the duty cycle of the compressor is 5 minutes. Running an air compressor more than its duty cycle results in overheating, and it wears off the compressor as well. If you require a continuous air supply, you need compressors with a 100% duty cycle.

Hope these questions and points were valuable, for you to know what the correct air compressor you need for you is.