Beginning of Air Compressors
The first air compressors created were not machines, like many people may think. In fact, they were people themselves. Humans used their lungs to blow oxygen onto fires, thus creating the first air compressors. The air compressors we know today are both stronger and more efficient. A healthy pair of human lungs can produce.02 to.08 bar, where one bar equals 14.5 pounds per square inch. Around 3,000 BC metallurgy had made its day view, and humans had turned over a new leaf in air compressors.
As metals were melted down, higher temperatures were needed, which lead to a need for more powerful compressors. Hand held bellows were soon created and in the 1,500 BC era foot bellows began to be produced. For 2,000 years bellows driven by foot were the primary choice when it came to compressed air. Soon blast furnaces were developed, which leads to John Smeaton’s design of a water wheel-driven blowing cylinder in 1762. The design was the blower system of choice.
In brief, an air compressor is a device that converts a certain amount of power into kinetic energy by pressurising and compressing the given air. They are used to increase the amount of air contained within a given space to create a force that is implemented for a variety of purposes such as manufacturing, industrial, personal and commercial fields. It is also one of the most useful tools in the woodworking shops and automotive industry because of its availability in different types. There are various methods involved in air compression that is further divided into either positive or negative- displacement types
Types of Compressor
There are three basic types of compressors available on the market:
• Reciprocating Compressors
• Rotary Screw Air Compressors
• Turbo Compressors
Nonetheless, these categories are further specified by some of the following factors like cooling method (oil, water, air), some compression stages, lubrication (oil, oil-free), drive method (motor, steam, engine), and packaged or custom-built. Also, to these technical types of compressors, there is one more practically and habitually used variety of compressor called lungs. The mechanism of a person taking a deep breath and releasing the same force of air is defined as a compressed action or pressurised air.
Uses
Compressed air treatment can be used to make fertilisers in chemical compositions, or it can also be used to maintain industrial plants. For industrial purposes, they are used in production line manufacturing processes or to move debris. Compressed air treatment is most commonly used in the basic pneumatic tools like staplers, sanders, air-powered nail guns, ratchet wrenches and spray guns.
Air compression machines are a complex piece of machinery consisting of different air compressor parts. Since it is a mechanical device, a glitch or problem can crop up leading to dysfunctional behaviour. Well, in such circumstances do not panic thinking of ways to replace the air compressor parts. Also, there is no need to replace the entire expensive unit for a small repair. Today, compressor parts have quite a strong hold on the market, and thus finding the right part is not very difficult. All you want to do is look up for it in the right place, and you will find the parts at desired prices.
Air compressors are the main sources of power in many industrial applications. Selecting and handling compressors requires an understanding of its working, requirements and different specifications for quality results.