Air Compressor Types

An air compressor ปั๊มลม is a machine that uses power to compress air. The power usually comes from electrical motors, combustion engines and gas turbines. Air pumps are much like compressors but they can not achieve the same high air pressures.

Single-stage and multistage air compressors

When air is compressed more than once in the same compressor, we say the compressor is multi-stage. Single-stage compressors typically deliver up to 8 bars. The multi-stage compressor can easily deliver up to 300 bars, it all depends on the number of stages.

Single-action or double-action air compressors

Single-action piston compressors only compress air on the upwards, or downwards stroke of the piston. Double-action compressors however, compress air on both the upwards and downwards stroke. Double-action compressors are therefore capable of doubling the air flow compared to a similar single-action compressor.

Main compressor types

There are three different types of compressors:

- Reciprocating compressor (piston compressors)
- Rotary compressor (screw-, scroll-, lobe- and vane compressor)
- Rotodynamic compressor (centrifugal- and turbine compressor)

Reciprocating compressor

The piston compressor uses pistons, or diaphragms, to compress air. The pistons or diaphragms are pushed up and down inside a cylinder. The up and down motion is caused by a crankshaft rotated by a motor. The venting of pressurised air and opening of the inlet ports, are controlled by valves located in the cylinder head. The reciprocating compressor is by far the most common and affordable on the market. Its size ranges from a small 12 volt air compressor or airbrush compressor, to big compressors powering huge pneumatic systems in industry and construction.

Rotary compressor

These compressors use a sweeping motion to capture air in-between the rotor and the compressor housing. Several compression chambers can be placed in series to create multi-stage compressors. We have four different rotary compressors: screw-, scroll-, vane-, and lobe compressors. The most common rotary compressor for compressing air is the screw compressor. The screw compressor is widely used in industry and production. They tend to be pricier, bigger and more complex than the reciprocating compressor, but they are capable of delivering a higher air flow of compressed air at matching pressures. That makes them ideal for high consumption air compressor parts like jackhammers and sandblasting equipment.

Rotodynamic compressors

These compressors are also known as axial- and radial compressors. The axial compressor uses a rotor to compress air, while the radial compressor uses impellers. The axial compressors draws air in from the front and accelerates with the rotors, before the air is jettisoned out of the back of the compressor. The radial compressor also draws air in from the front, but it accelerates it over the impellers which sends the air out of the side of the compressor. The axial compressor is often referred to as a turbine compressor and is used in turbine engines, industry and production.. The radial compressor is commonly know as a centrifugal compressor and are often used as turbochargers on combustion engines. Both types come in all sizes and prices, and are considered to be very reliable and robust.

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