Air compressors are used in a variety of settings for multiple purposes. Today, compressors are used in agricultural, power engines, medical, mining, oil & gas and manufacturing industries. The air compressor helps in an array of ways, but back in the day they weren’t as versatile. They required a lot more manual activity than they do now.
The earliest recorded air compressors are the human lungs. The oxygen we exhale can take out small fires and help in small, marginal tasks. With that concept in mind, the Bellows air compressor was invented in 1500 B.C. As seen above, it was a hand-held device that provided a concentrated blast of air.
In 1762, engineer John Smeaton designed the first water wheel-driven blowing cylinder that would go on to replace the Bellows. After the water-wheel, the blasting machine invented by John Wilkinson in 1776 became the go-to industrial air compressor. The blasting machine would actually go on to become the archetype for future mechanical air compressors.
In 1857, compressors were used to move large air volumes for the Italy-France rail system. It was this event that helped people see more ways to utilize the compressor. In 1888, Vikto Popp, an Austrian engineer, created the first compressor plant in Paris. Paris then became the epicenter of raging debate regarding the future of power systems, with arguments that air compressors would overtake electricity. Shortly after Vikto’s first compressor plant, other inventors were moving towards creating and patenting a number of accessories that ran on compressed air.
In the 20th century, the automotive and aircraft industries were able to have major overhauls as air compressor technology was growing. Assembly lines became efficient and people were able to assemble heavier items much faster. Simultaneously, buildings were growing and air compressors made it possible for big projects to happen, such as the Empire State Building.
Today we see a variety of ways air compressors are used and an abundance of the different types, manufacturers, and uses. At 3C Industrial, we make it simple and easy to choose your next air compressor. Check out our product catalog and let us know how we can help you today!
Today we see a variety of air compressors used in different industries for various purposes.
At Airmatic Compressor Systems, we are the largest distributor of air compressors and vacuum pumps in New Jersey. We’ve put together the following article as an introduction to air compressors. It covers topics, such as how they work, types available, typical applications, key benefits, and recent technological developments, to help customers understand which industrial air compressor they should use for their compressed air needs.
Air compressors are devices designed to reduce the space occupied by air. While they are available in several designs and configurations, all variations rely on the same four basic components:
As indicated above, industrial air compressors come in numerous technologies, each of which demonstrates unique characteristics that make it suitable for different applications. Some of the most commonly available are:
Air compressors are highly versatile pieces of equipment. They are used for a wide range of applications in nearly every industry. Some examples of typical applications include energy transference in actuators, air blasting, and material transference.
Pneumatic equipment relies on compressed gas to operate. The compressed gas is contained within actuators, which extend and contract to move the machinery as needed for the operation. Some of the industries that regularly use pneumatic equipment include agriculture, food and beverage processing, manufacturing, medical, and oil and gas. Compared to hydraulic and electrical equipment, it offers safer and cleaner operation.
Air compressors are used for a variety of cleaning and cooling applications. For cleaning operations, they are commonly integrated into sandblasters, pressure washers, and other similar equipment. These machines are employed in construction, repair, and other build and assembly operations to remove surface contaminations and imperfections from workpieces. For cooling operations, they are often used in refrigerant systems to lower the temperature of products (e.g., food) or localized areas (e.g., engines).
Air compressors are found in a wide range of material transfer equipment. This equipment, in turn, is used for a variety of industrial and commercial applications. For example, it is used in the food and beverage, manufacturing, and pharmaceutical sectors to place, position, and push materials and products along the production line. Secondly, compressed air is used to transfer food grains, powders, plastic pellets, and other materials by adding the material to be moved into the compressed air stream in a tube or pipe.
Compared to electrically powered tools, pneumatically powered tools offer a number of advantages, such as:
Over the years, air compressor manufacturers have developed and introduced new technology to accommodate changing customer demands. Some of the most recent innovations in air compressor technology include:
Airmatic Compressor Systems is an authorized distributor of air compressors and vacuum equipment. In addition to our sales capabilities, we also offer equipment repair, maintenance and system performance measurement for all of our products.
To learn more about our air compressor products, visit our product page. To discuss your application requirements with one of our experts, contact us or request a quote today.