Compressor Pumps

Compressor Pumps - The Basic Machine

Life cannot be imagined without machines especially without compressor pumps. If one looks around, one can find a number of tools and gadgets that follow movement of a gas or a liquid flowing inside an open or a closed system with the purpose of generating energy which can be utilized further for some or the other purpose. This type of a machine makes use of a compressor pump.

Superficially, compressors and pumps are basically used to move and squeeze out fluids. In the liquid condition, any gas or liquid is made to move with the help of a compressor. It forces the gas under pressure to accommodate itself in a very small volume. Thus a compressor always requires a pump along. Some of the most common examples of use of air compressors are to inflate the car tyres, drilling machines of the pneumatic type, different types of working tools etc. Any type of a machine which employs movement of fluids makes use of a pump, be it a dishwasher or a coffee dispenser or anything.

The air compressor pumps are classified into two different types based on the function - positive displacement type and the dynamic one.

The displacement pumps of the positive type are further classified into three types. They are the rotary screw, rotary vane and the reciprocating types. The reciprocating compressors are the usual types of piston compressors used for inflation of tyres.The construction sites usually make use of the rotary screw pumps. The vane type compressor is quite old fashioned and is used in the traditional type of piston compressors. They find extensive use in power steerers, pressure induced hydraulics and several other vacuum applications. The other classification is known as the dynamic type which includes examples like roto dynamic, centrifugal pumps etc. Its refineries make extensive use of the centrifuge pumps, natural gas plants, petrochemicals in order to produce stationary functions.

Another possible classification of compressor includes the oil-lubricated and the oil free compressors. The lubricated ones are quite an old product but are less noisy and last very long. The oil free compressors are the new type with better air quality. But they suffer from the disadvantage of noise, short life and are quite expensive. Both the types can be put to both domestic as well as industrial uses. But the air compressor oil type needs more maintenance and care as compared to the oil free types. Other forms of air compressors are the small air compressor, HVAC compressor, Pancake air compressor etc.

Another important classification of compressor pumps depends on the number of cylinders used by the pump and are divided into two stages or one stage compressor pump. The 2 stage air compressor has two cylinders wherein a piston in the tank compresses the air going inside and then the compressed air is sent to the second cylinder where the storage takes place. They are made available as and when it is required. They find massive use in chemical, agriculture and the fertilizer industry due to its versatility.