A basic guideline in the choice for air compressor
Types of air compressors
Two types of air compressors are more common in the market; the rotary screw air compressor and the reciprocating piston air compressor. CompAir compressor Toronto offers a full range of high quality and energy efficient rotary screw air compressors that provide a reliable source of extremely clean dry compressed air. When deciding between the two types of air compressors, it is critical to consider duty cycle and performance, energy efficiency, air quality, installation costs and maintenance requirements.
If you only need a small amount of air and you do not any reasons to operate the air compressor continuously, the best choice will be the reciprocating air compressors. Even if you have big tools with a high demand for compressed air, you can install a bigger compressed air receiver than buying a reciprocating compressor. If you need high pressure at about 1500psi, reciprocating compressors can easily provide your requirements. On the other hand, if compressed air is used all the time the rotary screw from CompAir compressor Toronto is the better choice because they come with built in aftercoolers and a powerful fan that will lower compressed air temperature while it exits the compressor.
Duty cycle and flow
Duty cycle is defined as the percentage of time that the compressor may operate without the risks of overheating that can result into excessive wear. A piston compressor usually provides adequate flow for a short period of time but they only have an allowable duty cycle of 60% to 70%. Even with adequate storage, the duty cycle can pose a problem with capacity during peak operating hours. Once there is increased demand for compressed air, lack of air capacity may become a serious issue. On the other hand, the rotary screw compressor from CompAir compressor Toronto has 100% duty cycle and can operate continuously once the need arises. Continuous operation has been made possible because the compressor is fluid-cooled and removes the heat generated by the compressor as well as contaminants from the air.
How much pressure do you need?
Most of the air compressors in the market are designed to operate at 90 to 100psi or 6-7bar. Some applications however require higher pressure at 15 to 30bar or even 200-300bar for scuba diving. If you are looking at air compressors for a car repair shop, your best option is to look at your tools and their requirements for minimum pressure. Most machinery will operate at 100psi or 7bar but make sure to check the specs to ensure that you get the right pressure requirements that will dictate the right choice for the air compressor.