A Brief History Of Air Compressors

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Now granted the gadgets the ancients used for compressing air bear little similarity to the modern-day air compressor. The standard principle is the same and without the primitive air compressors, civilization would not have evolved as fast it has. A lot of people today would not equate a bellows as an air compressor, but that is exactly what it is.

It wasn’t till later on in history that it ended up being possible to compress air using Mechanical approaches. In the past, animal and only human power was possible to power crude air compressors and this seriously limited the energy of these primitive devices. With the commercial transformation, the mechanical air compressor was born. Engines operating on steam power ended up being the first technique to power an air compressor. Among the first usages of a steam powered air compressor was in underwater diving equipment. This opened entire new methods for under water expeditions and even undersea building and construction. The compressed air could be pumped down to a scuba diver and enable prolonged stays below the surface. Compressed air was likewise much more secure to use as a source of power for early pneumatic tools and drills. Early rock drills were powered by steam. Hot steam is far more harmful than compressed air. A burst steam line can kill or seriously hurt an employee while compressed air is reasonably benign. Steam powered rock drills eventually paved the way to drills powered by air compressors. Today for industrial applications, membrane compressors are quite popular for process gasses. You can read more about them here:

  • diaphragm type compressor

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As the internal combustion engine gained popularity, they started to be used as a power source for air compressors. Rotary air compressors produce compressed air by turning a vaned rotor inside of a long enclosed chamber. Rotary vane air compressors work very well in commercial applications since they are capable of producing large quantities of compressed air for extended durations of time.

Now given the devices the ancients used for compressing air bear little resemblance to the modern air compressor. Engines running from steam power became the very first technique to power an air compressor. Steam powered rock drills eventually offered method to drills powered by air compressors.

Rotary air compressors produce compressed air by turning a vaned rotor inside of a long enclosed chamber. Rotary vane air compressors work very well in industrial applications due to the fact that they are capable of producing big quantities of compressed air for extended durations of time.