Rotary Vane Reciprocating
      Air Compressors

Rotary-Vane-Reciprocating-Screw; sounds like the intro to a bad rock song to me. :-)

What is the difference between the various types of compressors available on the market today?

And, which style of compressor will be right for your compressed air applications?

Compressor Types

Some of the compressor types you will run into in the marketplace are:

• Rotary Vane
• Reciprocating Piston
• Rotary Screw
• Portable
• Air Brush
• Home Made

Links to more information about these various types of air compressors are below.

Little & Big Compressors

Just what are the differences between the miniature 12 VDC mini-piston reciprocating type compressor you can purchase at your local tire store and a 40 HP rotary screw compressor?

One of these two air compressors will over deliver substantially if all you need a compressor for is to blow up a basketball, a bicycle tire, or perhaps an air mattress. The discharge rate of a 40 HP compressor would quickly over inflate these items with unfortunate results.

The 12 Volt air compressor, plugged into the power outlet in your automobile, would not be the logical choice to provide air to your shop air tools, for example.

The Important Difference

So other than the obvious differences in appearance and size, the really important difference to the compressed air user is the differing capacity of these two compressors, and all compressors for that matter. The capacity; the compressors ability to deliver compressed air at a certain CFM and a certain air pressure at that specific CFM of flow.

Yes, the 12 VDC unit plugged into your cars power supply can give you 120 PSI air (depending on the brand of course) just like the 120 PSI compressed air that is available from a 40 HP compressor can. The difference is in the flow of compressed air at that 120 PSI.

If you tried to use a too small type of air compressor for a high-demand application, the compressor could never catch up (compressed air outflow would always exceed the compressor's ability to compress it) and it would never reach cut out pressure to allow it to shut down. Since these small air compressors have a limited duty cycle the compressor would run at full speed all the time, trying to supply enough air for a high-demand application, until it finally self-destructed.

Capacity

Compressor capacity is critical to your compressor selection.

All air compressors do essentially the same thing. They gather in free air, and compress it.

Therefore, you will need to select the type of compressor that delivers the capacity you need, both in terms of pressure and the flow of that compressed air at the pressure you need.

Follow are links to pages on this website that provide information about the various types of air compressors.

Reciprocating Compressors

Reciprocating (piston) air compressors are the work-horse compressors with which you may likely be most familiar.

You will see them at the corner garage, on the shelves at the hardware stores, in residential garages, many home basements, darn near everywhere, and their uses are numerous too. Careful though. While reciprocating compressors often have the lowest up-front cost, they may also have the highest operating cost! If you are planning on using a lot of air in your shop or in your home, a different style of compressor may give you better value over the long haul. Do check this out.

Here is more information on the reciprocating type air compressors.

Vane Air Compressors

Vane compressors use air-tool type technology to compress air. These compressors are used in a variety of applications. See information on vane compressors here.

Rotary Screw Compressors

The Rotary Screw compressor manufacturers state that their technology is the right choice for many industrial applications. Get more information on Rotary Screw Compressors right here.

Portable Air Compressors

Many times you will need compressed air at a site where there are not any air mains, and where the in-plant electrical supply is not available to run the compressor motor.

That being the case, you will want to look at details about portable air compressors.

Air Brush Compressors

Hobbyists or professional air-brush artists, here is information about air brush compressors .

Home Made Compressors

For the adventurous do-it-yourselfer, how about a home-made air compressor?