Pneumatic compressors are a type of fluid compressor. Typically, a decision must be made between the two types of fluid compressors, pneumatic and hydraulic. Pneumatic compressors use compressed air and hydraulic compressors use compressed liquid such as oil. However under certain conditions, pneumatic compressors have several advantages over liquid designs.
- Pneumatic (air) compressors usually use low power 2- to 3-horsepower. Their simple nature makes them easy to design and relatively inexpensive to manufacture. Typically the parts can be made using an inexpensive manufacturing process such as plastic injection molding or die casting. The lower production cost is then passed on to purchasers in the form of lower acquisition costs versus hydraulic compressors.
- Pneumatic compressors are considerably quieter than hydraulic fluid operated ones. The reason for this is that the air compressor motor that drives the pneumatic system can be placed in a separate location from the machine itself. Further, the air compressor motor is often housed in a special container designed to reduce or significantly eliminate noise. This makes pneumatic compressors an option for places where noise disturbances from machinery must be kept to a minimum.
- Pneumatic systems are highly reliable. Because they do not require the sophisticated valves and plumbing of hydraulic systems, they suffer mechanical failure at a much lower rate. When a pneumatic compressor does need repair, repair costs are often relatively low. And because of their relatively straightforward design, repairmen for pneumatic systems are easier to find and charge substantially less than the highly trained mechanics required to service hydraulic systems. Pneumatic systems are also more resistant to to impact forces. Air acts as a compressible cushion in pneumatic systems, whereas the fluid in a hydraulic system transmits force to the walls of the machinery.
- Another key advantage of pneumatic compression is that operations are not necessarily interrupted by power failure. Containers can store the compressed air, and when the motor is offline the machines can still function using the stored air. Pneumatic systems often pose less of a fire hazard in the event that one of the valves or tubes develops a leak. If this happens, air may vent out and the system may become unusable, but this is preferable to the fire hazard of an oil leak from a faulty hydraulic system.
- Air compressors are always cleaner in operation than hydraulic ones because the compression force is derived from highly pressurized air and not viscous fluid. Therefore, a leak in a pneumatic system does not pose a problem from a a housekeeping or environmental perspective. This cleanliness of operation also makes pneumatic compressors of much greater use in food service and other similar operations where possible contamination from leaking hydraulic lines is unacceptable. Additionally, pneumatic compressors are frequently used outdoors where the potential for oil leaks in hydraulic compressors would pose a threat to the environment.
- Pneumatic compressors can also operate air tools, which have advantages over their electric counterparts. Air-operated tools are nearly always lighter than electric or hydraulic controlled tools. And they offer superior torque versus standard electric tools. Air tools also tend to be long lasting as they are often made with steel casings and because they use an outboard power source they have significantly fewer moving parts. Using pneumatic compressor powered tools lowers tool costs because air tools tend to cost less than electric tools of the same quality.
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