Industrial Compressor
An industrial compressor is a machine that increases the pressure of a gas, most commonly air, either by reducing its volume or by imparting velocity that is then converted into pressure. Positive-displacement types include reciprocating, rotary screw, scroll and vane compressors; dynamic types include centrifugal and axial compressors, used for large continuous flows. Compressors supply plant air, instrument air and process gas, and are used in refrigeration and gas transmission. Key selection parameters are free air delivery or mass flow, discharge pressure, power, duty cycle, oil-free or oil-injected design, cooling method and specific power. Compressed air purity is classified under ISO 8573-1, and performance testing of displacement compressors follows ISO 1217. Process-gas compressors in oil and gas service are often specified to API 617, API 618 or API 619.
Examples
- Oil-injected rotary screw compressor for plant air
- Oil-free compressor for instrument air
- Reciprocating compressor for process gas