Air Compressor - Types of Air Compressor

Types of Air Compressor

1. According to the design and principle of operation
   1. Reciprocating compressor
   2. Rotary screw compressor
2. According to the number of stages
   1. Single stage compressor
   2. Multi stage compressor
3. According to the pressure limits
   1. Low pressure compressors
   2. Medium pressure compressors
   3. High pressure compressors
   4. Super high pressure compressors
4. According to the capacity
   1. Low capacity compressors
   2. Medium capacity compressors
   3. High capacity compressors
5. According to the method of cooling
   1. Air cooled compressor
   2. Water cooled compressor

Positive-displacement air compressors work by forcing air into a chamber whose volume is reduced to compress the air. Piston-type air compressors use this principle by pumping air into an air chamber through the use of the constant motion of pistons. They use one-way valves to guide air into a chamber, where the air is compressed. Rotary screw compressors also use positive-displacement compression by matching two helical screws that, when turned, guide air into a chamber, whose volume is reduced as the screws turn. Vane compressors use a slotted rotor with varied blade placement to guide air into a chamber and compress the volume.

Negative-displacement air compressors include centrifugal compressors. These use centrifugal force generated by a spinning impeller to accelerate and then decelerate captured air, which pressurizes it.