Gas Compressor - Applications

Applications

Gas compressors are used in various applications where either higher pressures or lower volumes of gas are needed:

• In pipeline transport of purified natural gas from the production site to the consumer, a compressor is driven by a gas turbine fueled by gas bled from the pipeline. Thus, no external power source is necessary.
• Petroleum refineries, natural gas processing plants, petrochemical and chemical plants, and similar large industrial plants require compressing for intermediate and end-product gases.
• Refrigeration and air conditioner equipment use compressors to move heat in refrigerant cycles (see vapor-compression refrigeration).
• Gas turbine systems compress the intake combustion air.
• Small-volume purified or manufactured gases require compression to fill high pressure cylinders for medical, welding, and other uses.
• Various industrial, manufacturing, and building processes require compressed air to power pneumatic tools.
• Some aircraft require compressors to maintain cabin pressurization at altitude.
• Some types of jet engines—such as turbojets and turbofans)—compress the air required for fuel combustion. The jet engine's turbines power the combustion air compressor.
• in SCUBA diving, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, and other life support devices, compressors put breathing gas into small volume containers, such as diving cylinders.
• In surface supplied diving, an air compressor frequently supplies low pressure air (10 to 20 bar) for breathing.
• Submarines use compressors to store air for later use in displacing water from buoyancy chambers to adjust depth.
• Turbochargers and superchargers are compressors that increase internal combustion engine performance by increasing the mass flow of air inside the cylinder, so the engine can burn more fuel and hence produce more power.
• rail and heavy road transport vehicles use compressed air to operate rail vehicle or road vehicle brakes—and various other systems (doors, windscreen wipers, engine, gearbox control, etc.).
• Service stations and auto repair shops use compressed air to fill pneumatic tires and power pneumatic tools.
• Fire pistons and heat pumps exist to heat air or other gasses, and compressing the gas is only a means to that end.