Air compressors are found in a wide range of environments for an even wider range of uses. You’ll see gas stations offering compressed air to inflate your vehicle’s tires and your tire shop using compressed air with an air tool to remove your tires. You may have seen small desktop air compressors used with an airbrush or a trailer-style gas-powered air compressor at a construction site powering jackhammers and concrete compactors.
In fact, you’ve likely been around many different kinds of air compressors and didn’t even know it — they may be hidden away in your refrigerator or the HVAC system at your local arena.
Air compressors have a multitude of uses for leisure and maintenance at home or in businesses to get work done efficiently and safely. The pressure that comes from compressed air has so many uses that we’re sure to leave out a few applications. Still, we have compiled a lengthy list that will widen your knowledge about the various ways that air compressors are used in a multitude of environments.
Different applications call for different types of air compressors. While there are many types of compressors in size and power supply, you will find two main designs for the majority of air compressors: reciprocating piston air compressors and rotary screw air compressors.
In these two designs, you’ll find several models offering a selection ranging from the low-pressure air in a small storage tank, sufficient to pump up your bike or car tires, to the ultimate power of pressurized air that will supply a heavy manufacturing facility with constant and reliable air for plant operations.
Unless you work in manufacturing or another industrial environment, you’re probably most familiar with reciprocating piston air compressors. However, you may not have seen all the variations of this air compressor design. The tank can be vertical or horizontal, can be a single cylinder tank or double cylinder and can be a portable design with wheels to easily move around or a stationary model that stays in one place.
Air compressors can be grouped into three classifications: consumer-grade, professional-grade and industrial-grade.
- Consumer-grade air compressors can be described as a pancake or single-stage model. They’re used for household tasks like inflating tires and inflatable products and possibly some low-load air tools like staplers and brad guns.
- Professional-grade air compressors provide more power and higher pressurized air. They could be two-stage reciprocating models or rotary screw models and can provide more power to run several air tools at once with intermittent use.
- Industrial-grade air compressors will be the workhorse of a manufacturing plant or the reliable power source on an oil rig. They are designed to provide a steady flow of compressed air for long periods of time and can take fluctuating surges in use typical in major manufacturing plants. These compressors are built with high-quality components that allow for customization to the specific environment to improve performance, energy efficiency and reliability.
We’ll start small and personal by going over the typical air compressor applications at home.
Compressed Air Power at Home
Personal use of compressed air comes in many forms. For fun or profit, having an air compressor at your home will make many maintenance tasks easy to do yourself and allow for creative expression with hobbies and professional artistry. Any use at home will be covered with the selection of sizes and power offered in a reciprocating piston design.
The reciprocating piston air compressor is the most common type of compressor you’ll see, especially in any small shop environment or for use at home. These work by increasing air pressure by reducing the space that contains the air.
If you’re familiar with the workings of an internal combustion engine, then you are already familiar with the way a piston air compressor works. It has a cylinder, valve head, crankshaft and connecting rod and piston that moves up and down compressing air to be delivered to the storage tank. This type of air compressor can be powered by either an electric motor or a gas engine, which allows for remote uses and ease of mobility.
Most home-use air compressors will be small enough to be moved around on wheels or carried around. If you have a home shop using pneumatic tools, a bigger-sized stationary tank will provide a better air source. In the reciprocating piston design, there is also the option of a single-stage or a two-stage model — the two-stage models would provide a more powerful air supply with a higher PSIG rating.
An Air Compressor for Every Home Shop
Anyone who has set up a shop at home will likely have a use for an air compressor. Whether you’re working with wood, outdoor power equipment, precision painting or your own vehicle, an air compressor will be there helping you get the job done.
Air Compressors for Home Use
From the small handheld air compressor to the stationary 60+ gallon tank model, you’ll find all sorts of ways people are using compressed air for fun and to get work done around the home. Here’s a list of the little and big hobbies, maintenance or repairs that may use compressed air:
1. Pumping Tires and Inflatables
Compressed air pumps may be simple in design, but they can provide superior airflow for everyday activities like:
- Adding air to tires on bikes and vehicles
- Blowing up balloons or inflatable pool accessories
- Inflating air mattresses at home or on a trip
- Topping off sports equipment that has deflated
2. Pressure Washing
Pressure washers are equipped with an air compressor to force out the pressurized water. With variations in size and tank capacity, compressed air pressure washers are great for:
- Cleaning siding, brick and sidewalks on residential properties
- Refreshing the appearance of decks and patios
- Replacing harsh chemicals or cleaning treatments
3. Carpentry/Woodworking
From seasoned artisans to woodworking novices, carpentry would be more challenging without the help of compressed air. Air compressors are used in woodworking and metalwork for:
- Sanding in woodworking to prepare surfaces for treatment
- Powering pneumatic tools like nail guns
- Eliminating imperfections from wood and metal
- Removing excess rust or dust from the workstation
- Performing continuous or detailed work on wood materials
4. Crafting
Compressed air crafting tools are often typically portable and lightweight for easy use around the home. Common uses for compressed air in daily life include:
- Painting with an airbrush for small precision projects
- Using paint sprayers on larger surfaces like bikes and the bodies of vehicles and recreational vehicles
- Using various pneumatic tools for home projects
- Powering air-blow guns for final project cleanup
5. Yard Work
Crafty homeowners can follow in the footsteps of others who have found ways to make their yard work more efficient with air compressors. Many groundskeepers, landscapers and gardeners use compressed air for:
- Cleaning crevices and tight spaces on equipment or other durable items with directed air pressure
- Moving puddles of water that have pooled in inconvenient places
- Sweeping leaves and debris from the yard
- Spreading weed killers for larger yards
Compressed Air Power in Business
From small business applications to large industrial uses, compressed air can be a necessity for running a business efficiently. Many companies use compressed air like a power source, powering equipment and tools for a more reliable and efficient utility. Smaller businesses will be able to provide higher quality and quicker services with the use of an air compressor, from the simple task of inflating tires to the more demanding nature of a manufacturing operation.
Small and Mid-Sized Business Needs for Compressed Air
The most common application for a reciprocating air compressor in smaller businesses is to power pneumatic tools. These types of tools are favored over their electric equivalents for their lighter weight and safer operation. Tools powered by electricity generate heat and can overheat or short out with continuous use.
With their strong history in industrial and manufacturing environments, air-powered tools have grown increasingly common in small businesses, especially in the construction industry. Almost every electric power tool is also made to operate using compressed air.
Businesses that provide small engine service, auto service, recreational activities and dental services can all use compressed air to deliver their services to customers. Although producing compressed air can be expensive, you should always be aware of the most efficient way to have your system provide the right amount of compressed air at the appropriate pressure for the lowest cost. On average, it takes about seven or eight horsepower (hp) of electrical energy to produce one hp of compressed air energy.
Quincy Compressor designs its product with energy efficiency and the environment in mind, and we have several models that offer considerable savings in operation over conventional air compressor designs.
Here are some of the typical air compressor applications of small- and medium-sized businesses:
- Painting vehicles in an auto body shop
- Sanding in an auto body shop or in woodworking
- Using pneumatic nail guns for roofing
- Providing dental and medical services
- Using pneumatic drills and hammers on construction sites
- Powering various air tools in an automotive repair shop
- Using an air blowgun to clean machinery
- Sandblasting in a machine shop and manufacturing facilities
Industrial Uses for Compressed Air
Compressed air is the only option for some industries that require the safety of a non-heat-producing power source and a reliable flow of that power. Since the first mechanical air compressor was manufactured in the early 1800s, the demand for compressed air systems has steadily grown from the specific beginnings of better equipping the mining and metal fabrication industry to a necessity in almost all industries. It’s often thought of as the fourth utility following electric, water, and gas.
This consistently growing demand has also driven advancement in the engineering of air compressors and vacuum products. When Quincy Compressor started operations nearly 100 years ago, we designed a few models of high-quality reciprocating air compressors that served our customers and their various applications.
In 1970, we added the rotary screw technology to our line in response to the increasing use of compressed air for industrial environments. Efficient and reliable performance was needed for some of the most demanding applications like energy exploration, food and beverage processing and manufacturing. All air compressors perform the same basic function — they increase the pressure and reduce the volume of a gas, like air. However, each of our models has been designed with specific applications in mind to deliver a solution for production requirements.
Both our reciprocating piston and our rotary screw air compressor represent the best air compressor for every industry. Here is a list that shows the wide range of uses for industrial-sized air compressors for almost any application.
1. Agriculture/Farming
For productive and profitable farming operations, compressed air provides long-lasting performance and a low cost of ownership. Compressed air is used for:
- Moving feed and grain to and from silos with conveyors
- Glasshouse ventilation systems
- Spraying crops
- Powering dairy machines
- Operating pneumatic material handling equipment
2. Manufacturing
Whether in refineries, plastics, assembly plants or metal fabrication, an air compression system is the central power source that keeps a business in production. Powerful air compressors aid in manufacturing by:
- Operating air tools on production lines
- Cutting and welding equipment
- Ejecting pieces from production molds
- Monitoring production
- Adjusting roller and feed machinery
- Blowing a molded gas tank or plastic bottle
- Efficiently performing basic tasks such as driving screws and turning nuts
- Increasing production efficiency with air cylinders that power positioners, clamps, air chucks, and air knives
- Finishing and packaging with pneumatic devices used for liquid padding, carton stapling, appliance sanding, dry powder transporting and fluidizing
- Sandblasting and finishing metal
- Operating automated machinery
3. Dry Cleaning
Reliable air supply and a dependable system are required for the dry cleaning industry, which demands quality cleaning of garments. Compressed air is used for:
- Delivering chemical applications through cleaning guns
- Operating laundry presses and steam cleaners
4. Pharmaceutical
Remaining clean, dry and oil-free are top priorities for this highly regulated industry that needs precision equipment and high-performance systems. A pharmaceutical air compressor setup works by:
- Moving product on conveyor systems
- Spraying coatings on pharmaceuticals
- Maintaining pressure in mixing and holding tanks
- Bottling and packaging products
5. Energy Exploration
The remote nature of energy exploration requires the most dependable power to minimize repair and maintenance costs. An air compressor will be:
- Powering pneumatic tools and equipment in onshore and offshore operations
- Compensating for motion caused by turbulent seas
- Inserting and withdrawing reactor rods
- Controlling valves in steam and coolant circuits remotely
- Powering ventilation systems for boiler houses
6. Food and Beverage
All types of food and beverage manufacturing facilities use air compressor systems for various production tasks. They need contaminate-free and consistent compressed air to run their constant operations. Compressed air is used for:
- Packing and palleting products
- Closing and checking devices
- Filling equipment for drinks
- Cooling and freezing products
Having power in the form of compressed air provides end-users with much more control over usage and air quality since it is generated on-site. Around 90 percent of all manufacturing companies use compressed air in their production and plant processes in some form.
Unique Industrial Air Compressor Applications
Due to the long lists above of the many uses of an air compressor, you can already guess that this utility has a number of features that make it the ideal power source for a vast range of uses.
Here are a few features of compressed air, each combined with an example of a situation that benefits from the feature:
- Pressurized air does not interfere with electrical monitoring equipment — preferred in hospital operating theaters.
- Compressed air can be stored in pressurized tanks of various sizes — leading to smaller varieties that provide breathing air for scuba divers.
- The equipment operated by pressurized air can be used in extreme temperatures — allowing air tools to be employed for maintaining furnaces and industrial freezers.
- Compressed air can be easily stored in application-specific tanks to be used in remote areas — ideal for powering snow-making machines.
Other Things You Can Do With an Air Compressor
We’ve covered lots of different uses for home and business applications, but there are a few other interesting uses for an air compressor that you should know about to get the whole picture of how air compressors are used. Some applications listed below reveal how an air compressor can be used in non-conventional ways:
1. Diving
Scuba divers use air compressors in their diving equipment to deliver the oxygen from the tank while they’re underwater. The filtered compressed air is stored in diving cylinders that can feature numerous variations depending on the specific dive. Professional scuba diving and related recreational forms of diving may require scuba air compressors for different depths. With reliable high- and low-pressure models, underwater divers can obtain the correct pressure levels needed for safe diving.
Many careers depend upon safe diving or the routine use of compressed air diving cylinders. Some surprising professions that require compressed air stored in diving tanks include firefighters, underwater welders, marine contractors and submarine workers.
2. Hospitals
Compressed air is needed for a wide range of tools and systems throughout the medical field. Hospitals rely on medical air compressors for air filtration in operating rooms and the ICU, as well as to power various equipment required for providing medical services.
Air compressors are necessary to deliver oxygen to patients and provide clean air throughout the building for physicians and visitors. Hospital operating theaters also benefit from how air compressors don’t interfere with the electrical monitoring equipment.
3. Automobiles
Most people know how compressed air is used to inflate tires, but air compressors are required for many tools and systems in the automotive industry. Auto body shops use compressed air for sanding and painting vehicles. Automobile mechanics and repair shops power various air tools with air compressors.
From vehicle assembly to shell construction, air compressors are used throughout the manufacturing of automobiles to elevate the speed and quality of the work. Engines are designed with air compressors for the heating and cooling systems of the vehicle. Common pneumatic tools that are crucial in the automotive industry include blow guns, brushes, hoses and couplers, lubricators and dryers.
4. Railways
Trains and transport trucks use air brakes for their braking systems. The compressed air ensures safety and stability by delivering direct, reliable airflow to the brake system. Air compressors also assist in train suspension systems and help with opening and closing automatic doors. Tailored suspension manipulation makes the steering and movement controls much smoother for safe and comfortable travel.
5. Amusement Parks
Theme parks use compressed air to run attractions like roller coasters, fountains and animated characters. Reliable compressed air systems help keep things safe and operational. For example, a roller coaster’s power gates, brakes and other critical safety features all require compressed air to maintain their reliability during use. The hydraulic launch systems needed for certain rides also rely on air compressors to provide stable air flow.
6. Ski Resorts
Air compressors assist with making snow at ski hills. During unfavorable weather or busy times, the compressed air in snow machines helps keep ski resorts and lodges open and operable all season. If the snow gets dangerously packed or swept away, snow machines can combine water with pressurized air to generate a human-made supplement.
7. Paintball Centers
Paintball equipment and air guns use compressed air for ammunition propulsion. Paintball gun air compressor tanks work by creating pressure behind the loaded paintball. When the trigger’s pull releases the pressure, the paintball is propelled through the barrel and another ball is quickly cycled in from the loader. This process produces less wear on paintball equipment, making compressed air a worthwhile investment.
The Compressed Air Advantage: Reliable, Versatile and Safe Energy
Seen as the plant workhorse in business, the convenient helper at home and the efficient aid in, compressed air is a power source that is widely used even though many people fail to realize how common it is.
Individuals, businesses and industries benefit from the ability to produce on-site power through air compression. As we mentioned earlier, compressed air can be more expensive to produce, but since it cuts production costs in many other ways, it’s a necessary element of almost every manufacturing and industrial environment.
What are these benefits that make a seemingly “expensive” utility the top choice for many environments?
You may remember the benefits of using air tools in the section above. They are lighter and much more durable, especially when used constantly and in rough and dirty environments. Their use results in increased productivity and efficiency from quicker tool speed and user strain that is greatly decreased or eliminated altogether.
The tough applications that are typical in steel mills and foundries are not welcoming for electric-powered tools. The high temperatures and dirty surroundings are the perfect environments for frequent electrical overloading and equipment malfunctioning. Air tools require periodic maintenance, but they require much less than their electric counterparts and are nearly indestructible.
Another favorable feature of compressed air is that it can be stored to support fluctuations in use. Not having to worry about spikes in electricity consumption that can trip fuses and sabotage equipment is a top priority of any production line. An air compressor can be installed to meet the demands of any constant and fluctuating use. With the right system, you get the necessary pressure and storage tank to provide reliable and consistent energy.
Heat Recovery for Increased Efficiency
To counteract the high expense of generating pressurized air, compressor systems can be designed to recover the heat produced from compression to be used elsewhere in a facility. This heat can be put to good use for a different application like space heating, heating process water, lubricants or other fluids used for production or can be delivered to the plant locker room to supply hot water for showers.
One of the easiest heat recovery applications to implement is space heating, which can recover up to 94 percent of a compressor system’s input power. You can see that many industries could easily make the seemingly high cost of producing on-site power with air compression a low-cost opportunity for saving in other areas.
A Safer Alternative
Certain hazardous environments see their only option for power to be in the form of compressed air. Oil and gas platforms, mines and tunneling equipment are examples of situations that pose a high risk of explosion and fire. The heat and spark potential from electricity does not mix well with these environments, but the safer alternative of compressed air to drive controls and pumps allows for a cost-effective solution to an already hazardous environment.
Compressed air has been a solution to many industry challenges over the years. From its first use in allowing the mining industry to have a less hazardous environment to its efficiency-focused uses in manufacturing and construction industries, we are sure to see more applications in the future that use compressed air to make processes easier, cheaper or safer.
As an air compressor manufacturer for nearly 100 years, we have moved along with advancements in technology to provide various industries with real solutions to their production challenges. With new engineering, new developments and exciting opportunities to help other industries grow, we are committed to providing legendary performance and reliability in the market for another century. Learn more about the premium products we offer by contacting us or one of our dedicated sales and service representatives near you.
Last Updated on October 26, 2021 at 3:30 pm