The reciprocating piston compressor is the most commonly used as it is the cheaper option in terms of compressors. They are an industry staple due to their longevity and broad applications.
Improved Multi-Finned Pump Design with the addition of an Air-Cooled Aftercooler, Control Panel, Automatic Tank Drain, and Low-Oil Stop Control.
5-7.5HP Aluminum Pump Piston Compressor with Magnetic Starter
5-10HP Cast Iron Duplex Piston Compressor: Options with TEFC Motor and NEMA4 Starter Box
5-15HP Cast Iron Piston Compressor: Options with TEFC Motor and NEMA4 Starter Box. Aftercooler Included
Designed for marine and automotive applications when your compressor could be unlevel. Loadless auto stop/start. Tank or Base Mounted
Designed for tougher 175 PSI applications where traditional splash lubrication won’t measure up.
Designed for maximum productivity, reliable choice for light industrial applications.
Improved Multi-Finned Pump Design with the addition of an Intercooler, Oversized Main Bearings, etc. Does not include Aftercooler.
Improved Multi-Finned Pump Design with the addition of an Intercooler, Oversized Main Bearings, etc. Does not include Aftercooler.
Improved Multi-Finned Pump Design with the addition of an Intercooler, Oversized Main Bearings, etc. Does not include Aftercooler.
10-20HP Cast Iron Duplex Piston Compressors
5-10HP Iron Piston Pumps | Assembed in USA
5-7.5HP Quiet Enclosed Two Stage Piston Compressors
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The true workhorse of the compressed air industry is the reciprocating air compressor, also known as the piston compressor. These compressors rely on piston-driven crankshafts to pressurize the air and increase density while decreasing volume. Energy is stored in the air in the form of pressure and heat.
Reciprocating air compressors can vary depending on the application and situational requirements. Oil-lubricated piston compressors are the most common in the 5-30 HP range. If you’d like to learn more about the types of different compressors, click here. If you are unaware of the differences and do not work in medical air or any other high-quality air application, oil-lubricated will most likely be the best fit.
Piston compressors were the industry staple for many years; in some industries, they still are. Typically, they are used with high compression ratios (discharge to suction pressure) without a high flow rate. This compressor works best for high-pressure, low-flow rate systems, which explains why it is the choice for 5-30 HP. These units move less air (CFM) than higher horsepower systems while keeping the air under similar pressure.
Before compression occurs, air must be transported into the chamber to be compressed and put under pressure. In reciprocating air compressors, this is done by the rotor spinning and pulling the piston down from the top. Suction is created from this motion, and air will fill the chamber until the piston reaches the farthest point from where the air entered.
As the rotor continues to spin and the piston head begins to move back up, the piston’s force closes the inlet. This allows the piston to do its job by compressing the entire chamber full of air into a much smaller space. This air would then exit the first stage and continue to the second chamber, which repeats the compression process in a smaller area to increase the overall PSI.
Not all piston compressors use multiple compression stages; only applications that need to achieve a higher PSI need dual-stage compression. Compressed air travels to the second compression stage and passes by an intercooler to reduce the temperature. This intercooler is necessary as compression drastically increases the temperature of the air.
Heat results from compression, and if you compress the air again without cooling it, the temperature will reach extremes that your equipment cannot withstand. Any time you have multiple stages of compression, it is essential to have the proper steps in place to keep the air within a manageable temperature.
Whether the air goes through one stage of compression or two, the outcome after the final stage will be the compressed air being moved downstream to be treated for use. This air can go directly into storage, filtration, or another airline. Air has to keep moving so that the compressor can continue making compressed air to meet your demand.
When choosing a compressor, the reciprocating compressor is going to be the cheapest initial investment, especially when looking at scrolls or variable-speed drives. Reciprocating air compressors have a simple construction and relatively easy maintenance. Even though these compressors may have more moving parts, those parts are relatively cheap due to the more traditional design.
These machines are the go-to for high-pressure, low-flow situations and systems that require intermittent use. Their relatively simple design makes maintenance easier to understand and perform.
There are a few downsides to going with a reciprocating air compressor that we need to address because nothing is a perfect one-size-fits-all in this industry. Due to the nature of piston compressors, they are noisy and often require their own room or a sound-isolating box to keep the noise bearable.
Not only are the machines loud, but the air they create holds a lot of heat and has oil emulsified into it. This can cause a high outlet temperature of the compressed air, and as we know, this can hurt your equipment. The pistons are oil-lubricated, so oil gets in the air as part of the process, and this can cause oil buildup in the piping over time, hurting the health of your equipment or causing unforeseen downtime.
Piston compressors can last years when used in the right environment. Overworking these compressors leads to early malfunctions and a decrease in lifetime. If you take care of your equipment, it will take care of your production for years.
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