Compressed Air Explained
What happens when we compress air?
Compressed Air is clean, safe, simple and efficient. There are no dangerous exhaust fumes of or other harmful by products when compressed air is used as a utility. It is a non-combustible, non-polluting utility.
When air at atmospheric pressure is mechanically compressed by a compressor, the transformation of air at 1 bar (atmospheric pressure) into air at higher pressure (up to 414 bar) is determined by the laws of thermodynamics. They state that an increase in pressure equals a rise in heat and compressing air creates a proportional increase in heat. Boyle's law explains that if a volume of a gas (air) halves during compression, then the pressure is doubled. Charles' law states that the volume of a gas changes in direct proportion to the temperature. These laws explain that pressure, volume and temperature are proportional, change one variable and one or two of the others will also change, according to this equation:
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(P1 V1)/ T1 = (P2 V2)/T2 Where P=Pressure V=Volume and T=Temperature of the gas, 1 being an initial state before a change, 2 being final state after a change. |
When applying this to a compressor, air volume (or flow) and air pressure can be controlled and increased to a level that suits the way it is being used. Compressed air is normally used in pressure ranges from 1 to 414 bar (14 to 6004 PSI) at various flow rates from as little as 0.1m3 (3.5 CFM - cubic feet per minute) and up.