Air Compressor Service Company

Equipment Sales and Engineering for Industrial Air Compressor in California
Sales - Service - Parts - Rebuilds/Repairs - System Design - Preventive Maintenance Contracts

Air Compressor - Glossary of Terms Aftercooler - A heat exchanger used for cooling air discharged from a compressor. Resulting condensate may be removed by a moisture separator following the aftercooler. Air Dryer - A devise that removes moisture from compressed air.  Typically accomplished by cooling the air through a refrigerator or dessicant bed. Atmospheric Pressure - The measured ambient pressure for a specific location and altitude in PSI (pounds per square inch). Automatic Sequencer - A device which operates compressors in sequence according to a programmed schedule. Capacity - The amount of air flow delivered under specific conditions, usually expressed in cubic feet per minute (CFM). Check Valve - A valve which permits flow in only one direction. Compression Ratio - The ratio of the discharge pressure to the inlet pressure. Constant Speed Control - A system in which the compressor is run continuously and matches air supply to air demand by varying compressor load. Cubic Feet Per Minute (CFM) - Volumetric air flow rate. Cut-In/Cut-Out Pressure - Respectively, the minimum and maximum discharge pressures at which the compressor will switch from unload to load operation (cut in) or from load to unload (cut out). Cycle - The series of steps that a compressor with unloading performs; 1) fully loaded, 2) modulating (for compressors with modulating control), 3) unloaded, 4) idle. Cycle Time - Amount of time for a compressor to complete one cycle. Desiccant - A material having a large proportion of surface pores, capable of attracting and removing water vapor from the air. Dew Point - The temperature at which moisture in the air will begin to condense if the air is cooled at constant pressure. At this point the relative humidity is 100%. Demand - Flow of air at specific conditions required at a point or by the overall facility. Discharge Pressure - Air pressure produced at a particular point in the system under specific conditions measured in PSI (pounds per square inch). Discharge Temperature - The temperature at the discharge flange of the compressor. Filters - Devices for separating and removing particulate matter, moisture or entrained lubricant from air. Full-Load - Air compressor operation at full speed with a fully open inlet and discharge delivering maximum air flow. Gas - One of the three basic phases of matter. While air is a gas, in pneumatics the term gas normally is applied to gases other than air. Gauge Pressure - The pressure determined by most instruments and gauges, usually expressed in psig. Barometric pressure must be considered to obtain true or absolute pressure (PSIG). Horsepower, Brake - Horsepower delivered to the output shaft of a motor or engine, or the horsepower required at the compressor shaft to perform work. Humidity, Relative - The relative humidity of a gas (or air) vapor mixture is the ratio of the partial pressure of the vapor to the vapor saturation pressure at the dry bulb temperature of the mixture. Inlet Pressure - The actual pressure at the inlet flange of the compressor typically measure in PSIG. Intercooling - The removal of heat from air or gas between compressor stages. Leak - An unintended loss of compressed air to ambient conditions. Load Time - Time period from when a compressor loads until it unloads. Load/Unload Control - Control method that allows the compressor to run at full-load or at no load while the driver remains at a constant speed. Modulating Control - System which adapts to varying demand by throttling the compressor inlet proportionally to the demand. Multi-Stage Compressors - Compressors having two or more stages operating in series. Piston Displacement - The volume swept by the piston; for multistage compressors, the piston displacement of the first stage is the overall piston displacement of the entire unit. Pressure - Force per unit area, measured in pounds per square inch (PSI). Pressure Dew Point - For a given pressure, the temperature at which water will begin to condense out of air. Pressure Drop - Loss of pressure in a compressed air system or component due to friction or restriction. Pressure Range - Difference between minimum and maximum pressures for an air compressor. Also called cut in-cut out or load-no load pressure range. Receiver - A vessel or tank used for storage of gas under pressure. In a large compressed air system there may be primary and secondary receivers. Reciprocating Compressor - Compressor in which the compressing element is a piston having a reciprocating motion in a cylinder. Relative Humidity - The ratio of the partial pressure of a vapor to the vapor saturation pressure at the dry bulb temperature of a mixture. Specific gravity - The ratio of the specific weight of air or gas to that of dry air at the same pressure and temperature. Speed - The speed of a compressor refers to the number of revolutions per minute (rpm) of the compressor drive shaft or rotor shaft. Unload - (No load) Compressor operation in which no air is delivered due to the intake being closed or modified not to allow inlet air to be trapped. Valves - Devices with passages for directing flow into alternate paths or to prevent flow.

| Home | Sales | Services | Why Oil Free? | Employment | Contact | Air Compressor Glossary | Site Map |

Copyright ©2007, JPL Air Compressor Service, Inc. All Rights Reserved. JPL Air Compressor Service specializes in industrial air compressor in California and across United States.