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- Absolute Temperature
- See Temperature, Absolute.
- Absorption
- The chemical process by which a hygroscopic desiccant, having a high affinity with water, melts and becomes a liquid by absorbing the condensed moisture.
- Actual Capacity
- Quantity of air or gas actually compressed and delivered to the discharge system at rated speed and under rated conditions.
- Aeon 9000SP
- Synthetic compressor lubricant used mainly in Gardner Denver rotary screw compressors.
- 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 Compressor Automatic Drain Valve
- Require no operator attention and automatically purge water, oil, dust, rust, metals and other debris to increase performance and decrease downtime.
- Air Compressor Bypass
- Diverting the pump’s compressed air to atmosphere.
- Air Compressor CFM
- Refers to the volume or rate of air flow the compressor will deliver in Cubic Feet per Minute.
- Air Compressor Cut In PSI
- Air receiver PSI at which the pump starts or goes out of bypass.
- Air Compressor Cut Out PSI
- Air receiver PSI at which the pump stops or goes in bypass.
- Air Compressor Discharge Line
- Tubing, pipe or hose from the pump outlet to the air system.
- Air Compressor Displacement
- The rate at which dead air is replaced by compressed air.
- Air Compressor Light Duty
- These units are designed for jobs that require lower PSI and CFM ratings.
- Air Compressor Lubricator
- A lubricator ensures proper lubrication of internal moving parts of pneumatic tools.
- Air Compressor Manifold
- All ports are at equal pressure.
- Air Compressor Medium Duty
- These units are designed for jobs that require average levels of PSI and CFM.
- Air Compressor Parts
- Air compressor parts are our specialty. We carry every part for every machine.
- Air Compressor Recovery Time
- The time from cut in to cut out at no load.
- Air Compressor Safety Relief Valve
- A normally closed valve that opens when the pressure is greater than the valve rating.
- Air Compressor Single Stage
- Compression from initial to final pressure is completed in a single step or piston stroke.
- Air Compressor Stages
- Dividing the total pressure among two or more cylinders by feeding the exhaust from the first cylinder (low pressure) to the inlet of the next cylinder (high pressure).
- Air Compressor Two Stage
- Compression is accomplished in two steps, passing through a low pressure cylinder through a cooling coil to a second stage high pressure cylinder for final compression.
- Air Compressor Unloader
- As the compressor cuts out, the unloader relieves pressure from the machine. This ensures that the compressor will not be loaded when the motor/engine starts.
- Air Compressor Volumetric Efficiency
- The actual volume capacity compared to the piston displacement. The efficiency of the pump drops as the pressure goes up.
- Air Compressor Water Drain
- Drains moisture from the air receiver. This should be done after each use to reduce corrosion to the tank.
- Air Compressor Working Pressure
- The maximum safe operation pressure.
- Air Dryer
- A device that removes moisture from compressed air. Typically accomplished by cooling the air through refrigerant or a dessicant bed.
- Air End
- Compression chamber on a rotary screw compressor where air is compressed.
- Air Filter
- Filters out moisture, dust, rust, etc.
- Air Receiver
- The air receiver is simply the air storage tank.
- Air Regulator
- Allows the user to adjust the PSI on the compressor.
- Air-cooled compressors
- Atmospheric air is circulated to cool the unit and /or the compressed air.
- Air/Oil Separator
- Filter designed to remove oil from compressed air in a rotary screw compressor.
- Ambient air
- The air around or surrounding you.
- Amp Rating
- The measure of strength of an electric current.
- Anti-wear Agent
- An additive that minimizes wear caused by metal-to-metal contact during conditions of mild boundary lubrication.
- Approach temperature
- Temperature above ambient.
- Atlas Copco
- Manufacturer of rotary screw and reciprocating air compressors.
- Atmospheric Pressure
- The measured ambient pressure for a specific location and altitude in PSI (pounds per square inch).
- Auto Start/Stop
- An air compressor with this feature automatically starts and stops when required, making it more economical than a constant run unit.
- Auto-ignition Temperature
- Minimum temperature at which a combustible fluid will burst into flame without an extraneous ignition source.
- Automatic Sequencer
- A device which operates compressors in sequence according to a programmed schedule.
- Bearing Corrosion
- Chemical attack on bearing metal or on one of the metals in a bearing alloy caused by acids evolved during chemical deterioration of the oil.
- Belt Drive
- The Pump is powered by a belt wrapped around the motor.
- Boosters
- Increase air pressure (usually four times inlet PSI).
- Capacity
- The amount of air flow delivered under specific conditions, usually expressed in cubic feet per minute (CFM).
- Capacity Gauge
- A gauge that measures air flow as a percentage of capacity, used in rotary screw compressors.
- Centrifugal compressors
- Compression of air/gas through turning impellers.
- CFM
- Cubic feet per minute.
- Check Valve
- A valve which permits flow in only one direction.
- Chicago Fitting (crows foot)
- 1/4 turn fitting that can connect hose to a compressor or extend the length of hose used to flow gases.
- Clearance Pocket
- An auxiliary volume that may be opened to the clearance space to reduce the volumetric efficiency of a reciprocating compressor.
- Compressibility
- A factor expressing the deviation of a gas from the laws of thermodynamics.
- Compression Ratio
- The ratio of the absolute discharge pressure to the absolute inlet pressure.
- Compression, Adiabatic
- Compression in which no heat is transferred to or from the gas during the compression process.
- Compression, Isothermal
- Compression is which the temperature of the gas remains constant.
- Compression, Polytropic
- Compression in which the relationship between the pressure and the volume is expressed by the equation PVn is a constant.
- Condensate
- Liquid discharged from compressor and /or air treatment equipment.
- Constant Run
- An air compressor with this feature will not stop automatically and will therefore run regardless of whether it is needed or not.
- Constant Speed Control
- A system in which the compressor is run continuously and matches air supply to air demand by varying compressor load.
- Corrosion
- The chemical change in the mechanical elements caused by the interaction of fluid or contaminants, or both. More specifically related to chemical changes in metals.
- Critical Pressure
- The limiting value of saturation pressure as the saturation temperature approaches the critical temperature.
- Crude Oil
- Naturally occurring hydrocarbon fluid that contains small amounts of nitrogen, oxygen, and sulfur derivatives and other impurities.
- cSt
- Abbreviation of centistoke.
- Cubic Feet per Minute (CFM)
- A measurement of the rate of flow of gas leaving the air compressor.
- 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, 3) unloaded, 4) idle.
- Cycle Time
- Amount of time for a compressor to complete one cycle.
- Cylinder Double Acting
- A cylinder in which pressure can be applied to the movable piston rod in either direction.
- Cylinder Single Acting
- A cylinder in which pressure can be applied to the piston in only one direction.
- Decibel (db)
- A measurement of noise.
- Degree of Intercooling
- The difference in air or gas temperature between the outlet of the intercooler and the inlet of the compressor.
- Deliquescent
- Melting and becoming a liquid by absorbing moisture.
- Demand
- Flow of air at specific conditions required at a point or by the overall facility.
- Demulsibility
- Test time required for a specified oil-water emulsion to break, ASTM D 1401.
- Desiccant
- A material having a large proportion of surface pores, capable of attracting and removing water vapor from the air.
- Detergent
- An additive in lubricants generally combined with (and confused with) dispersant additives.
- 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%.
- Dew point suppression
- Temperature below ambient.
- Diaphragm
- A stationary element between the stages of a multi-stage centrifugal compressor.
- Diaphragm Cooling
- A method of removing heat from the flowing medium by circulation of a coolant in passages built into the diaphragm.
- Diffuser
- A stationary passage surrounding an impeller, in which velocity pressure imparted to the flowing medium by the impeller is converted into static pressure.
- Direct Drive
- The pump is powered directly by the motor.
- 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.
- Displacement
- The volume swept out by the piston or rotor(s) per unit of time, normally expressed in cfm.
- Drip-Proof Electric Motors
- These motors will have all of its cooling vents situated so that any dust or moisture will not be able to contaminate the innards of the motor.
- Dynamic Type Compressors
- Compressors in which air or gas is compressed by the mechanical action of rotating impellers imparting velocity and pressure to a continuously flowing medium.
- Efficiency
- Any reference to efficiency must be accompanied by a qualifying statement which identifies the efficiency under consideration, as in the following definitions of efficiency:
- Efficiency, Compression
- Ratio of theoretical power to power actually imparted to the air or gas delivered by the compressor.
- Efficiency, Isothermal
- Ratio of the theoretical work (as calculated on a isothermal basis) to the actual work transferred to a gas during compression.
- Efficiency, Mechanical
- Ratio of power imparted to the air or gas to brake horsepower (bhp).
- Efficiency, Polytropic
- Ratio of the polytropic compression energy transferred to the gas, to the actual energy transferred to the gas.
- Efficiency, Volumetric
- Ratio of actual capacity to piston displacement.
- Electric Air Compressor
- A compressor driven by an electric motor.
- Electric Motor Efficiency
- How efficiently the motor turns electrical energy into mechanical energy.
- Electric Motor Enclosure
- The housing around the motor available in drip-proof, totally enclosed, and explosion proof.
- Electric Motor Frame
- The configuration on the baseplate of the motor.
- Electric Motor Multi-Speed
- Multi-speed motors are designed for two or more definite rates of speed remaining practically constant regardless of load changes.
- Electric Motor Service Factor
- The amount of additional horsepower over and above a motor’s listed rating that it can deliver when necessary as a protection against overload.
- Electric Motor Synchronious Speed
- The speed at which a motor will operate if the rotor turns at exactly the speed of the magnetic field that drives the rotor.
- Emulsion
- A mechanical mixture of two mutually insoluble liquids (such as oil and water).
- Ester
- A compound generally formed by the reaction of an alcohol with an organic acid. Esters were among the earliest types of synthetic lube oils; they are still widely used in this application.
- Exhauster
- A term sometimes applied to a compressor in which the inlet pressure is less than atmospheric pressure.
- Filters
- Devices for separating and removing particulate matter, moisture or entrained lubricant from air.
- Flange Connection
- The means of connecting a compressor inlet or discharge connection to piping by means of bolted rims (flanges).
- Flash Point
- Minimum temperature of a petroleum product or other combustible fluid at which vapour is produced at a rate sufficient to yield a combustible mixture.
- Foam Inhibitor
- An additive which causes foam to dissipate more rapidly.
- Foaming
- May occur when a liquid is intimately mixed with air.
- Free Air
- Air at atmospheric conditions at any specified location, unaffected by the compressor.
- Full-Load
- Air compressor operation at full speed with a fully open inlet and discharge delivering maximum air flow.
- Gardner Denver
- Manufacturer of rotary screw and reciprocating air compressors.
- 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).
- High-pressure air
- Compressed air above 150 PSI.
- Horsepower (HP)
- A measurement of power output. Combined with the CFM, this gives an idea of performance.
- Horsepower, Brake
- Horsepower delivered to the output shaft of a motor or engine, or the horsepower required at the compressor shaft to perform work.
- Horsepower, Indicated
- The horsepower calculated from compressor indicator diagrams. The term applies only to displacement type compressors.
- Horsepower, Theoretical or Ideal
- The horsepower required to isothermally compress the air or gas delivered by the compressor at specified conditions.
- 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.
- Humidity, Specific
- The weight of water vapor in an air vapor mixture per pound of dry air.
- Hysteresis
- The time lag in responding to a demand for air from a pressure regulator.
- Impeller
- The part of the rotating element of a dynamic compressor which imparts energy to the flowing medium by means of centrifugal force. It consists of a number of blades which rotate with the shaft.
- Indicated Power
- Power as calculated from compressor indicator diagrams.
- Indicator Card
- A pressure-volume diagram for a compressor or engine cylinder, produced by direct measurement by a device called an indicator.
- Inducer
- A curved inlet section of an impeller.
- Ingersoll Rand
- Manufacturer of rotary screw and reciprocating air compressors.
- Inlet cfm (icfm)
- Cfm flowing through the compressor inlet filter or inlet valve under rated conditions.
- Inlet Pressure
- The actual pressure at the inlet flange of the compressor typically measure in PSIG.
- Instrument-quality (IQ) air
- Treated compressed air from an oil-flooded compressor (aftercooled, filtered).
- Intercooler
- The intercooler cools the compressed air as it travels from one stage to the next higher stage.
- Intercooling
- The removal of heat from air or gas between compressor stages.
- Intercooling, Degree of
- The difference in air or gas temperatures between the inlet of the compressor and the outlet of the intercooler.
- Intercooling, Perfect
- When the temperature of the air or gas leaving the intercooler is equal to the temperature of the air or gas entering the inlet of the compressor.
- Joy
- Manufacturer of rotary screw and reciprocating air compressors.
- Kaeser
- Manufacturer of rotary screw air compressors.
- Leak
- An unintended loss of compressed air to ambient conditions.
- Leroi
- Manufacturer of rotary screw and reciprocating air compressors.
- Liquid Piston Compressor
- A compressor in which a vaned rotor revolves in an elliptical stator, with the spaces between the rotor and stator sealed by a ring of liquid rotating with the impeller.
- Load Factor
- Ratio of average compressor load to the maximum rated compressor load over a given period of time.
- 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.
- Low Oil Shutdown
- An air compressor with this feature will shut down when the oil level is low, preventing any damage to the unit.
- Low-pressure air
- Compressed air 150 PSI or lower.
- Lubricator
- A device which adds controlled or metered amounts of lubricant into a pneumatic system.
- Lubricity
- A moderate load-carrying ability over and above that indicated by an oils viscosity.
- Microns
- Measurement used to define particulates in the air stream (one micron = one millionth of a meter, about one eighth the thickness one human hair).
- Modulating Control
- System which adapts to varying demand by throttling the compressor inlet proportionally to the demand.
- Motor Bearings
- Support both ends of the motor shaft allowing it to rotate smoothly with a minimum of wear and friction.
- Multi-Casing Compressor
- Two or more compressors, each with a separate casing, driven by a single driver, forming a single unit.
- Multi-Stage Axial Compressor
- A dynamic compressor having two or more rows of rotating elements operating in series on a single rotor and in a single casing.
- Multi-Stage Centrifugal Compressor
- A dynamic compressor having two or more impellers operating in series in a single casing.
- Multi-Stage Compressors
- Compressors having two or more stages operating in series.
- Neut Number
- Short for neutralization number: the specific quantity of reagent required to “neutralize” the acidity or alkalinity of a lube oil sample.
- Oil Free
- A unit described as ‘oil-free’ does not require oil to run, greatly reducing maintenance costs.
- Oil Lubricated
- An ‘oil-lubricated’ air compressor keeps the pump cooler, allowing it to run for longer.
- Oil/Water Separator
- Device used to remove oil from air compressor condensation.
- Oil-flooded air
- Compressed air produced by a compressor that utilizes lubricating oil in the compression cycle.
- Oil-free air
- Compressed air produced by a compressor with no oil present in the compression cycle.
- Oxidation
- A form of chemical deterioration to which petroleum products like most other organic materials are subject.
- Oxidation Inhibitor
- Chemical added in small quantities to a petroleum product to increase its oxidation resistance and, hence, to lengthen its service or storage life.
- Palatek
- Manufacturer of rotary screw and reciprocating air compressors.
- Particulates
- Any solid material, such as dirt, rust, weld fines, pollen, etc., that is in the air stream.
- Perfect Intercooling
- The condition when the temperature of air leaving the intercooler equals the temperature of air at the compressor intake.
- Performance Curve
- Usually a plot of discharge pressure versus inlet capacity and shaft horsepower versus inlet capacity.
- Petroleum
- Term applicable to crude oil and the hydrocarbon products and materials that are derived from it.
- 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.
- Pneumatic Tools
- Tools that operate by air pressure.
- Positive Displacement Compressors
- Compressors in which successive volumes of air or gas are confined within a closed space and the space mechanically reduced, resulting in compression.
- Pour Point
- A widely used low-temperature flow indicator and is 5 degrees above the temperature to which a normally liquid petroleum product maintains fluidity.
- Power, Theoretical (Polytropic)
- The mechanical power required to compress polytropically and to deliver, through the specified range of pressures, the gas delivered by the compressor.
- POWERSOLV
- Lubricant additive designed to clean a compressors oil system.
- PPM
- Parts per million, measurement of the oil present in compressed air.
- 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.
- Pressure Rise
- The difference between discharge pressure and intake pressure.
- Pressure Switch
- A pressure switch has preset cut in/cut out pressure points to control engine/motor.
- Pressure, Absolute
- The total pressure measured from absolute zero (i.e. from an absolute vacuum).
- Pressure, Discharge
- The pressure at the discharge connection of a compressor.
- Pressure, Intake
- The absolute total pressure at the inlet connection of a compressor.
- Pressure, Static
- The pressure measured in a flowing stream in such a manner that the velocity of the stream has no effect on the measurement.
- Pressure, Total
- The pressure that would be produced by stopping a moving stream of liquid or gas. It is the pressure measured by an impact tube.
- Pressure, Velocity
- The total pressure minus the static pressure in an air or gas stream.
- PSI
- Pounds per square inch (unit for pressure of compressed air).
- Pump
- The mechanical device that compresses air within the unit.
- Quincy
- Manufacturer of rotary screw and reciprocating air compressors.
- Quick Disconnect
- A coupling which can quickly join or separate a fluid line without the use of tools or special devices.
- Rated Capacity
- Volume rate of air flow at rated pressure at a specific point.
- Rated Flow
- The maximum flow that the power supply system is capable of maintaining at a specific operating pressure.
- Rated Pressure
- The operating pressure at which compressor performance is measured.
- 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.
- Required Capacity
- Cubic feet per minute (cfm) of air required at the inlet to the distribution system.
- Rotary compressors
- Compression is produced by the positive action of rotating elements.
- Rotor
- The rotating element of a compressor.
- Rust Inhibitor
- A lubricant additive for protecting ferrous (iron & steel) components from rusting caused by water contamination or other harmful materials from oil degradation.
- SCFM
- Standard cubic feet per minute.
- Screw Type Compressor
- This compressor has two intermeshing helical rotors enclosed in a housing with an inlet port at one end and a discharge port at the other end.
- Seals
- Devices used to separate and minimize leakage between areas of unequal pressure.
- Sequence
- The order in which compressors are brought online.
- Service Pressure
- The range of pressure in the pressure tank during the pumping cycle, usually expressed in pounds per square inch gauge.
- Shaft Seal
- A device mounted on the drive shaft between the impeller or airend and the inside pump housing which creates an air tight chamber within the housing.
- Shaft
- The part by which energy is transmitted from the prime mover through the elements mounted on it, to the air or gas being compressed.
- Shutoff Valve
- A valve which operates fully open or fully closed.
- Sole Plate
- A pad, usually metallic and embedded in concrete, on which the compressor and driver are mounted.
- Specific gravity
- The ratio of the specific weight of air or gas to that of dry air at the same pressure and temperature.
- Specific Humidity
- The weight of water vapor in an air-vapor mixture per pound of dry air.
- Specific Power
- A measure of air compressor efficiency, usually in the form of bhp/100 acfm.
- Specific Weight
- Weight of air or gas per unit volume.
- Speed
- The speed of a compressor refers to the number of revolutions per minute (rpm) of the compressor drive shaft or rotor shaft.
- Stages
- A series of steps in the compression of air or a gas.
- Standard air
- Air at a temperature of 68F, 14.70 PSI atmospheric pressure, and relative humidity of 36% (per ASME). In the gas industry, temperature is 60F.
- Standard compressed air
- Untreated compressed air from an oil-flooded system (not after-cooled or filtered).
- Start/Stop Control
- A system in which air supply is matched to demand by the starting and stopping of the unit.
- Stationary Air Compressor
- A unit that cannot be moved & is usually electric driven.
- SULLAIR®
- Manufacturer of rotary screw and reciprocating air compressors.
- Sullube 32
- Synthetic compressor lubricant used mainly in SULLAIR® air compressors.
- Surge
- A phenomenon in centrifugal compressors where a reduced flow rate results in a flow reversal and unstable operation.
- Surge Limit
- The capacity in a dynamic compressor below which operation becomes unstable.
- Temperature Rise Ratio
- The ratio of the computed isentropic temperature rise to the measured total temperature rise during compression.
- Temperature, Absolute
- The temperature of air or gas measured from absolute zero. It is the Fahrenheit temperature plus 459.6 and is known as the Rankin temperature.
- Temperature, Discharge
- The total temperature at the discharge connection of the compressor.
- Temperature, Inlet
- The total temperature at the inlet connection of the compressor.
- Temperature, Static
- The actual temperature of a moving gas stream. It is the temperature indicated by a thermometer moving in the stream and at the same velocity.
- Temperature, Total
- The temperature which would be measured at the stagnation point if a gas stream were stopped, with adiabatic compression from the flow condition to the stagnation pressure.
- Theoretical Power
- The power required to compress a gas isothermally through a specified range of pressures.
- Torque
- A torsional moment or couple. This term typically refers to the driving couple of a machine or motor.
- Total Package Input Power
- The total electrical power input to a compressor, including drive motor, belt losses, cooling fan motors, VSD or other controls, etc.
- Totally Enclosed Electric Motors
- These motors will be used in applications similar to drip-proof motors and are recommended for any outdoor use.
- Two-stage compressors
- Two-compression chambers (initial to intermediate) with one air discharge.
- Ultracoolant
- Synthetic compressor lubricant used mainly in Ingersoll Rand rotary screw air compressors.
- Unit Type Compressors
- Compressors of 30 bhp or less, generally combined with all components required for operation.
- 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.
- Vacuum Pumps
- Compressors which operate with an intake pressure below atmospheric pressure and which discharge to atmospheric pressure or slightly higher.
- Valves
- Devices with passages for directing flow into alternate paths or to prevent flow.
- Vapour Pressure
- Measure of liquid’s volatility.
- Viscosity
- A measure of the internal friction or the resistance of a fluid to flow.
- Viscosity Index (V.I.)
- Measure of the rate of change of viscosity with temperature.
- Voltage
- Voltage is the measurement of electrical force. It is the force that delivers current when electricity is applied to an electrical device.
- Volute
- Stationary, spiral shaped passage which converts velocity head to pressure in a flowing stream of air or gas.
- Water-Cooled Compressor
- Compressors cooled by water circulated through jackets surrounding cylinders or casings and/or heat exchangers between and after stages.
- Whipcheck
- Safety cable used to restrain air hoses if an end breaks.
- Working Pressure
- The pressure which overcomes the resistance of the working device.
- Worthington
- Manufacturer of rotary screw and reciprocating air compressors.