WHAT IS COMPRESSED AIR MADE OF?

Compressed air is made of the same air you breathe in and out, but that air is compressed into a smaller size and kept under pressure. When you take atmospheric air and then physically force it into a smaller volume, the molecules take up less space and the air is compressed. Atmospheric air and compressed air are both made up of: 78% Nitrogen 20-21% Oxygen 1-2% water vapor, carbon dioxide & other gases The “ingredients” in the air don’t change when it’s compressed—just the amount of space those molecules take up.

HOW IS AIR COMPRESSED?

Air is compressed in two simple steps: Step 1: Air is trapped in a cylinder, tank, or similar container Step 2: The space in that tank becomes smaller, which forces the air molecules closer together The now-compressed air remains trapped in this smaller state, waiting to expand again, until it’s ready for use. The act of compressing air is easiest to picture with a reciprocating air compressor, where a piston literally pushes the air down in a cylinder. Here’s a great reference image from Encyclopedia Britannica: But pistons aren’t the only way to force air into a smaller space. There are numerous styles of air compressors on the market, each with their own advantages and disadvantages. For example, rotary screw air compressors use dual spinning screws to push air down and compress it: You can read more about the differences between rotary screw and reciprocating air compressors here. Regardless of the mechanisms used, air is always compressed by taking atmospheric air and squishing it down so the molecules are condensed and pressurized.

WHAT CAUSES PRESSURE IN COMPRESSED AIR?

You know when you’re crammed in a busy elevator, the door suddenly opens, and everybody rushes out and spreads apart? Compressed air basically does the same thing. While the molecules in compressed air can be trapped in a smaller space, they don’t necessarily want to be, and they will spread apart as quickly as possible the first second they are able to. That’s what causes pressure. Atmospheric air has one bar of pressure but can be forced up to 6004 PSI (414 bar) of pressure when compressed into a smaller state. Exactly how pressurized compressed air becomes is determined by science. Air pressure is explained by three scientific laws: The First Law of Thermodynamics tells us that an increase in pressure equals a rise in heat and that compressing air creates a proportional increase in heat. Boyle’s Law explains that if a volume of air halves during compression, then the pressure is doubled. Charles’ Law states that the volume of air changes in direct proportion to the temperature. Collectively, these three laws explain that pressure, volume, and temperature are proportional. If you change one variable, then one or two of the others will also change, according to this equation: When applying this formula to an air compressor, air volume and air pressure can be controlled and increased as needed. Compressed air can be used in pressure ranges from 14 PSI to 6004 PSI (1 to 414 bar) at flow rates from as little as 3.5 CFM (0.1m3) cubic feet per minute) and up. Fortunately, most people have no reason to memorize or use this formula. Instead, just set your air compressor to your desired pressure and let science take care of the rest.

WHAT IS COMPRESSED AIR USED FOR?

Compressed air can be used in one of two ways: As an energy source As blowing air (“active air”) When used as an energy source, compressed air can power air tools and production equipment. These tools and equipment are used in countless applications across dozens of industries, including construction, tire service, mechanical repair, maintenance, factory production, industrial processes, and vehicle safety systems. Even roller coasters use compressed air! Active air is used when a steady stream of air is needed for a task. A couple fairly literal applications for active air is aeration and medical breathing air but tons of industries, ranging from pharmaceutical and chemical companies to food and beverage plants, use compressed air in their production of goods and services.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF COMPRESSING AIR?

Compressed air is a popular energy source for many, many reasons. The main benefits of using air compressors and compressed air are: Improved productivity Cheap power source Safe & easy to use Energy efficient Low operating costs Versatile tools & applications Compact, light & easy to move Lower theft rates If you need more convincing than that, you can find out why VMAC’s existing customers love compressed air here.

WHY DO WE NEED COMPRESSED AIR?

Compressed air can be described as the fourth utility. Although not as ubiquitous as electricity, petroleum products or gas, air that’s compressed plays a fundamental part in powering our modern world. It plays a vital part in most modern manufacturing processes and modern civilization. Although you may not realize it, most products we use today were made using compressed air at some point in the process. In fact, compressed air accounts for about 10% of the global energy currently used in industry. The main difference between compressed air and other power sources is that users can easily generate their own air and have a choice in the way that air is generated. Air compressors can accommodate a lot of different needs. Many applications in different environments are dependent on pneumatic air, and air compressors can be configured (with the right accessories) to compress air to a specific pressure, at a certain flow, and of the right quality.

IS COMPRESSED AIR SAFE?

As far as energy sources go, compressed air is clean, safe, simple and efficient. There are no dangerous exhaust fumes or other harmful by-products when compressed air is used as a utility. It is a non-combustible, non-polluting utility. However, compressed air can be dangerous when used improperly or if air receiver tanks aren’t properly maintained. Therefore, operators should always follow the guidelines set by manufacturers.

CAN COMPRESSED AIR EXPLODE?

It is possible for an air receiver tank holding compressed air to explode. But it’s extremely rare and tends to occur when operators don’t look after their air receiver tank. The leading cause of air compressor tank explosions is corrosion. When operators don’t drain the water that accumulates in their tank, the water can cause corrosion, weakening the tank until the compressed air breaks it open. The second common cause of an air tank explosion is poorly manufactured products or manufacturing defects. For example, an air receiver tank without a proper pressure relief valve might become over-pressurized and explode from that. Working with a reputable air receiver tank manufacturer should prevent these types of explosions from occurring.

EXPLOSIONS & CANNED

AIR Keep in mind that canned air, those small cans of compressed air used to clean electronics and computer equipment, is not the same thing as true compressed air. Canned air is a highly flammable chemical mixture, which has a higher chance of causing an explosion. The Backyard Scientist has a pretty cool YouTube video that shows the impressive explosive reaction between hot water and difluoroethane, the chemical often found in canned air:

But again, that’s not the true kind of compressed air that comes from an air compressor. Horror stories and YouTube distractions aside, it’s very unlikely that compressed air will cause an air receiver tank to explode. Tanks that are properly drained and maintained pose very little risk to their operators.

CAN COMPRESSED AIR KILL YOU?

Compressed air is safe when used properly. However, messing around with compressed air or using it in unconventional ways can be dangerous and even deadly. Here are a few ways that compressed air can kill or seriously injure a person: Compressed air blown into the skin can obstruct an artery and result in an embolism Inhaled compressed air can rupture your lungs or esophagus Compressed air blown into the ear can rupture eardrums and cause brain damage Compressed air can blow eyes out of their sockets Although all these occurrences are extremely rare, they are also possible. There is literally no reason to point compressed air at a person, including yourself, which makes these injuries entirely preventable. Don’t clean your clothes, or blow dust around, or hit your buddy with compressed air as a joke, and you’ll be perfectly safe. Canned air can also kill people when inhaled or ingested. However, it’s the chemicals in the canned air that are the threat, not the air itself. It’s never a great idea to inhale chemicals. So, yes, compressed air and canned air can both kill you, but only if you’re using them improperly.