A device that removes moisture from compressed air to prevent corrosion and contamination.
Brake Horsepower
The total power required to compress and deliver a quantity of air, including voltage and mechanical losses.
Centrifugal Compressor
A type of air compressor that uses an impeller to energy to the air, thus increasing the pressure. Also known as a dynamic compressor. Typically used in large facilities using 500hp+ of compressed air with a continuous demand.
A device that allows fluid or air to flow in only one direction.
Coalescing filter
A specific type of filter that not only works to remove dust and particles from the air, but also oil vapors and other liquid contaminants. They are typically found downstream from the compressor and the air treatment components.
Compression Ratio:
The ratio of the pressure at the discharge to the pressure at the inlet.
Cubic Feet Per Minute (CFM)
A measure of airflow - The volume of air that is able to pass through an opening in one minute.
Desiccant
A material used with air compressors and air dryers that helps to remove water vapor from the air. Desiccants are typically used to reach low dew points that are not achievable with refrigerated dryers.
Dew Point
The temperature at which air becomes saturated, when vapors start to condense into liquid
Drain Cock
Used to release accumulated moisture from the compressor tank (Also see drain valve).
Drain Valve
A drain valve works to remove surplus liquid from the compressor. There are manual, float and electronic drain valves available. They are typically installed at the compressor tank, aftercooler, receiver tank, dryer and filters.
Compressor tanks are made of steel, when water gets into the tank, the tank can rust thus reducing the life of the tank. Dryers help reduce the moisture the gets into the tank.
Dual Stage
Compressors where air is compressed from initial pressure to an intermediate pressure in one or more cylinders and then compressed to a higher final pressure in another cylinder or cylinders.
Duty Cycle
The percentage of time a compressor runs versus rests during a complete cycle.
Filter Efficiency
The rate of which a filter can remove particles from an air flow.
Filter housing
Cover which protects the filter assembly.
Free Air Delivery (FAD):
The amount of air a compressor delivers at atmospheric conditions (similar to CFM and ACFM).
Horsepower (HP):
The measure of power the compressor motor uses to operate.
Intercooler
A heat exchanger between compression stages to reduce temperature before the air is compressed again
Kick-in Pressure
Factory set low pressure point of the pressure switch that starts the compressor to re-pressurize the receiver.
Kick-out Pressure
Factory set high pressure point of the pressure switch that stops the compressor from increasing the air pressure in the receiver.
Load Time
The time it takes for a compressor to go from load to unload.
Load/Unload Control
A control system that allows the compressor to run without compressing air when demand is low. This is more efficient than starting and stopping the motor.
Low oil shutoff
A feature which shuts off the compressor motor if the pump runs low on oil, preventing damage or failure.
Oil free compressor
Air compressor that has no oil inserted into the compression chamber for lubrication, cooling or sealing.
Pneumatic
Related to the movement of air.
Pneumatic power
Compressed air power.
Point of use
An outlet in a building used to connect tools or equipment to the air compressor system.
Pounds Per Square Inch (PSI)
A unit of measurement referring to the pressure applied on one square inch of an object's surface.