Gas compressors pressurize and circulate gas through a system to provide the gas for control systems, to enhance chemical reactions or to maintain correct system pressure. Gas compressors operate at pressures ranging from 1,500 to 60,000 psi (pounds per square inch). Gas compressor equipment includes the gas compressor and a number of related parts and supplies. If your business uses gas compressors, you might stock up on these supplies.

Gas compressors come in a variety of sizes, usually measured by flow capacity, and for a number of purposes, such as a gas jack compressor for oil fields. Among the supplies for industrial gas compressor equipment are pumps, filters, coolers and gas recovery systems. Supplies for a compressor for a breathing air system includes filters, controls, storage tanks, and a containment filling station. Use the following strategies to check out the array of supplies for gas compressors:

1. Check the catalogs of gas compressor manufacturers.

2. Look for different types of gas compression equipment.

3. Search online for supplies for gas compression equipment.

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Review the offerings of gas compressor suppliers

Gas compression companies carry the machinery as well as parts and supplies. But many companies specialize in a particular type of gas compressor, such as a diaphragm or piston-driven device, so your staff might have to check with several before finding supplies for the 'right' model.

I recommend: Your company can find supplies for a variety of diaphragm compressors from PDC Machines. Their metallic compressors can even be used in vacuum applications. Get pistons, rods, valves and more at ACI Services. It also carries electric engines to drive the compressors.

Locate supplies for your gas compressor equipment

Supplies vary with the different types of gas compression equipment. In general, they include valves, hoses, gas recovery devices, boosters and gas compressor parts. An in-ground jack or a small natural gas compressor has additional supplies and parts for mounting.

I recommend: Look for supplies for low-pressure and high-pressure air breathing compressors from Universal Air Products. Think safety with its filling stations. Get supplies such as boosters and recovery apparatus for a natural gas compressor or a compressor for corrosive gases from Sundyne.

Check the Internet for gas air compressor supplies

Visit supplier website to find specifications for model used in oil-fields, underwater applications, industry and a variety of other uses. Have your team identify the supplies and parts available for your model.

I recommend: Visit the Hydro-Pac website to view the online catalog and learn about its non-lubricated gas compressors. It offers compressors for injection molding, airbag inflation and a number of other low-pressure purposes. For gas compressors for industrial, oil-field and chemical uses, check the inventory at Norwalk Compressor. Its three "series" of machines have notably different features.

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• •  If your company does construction work, you might want a portable gas air compressor to power certain types of machinery. Several reputable brands, such as Ingersoll Rand, are readily available.

A gas compressor works similarly to liquid pumps; but while liquids do not easily compress, gas compressors can reduce the volume of gases. There is such a thing as a gas air compressor; as in, a compressor that runs on gas. However, this guide concerns devices that pressurize gas in industrial systems.

Gas compressors help achieve the best conditions for chemical reactions to occur, and they help regulate pressure levels in various systems and equipment. The Gas Jack compressor even helps gas and oil rigs reduce pressure in their tubing and continue pumping gas and oil when it would otherwise be impossible. There are four main types of gas compressors:

1. Reciprocating gas compressors operate by either piston or diaphragm. They tend to be low maintenance.

2. Blower or fan gas compressors include impellers that turn at very high speeds.

3. Rotary screw gas compressors are low vibration and durable. They provide reliable, continuous service.

4. Ejector gas compressors have no internal moving parts. They employ a funnel to induce kinetic energy, similar to the way a funnel operates in a centrifugal water pump.

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Buy from appropriate gas compressor manufacturers and gas compressor suppliers

If you are on the hunt for quality gas compressor equipment, you should check with multiple gas compression companies to see the full range of equipment available. Find the company that best suits your type of application.

I recommend: Solar Turbines claims to have the most extensive selection of large centrifugal gas compressors. These units have high maximum-flow and case pressure ratings. PDC Machines, Inc. carries a range of diaphragm gas compressors that process gases like argon, oxygen, nitrogen, helium, ethylene, tetrafluoroethylene (TFE) and many others.

Find a natural gas compressor to fit your application

Natural gas compressors function in the fueling of a huge range of vehicles, from taxi cabs to forklifts, and almost form a market all their own. They also play a part in natural gas well operations. There are many suppliers of this type of gas compressor.

I recommend: The P.C. McKenzie Company carries high quality Ingersoll Rand natural gas compressors. Hurricane Compressors sells natural gas compressors for a wide range of uses, including a type of large or small natural gas compressor for gathering gas at the top of a well head.

Get service for your gas compressor, and it will continue to service you

Depending on the type of gas compressor you're running, there are a range of maintenance and service needs. You'll want to find quality parts and service for your compressor to keep your machines functioning smoothly.

I recommend: Buying from Sundyne has is privileges. They offer an extensive range of parts and services; you could even do a complete factory overhaul with their products. Universal Air Products Corporation is a great option if you need to install or service both air and gas compressors.

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• •  If you are looking for an efficient, quiet solution for a low volume application, try out a scroll gas compressor. They pump or compress both liquids and gases.

Gas compressors education and training is a necessity when working with gases such as butane, hydrogen, nitrogen and natural gas. Workers can generally expect to find more employment opportunities and better paying salaries when they can prove their knowledge of gas compression equipment.

Gas compressors work by reducing the volume of gas and thus increasing the gas's pressure. A wide variety of gas compressors is available, and the necessary training can vary by type of compressor, such as a gas jack compressor used in oil fields, and by gas compressor manufacturers. Available training materials cover general gas compressor information as well as specific types of gas compressors. When searching for gas compressors education and training, consider the following:

1. Take advantage of the various types of training videos available on gas compression equipment.

2. Read through tutorials compiled by reputable professionals.

3. Challenge your understanding of gas compression operations by completing a self-study workbook.

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Watch training videos on gas compression

Gas compression training videos are available in VHS, DVD and CD-ROM formats. This type of training method is ideal for visual learners who benefit from watching examples rather than reading step-by-step instructions. Many times, CD-ROM training videos include interactive features, such as learning assessment quizzes.

I recommend: Find safety videos available in CD-ROM format at ESD Simulation Training. The company offers multimedia training packages on anti-surge control of centrifugal gas compressors. On the Beta Machinery Analysis website, you can order a free training DVD that covers pulsation and vibration in reciprocating gas compressors. A gas air compressor is an example of a reciprocating gas compressor.

Study gas compressor equipment tutorials

Tutorials on gas compression equipment often combine informational text, photographs and graphics, similar to a textbook. Tutorials present the information in a straight-forward, easy-to-understand format. Ideally, gas compressor tutorials contain definitions and relevant mathematical equations for easy reference.

I recommend: The Business Industrial Network offers a tutorial on general air compressors available through its website. The animated tutorial includes information on most gas compression equipment and a skills assessment test. Find a collection of lectures and tutorials on various gas compression applications at the Texas A&M University Turbo Machinery Laboratory.

Complete self-study workbooks on gas compressors

Gas compressor self-study workbooks either contain lessons or are designed to be used with textbooks. These workbooks contain exercises and quizzes designed to test understanding of the information. A successfully completed workbook can be an excellent quick-reference guide.

I recommend: Find self-study workbooks on petroleum gas compression and other gas applications at Petroleum Open Learning. Order a natural gas compressor workbook from the University of Texas. The workbook is intended to be used with the textbook "Field Handling of Natural Gas," which can also be purchased through the website.

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• •  Typically, gas compressors education and training materials will state what level of expertise they are geared toward. For example, some self-study workbooks are an introduction to gas compressor parts, while others are intended as a continuing education source for professionals with extensive gas compression equipment experience.