High-Pressure Compressors Key Terms

Understand the ABCs of the compressor industry to make smarter business choices

As the name indicates, high-pressure compressors operate at a higher pressure than the normal pressure conditions. High-pressure compressors are useful in various applications, such as automotive repairs, woodworking, painting and packaging.

While searching for basic information about high-pressure compressors, you will come across various technical terms that indicate types of compressors, various compression techniques and specifications of the compressor products.  

This guide intends to explain the compressor terms that will help you make smarter business choices. Some of the compressor terms covered in this guide are reciprocating compressors, centrifugal compressors, adiabatic compression, isentropic compression, gauge pressure, brake horsepower and compression efficiency.

 

Adiabatic compression

In an adiabatic compression process, there is no heat transfer. The compressed fluid is neither heated nor cooled during the compression process.
Try: airandvac.com provides a glossary of air terms, including adiabatic compression. Pneuaire, a reputable supplier of compressors, presents the definition for the adiabatic compression process.

Isentropic compression

As the name indicates, an isentropic compression process is an adiabatic process with an increase in entropy.
Try: You can read through the definition for an isentropic compression process at Sawyer Compressor, a leading manufacturer of compressors.

Isothermal compression

The compression process, in which the temperature of the compressed fluid remains constant, is called the isothermal compression process.
Try: For the definition of the isothermal compression process, you can read through the glossary at IDG Compressor (PDF), a supplier of industrial compressors. In addition, Northwest Air Solutions, Inc. offers the compressed air glossary for the inexperienced reader.

Reciprocating compressors

In a reciprocating compressor (also called a piston drive compressor), the fluid is compressed with a piston-cylinder mechanism.
Try: Air Compressor Resource, an online resource for prospective compressor buyers, offers information on the various types of compressors, such as reciprocating compressors.

Centrifugal compressors

A centrifugal compressor compresses the fluid by using rotating vanes or impellers. For achieving high discharge pressures, you can also employ a multi-stage centrifugal compressor.
Try: To understand the definition for a centrifugal compressor, you can read through glossaries of key terms at websites of the different compressor suppliers, such as Pneumatic-Source.com and Impact RM.

Gauge pressure

Gauge pressure (also referred to as overpressure) is the pressure of a system measured by a gauge or any other pressure-measuring instruments.
Try: JPL Air Compressor Service and Main Power Connect provide air compressor glossaries explaining various key terms, such as absolute pressure and gauge pressure.

Brake horsepower

Compressor manufacturers use this measurement unit to specify the power of a high-pressure compressor. Brake horsepower of a compressor is the horsepower required at the compressor shaft for its efficient functioning.
Try: Industrial Air Power, a supplier of compressor parts, offers information about the term brake horsepower. PneuSource, Inc., a specialist in the air-compression technology, also provides definitions for compressed air terms.

Compression efficiency

Compression efficiency is the ratio of the theoretical work requirement to the actual work required to be done on the fluid for its compression and delivery.
Try: R and R Compressor Service Co. publishes the basics of compression efficiency. In addition, Enerquip offers a glossary of the compressor key terms, such as compression efficiency.

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