The basic working principle of an air compressor involves drawing in air from the surroundings and compressing it to increase its pressure.

There are different types of air compressors, but I’ll provide a general overview of the working mechanism, focusing on a typical reciprocating compressor:

1. Intake of Air:
   • The process begins with the intake of atmospheric air. This air is drawn into the compressor through an inlet valve.
2. Compression Stroke:
   • In a reciprocating compressor, there is a piston that moves back and forth within a cylinder. During the compression stroke, the piston moves towards the cylinder head, reducing the volume of the space above it.
   • As the volume decreases, the air is compressed, increasing pressure.
3. Discharge of Compressed Air:
   • The compressed air is then discharged from the compressor through an outlet valve. This high-pressure air is now ready to be used for various applications.
4. Exhaust Stroke:
   • Following the compression stroke, there is an exhaust stroke where the piston moves back to its initial position, creating a low-pressure area in the cylinder.
   • The exhaust valve opens, allowing any remaining compressed air to be expelled from the cylinder.
5. Cycle Repeats:
   • The cycle repeats as long as the compressor is in operation, drawing in fresh air during the intake stroke, compressing it during the compression stroke, and expelling the compressed air during the exhaust stroke.

It’s important to note that different types of air compressors, such as rotary screw and centrifugal compressors, have variations in their working principles.

For example, rotary screw compressors use rotating screws to compress air continuously, and centrifugal compressors use a rotating impeller to accelerate air and convert velocity into pressure.

Regardless of the specific type, the overall goal is to convert mechanical power into compressed air, which can then be used for various industrial, commercial, or residential applications.