A reciprocating compressor is a positive displacement machine capable of generating very high pressures. It is used in a wide range of industries because of its affordability, reliability, and easy maintenance. You can find these powerful machines in oil refineries, chemical plants, and refrigeration facilities, and they are also used to operate the air braking systems found in trains and large commercial vehicles.
Air Power Equipment Company is an Oklahoma City-based supplier of high-quality air compression equipment that stands behind its products with top-notch maintenance and repair services. We offer reciprocating air compressors from industry leaders like FS Curtis, and our team of certified technicians keeps them running like new.

Understanding Reciprocating Compressors

Reciprocating compressors, sometimes piston compressors, take advantage of a scientific principle called Boyle’s law. This law states that the amount of pressure a volume of gas exerts is inversely proportional to the size of the space it occupies. This means that pressure increases when gas is forced into a smaller area. Reciprocating compressors increase the pressure of gas using the same kind of technology as an internal combustion engine. The main components of a piston compressor are:

• The crankshaft: In an internal combustion engine, the pistons turn the crankshaft. In a piston compressor, the crankshaft is connected to an electric motor and moves the pistons.
• Connecting rod: This component connects the crankshaft to the pistons. Some reciprocating compressors have only one piston, but larger machines can have six or more.
• The pistons: The up-and-down reciprocating motion of a piston increases and relieves pressure inside a cylinder. Pressure increases when a piston moves up a cylinder and is relieved when it moves back down.
• The cylinder: The piston moves up and down inside a cylinder that contains the pressurized gas.
• The valves: Each cylinder has a suction valve that sucks uncompressed gas in and a discharge valve that sends compressed gas to a storage tank.

The Benefits of Reciprocating Compressors

The technology used by piston compressors is tried and tested. This type of compressor is extremely tough and durable, easy to maintain, and can run reliably for years. They are simple to work on, and replacement parts are readily available. Reciprocating piston air compressors are used in various industries because they can handle a broad range of pressures and flow rates and don’t require large amounts of energy to generate high pressures.

FS Curtis: A Leader in Reciprocating Compressor Technology

FS Curtis has produced high-quality industrial equipment for 170 years, and its range of positive displacement compressors is second to none. It includes everything from compact .75-horsepower machines to 30-horsepower workhorses, and every compressor uses the finest parts and materials available. The company’s CA and CT multistage reciprocating compressors feature cast iron construction for durability but include critical components that come from aluminum billets. FS Curtis oilless compressors are ideal for environments where air quality is a priority, and the company’s ML compressors have been relied upon for decades because their oil pumps send lubricant to every friction point.

Applications of Reciprocating Compressors

Positive displacement compressors are extremely capable and versatile machines. Single-stage compressors can be small enough to fit inside airbrushes and medical devices. At the same time, large multistage machines can be powerful enough to keep industrial machines running and natural gas pipelines flowing. Other applications include:

• Automotive: Compressed air is used in automotive paint shops and repair facilities to inflate tires and operate power tools and sprayers.
• Construction: Almost every construction site has compressors connected to pneumatic tools like drills, sanders, and air hammers.
• Woodworking: Common woodworking tools like nail guns and spray guns need high-pressure air.
• Industrial: Compressors are used in most industries to keep machinery running and operate power tools.
• Food and beverage: Bottling and packaging foods and beverages are often air-operated processes, and compressors make the plastic bottles.
• Oil and gas: Natural gas requires compression before transportation, and compressors are also used in the fossil fuel sector to operate lifting and refining machinery.

When Could a Reciprocating Compressor Be Damaged?

Piston compressors are extremely durable but can get damaged in certain situations. The vast majority of compressor problems are caused by:

• Improper installation: Reciprocating piston air compressors are complex machines with components that must work together. A botched installation can disrupt this delicate balance, leading to low pressures, overheating, and excessive noise.
• Overheating: Overheating compressors do not perform as well or last as long. Clogged air filters, a malfunctioning cooling system, or inadequate ventilation can cause overheating.
• Lubrication issues: Oil leaks or lax maintenance can cause a compressor’s oil pan to run dry. An unlubricated machine will fail eventually, so regularly checking a compressor’s oil level is crucial.
• Contamination: Degraded oil and clogged filters can allow moisture and contaminants to enter a compressor. This impedes performance and can damage machinery and pneumatic tools.
• Excessive wear and tear: Compressors wear out more quickly when they operate in conditions that exceed their design parameters. This is why choosing the right machine for the job is important.

Piston compressors can run reliably for decades if installed and maintained properly. Picking the right compressor for an application and regularly performing routine maintenance tasks like oil and filter changes can prevent most compressor problems and issues.

Choosing the Right Reciprocating Compressor

You will avoid most compressor problems and enjoy years of trouble-free service if you pick a machine that meets your needs, and the Air Power Equipment Company experts can help. Our friendly and knowledgeable staff will be happy to explain your horsepower, flow rate, and pressure options, and they will help you find a compressor in our wide range that checks all of the right boxes. Compressors from FS Curtis are the industry standard. We also offer products from other respected manufacturers like APEC and Champion. APEC offers affordable compressors and excellent customer service, and Champion is known for durability and reliable performance.

An Industry Expert You Can Count On

Reciprocating piston air compressors provide reliable pressure and are solidly built. You can find a large selection of them at Air Power Equipment Company. We have been the go-to source in Oklahoma City for tailored solutions and expert advice since 1979, and we are standing by to help you meet your air compressor needs. You can call us at (405) 445-1216 to ask us a question or request a quote, or you can fill out our online form. Contact us today.

Air Power Equipment Company in Oklahoma City (OKC), is the leading source for new air compressor sales and used air compressor sales throughout the country. We specialize in rotary screw air compressor sales and reciprocal air compressor sales. Air Power Equipment Company is also the best source for air compressor service and air compressor parts in Oklahoma.  If you are looking for new air compressors, used air compressors, air compressor parts, or air compressor service call Air Power Equipment Company OKC. We are experts with all brands of air compressor equipment and we are a stocking distributor of air compressor brands like FS Curtis Air Compressors, Champion Air Compressors, Campbell Hausfeld Air Compressors, Kellogg Air Compressors, American Air Compressors, Quincy Compressor and many more. Call us at (405) 445-1216 – we have what you need, and at the best price you will find.