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Hazards  of  Compressed  Air
Air  Compressors  Summary (Cont.)

Mechanical Science Volume 2 of 2
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AIR COMPRESSORS DOE-HDBK-1018/2-93 Miscellaneous Mechanical Components Pressurized air can do the same type of damage as pressurized water.   Treat all operations on compressed air systems with the same care taken on liquid systems.   Closed valves should be slowly  cracked open  and  both sides  should  be allowed  to  equalize prior  to  opening the  valve further.   Systems  being  opened  for  maintenance  should  always  be  depressurized  before  work begins. Great care should be taken to keep contaminants from entering air systems.   This is especially true  for  oil.    Oil  introduced  in  an  air  compressor  can  be  compressed  to  the  point  where detonation  takes  place  in  a  similar  manner  as  that  which  occurs  in  a  diesel  engine.    This detonation can cause equipment damage and personnel injury. Summary The important information in this chapter is summarized below. Air  Compressors  Summary The three common types of air compressors are reciprocating, rotary, and centrifugal. The   single-stage   reciprocating   compressor   has   a   piston   that   moves downward during the suction stroke, expanding the air in the cylinder.  The expanding air causes pressure in the cylinder to drop.   When the pressure falls  below  the  pressure  on  the  other  side  of  the  inlet  valve,  the  valve opens and allows air in until the pressure equalizes across the inlet valve. The piston bottoms out and then begins a compression stroke.  The upward movement  of  the  piston  compresses  the  air  in  the  cylinder,  causing  the pressure  across  the  inlet  valve  to  equalize  and  the  inlet  valve  to  reseat. The piston continues to compress air during the remainder of the upward stroke  until  the  cylinder  pressure  is  great  enough  to  open  the  discharge valve against the valve spring pressure.  Once the discharge valve is open, the air compressed in the cylinder is discharged until the piston completes the stroke. ME-05 Rev. 0 Page 8







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