Principles of Air Compressor Selection

As an important power supply facility in industrial production, the selection of air compressors should adhere to the principles of safety and reliability, economic efficiency, and low installation and maintenance costs in order to ensure that they serve production safely, stably, and efficiently.

First, select an air compressor with a suitable structure based on the user's required air pressure and airflow. Good mechanical performance (low vibration, low noise), good adaptability to varying operating conditions, and the ability to operate stably and continuously are all fundamental aspects of air compressor selection. Second, the economic efficiency of the air compressor system should be a crucial indicator in selection. This includes comprehensive indicators such as the air compressor's electricity consumption (kWh/km³) or steam consumption (t/km³), the quality and consumption of the cooling water required for the air compressor (t/km³), and the waste heat efficiency of the air compressor. Furthermore, selecting appropriate air compressor technical parameters (discharge volume, discharge pressure) is a prerequisite for whether the air compressor can meet production needs and operate economically. Finally, the installation and maintenance costs of the air compressor should also be considered as an indicator in selection; choose air compressors that are easy to install and have low maintenance costs whenever possible.

The selection of air compressors should be carried out according to the following procedures:

(1)Investigate user needs (air pressure, air flow, air temperature, air humidity, etc. required by the user);

(2)Calculate the resistance between the air compressor outlet and the user point;

(3)Determine the rated exhaust pressure of the air compressor (the rated exhaust pressure of the unit can be taken as 1.1 times the theoretical data calculated from the actual value), exhaust volume, exhaust temperature of the air compressor after the post-treatment device, etc.;

(4)Select a suitable electrical control and automatic control system according to the unit's automated operation requirements;

(5)Draft the technical requirements of the air compressor to prepare for procurement;

(6)Conduct on-site inspections of air compressor manufacturers and users to understand the manufacturers' manufacturing level and production capacity, and gain a deep understanding of the real feedback from air compressor users;

(7)Conduct bidding for the air compressor, formulate reasonable scoring standards, and select air compressor units with high cost performance through bidding;

(8)After the equipment contract is signed, conduct face-to-face technical document docking with the air compressor supplier to form an air compressor technical agreement as an appendix to the contract.