Reciprocating
air compressors, easily having the ability to drive the pressure above the
350 psig threshold of a typical rotary screw, are commonly used in high-pressure
applications. They are also a far superior product for the minimal demand
application, "one with a lot of starts and stops" due to a small
demand being placed on the system most of the time. A reasonably high-quality reciprocating air
compressor will have needle or roller burnings instead of babbitt bearings, it
will also have pressure lubrication, thus forcing the oil throughout the system,
instead of the standard splash lubrication. For the sake of efficiency and energy concerns, it should
also be a two-stage compressor. Although the superior choice would be a double
acting, two-stage, pressure lubricated unit, achieving the greatest efficiency
with the higher pressures and the greatest life between rebuilds. |
