Often referred to as the fourth utility, compressed air is one of the driving forces of modern-day life. Air compressors are a core component in a range of industries and services including construction, manufacturing, industrial, automotive, pharmaceuticals, food and beverage, agriculture, and more. People around the globe rely on compressed air for the success of their business operation and to help complete tasks in many unexpected ways. But do you ever wonder how such a pivotal machine got to where it is today?
Dating back to the origin of mankind is the first air compressor: the human lung. Since the human body can exhale air, primitive people used their own breath to blow on cinders and create fire. But healthy lungs can only produce .02 to .08 bar of air pressure. As people began melting metals such as gold, copper and tin, higher temperatures and a more powerful source of air was needed. Here began the evolution of the air compressor, starting with the use of wind and blowpipes by Egyptian and Sumerian metallurgists. This was followed by the invention of the first mechanical compressor &#; the hand-operated bellows &#; and then the more efficient foot bellows in B.C. This device, a flexible bag whose volume could be changed by compression or expansion, produced a concentrated blast of air ideal for achieving higher temperature fires.
Fast forward to when John Smeaton, the first professional engineer, designed a water wheel-driven blowing cylinder that slowly replaced the bellows. Later, in , an English inventor by the name of John Wilkinson introduced a more efficient blasting machine that could produce high amounts of air pressure &#; which became an early prototype for all mechanical compressors.
Over the years these prototypes improved and evolved, and in the first compound air compressor, a device that compressed air in successive cylinders, was patented.
An early application of compressed air was the digging of the Mount Cenis Tunnel in the Swiss Alps. The tunnel began with workers drilling by hand, clearing 9 inches a day. But in , four years after the project began, compressed air was introduced to the compressed-air drills, and the project was then completed in just 14 years &#; twice as fast as expected.
Meanwhile, the Second Industrial Revolution was taking place and the United States was under a transformation. Fueled by advancements in the creation of steel, chemicals and electricity, factories began to take over and cities began to grow with the assistance of compressed air. Consumer and industrial goods that once had to be completed by hand now utilized stationary machines in factories and could be produced in mass quantities.
During the turn of the century, portable compressors on wheels were introduced and by most commonly had one large, single-stage compression cylinder driven horizontally by a steam or oil engine. Portable compressor development was quickly stimulated by the invention of the lightweight air drill which would aid in the development of city skyscrapers and suburban communities. With the help of portable compressed air, the Industrial Revolution saw road construction, bridgework, and railroad development open new economic opportunities for farmers, factory owners and various businesses to expand market potential and profitability. This period of prosperity was also filled with inventors and manufacturers seeking ways to improve the daily lives of American families by quickly developing and distributing modern appliances and devices, mass producing and packaging processed foods, and much more &#; all thanks to the help of compressed air and pneumatic tools.
In , the first two-stage air-cooled portable compressor was manufactured and soon after standard sizes and ratings on actual free air delivery were established.
Later, a Swedish professor named Alf Lysholm designed the first twin screw compressor while working on steam and gas turbines. The screw compressor was patented in Sweden in , and then found its way around the world including the Americas.
And as global development continued, people began to conceptualize more ways to utilize this technology such as the mining industry, especially in the US, where compressed air not only powered drills, but other machines such as hauling, pumping and stamping machines.
Although arguably inefficient and unreliable until the 20th century, air compressors have withstood the test of time and are vital to the productivity of almost every industry and the overall global economy. Today, air compressors continue to advance in technology and diversify offerings to keep up with the ever-changing needs and demands of business.
So next time you power up your air compressor, this piece of sophisticated equipment that is a necessity in daily operations, think about the power of a need and an idea, and the trail of human creativity and determination it took to get here.
Andrew Gaved
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Small compressor giant Embraco has unveiled the first oil-free compressor for domestic refrigerators in the world. The firm said it believes the new concept &#;will revolutionize residential refrigeration, expanding the possibilities in designing new refrigerators &#; from format to even additional smart features &#; while simultaneously meeting high energy efficiency levels and low noise.&#;
The Wisemotion compressor is the result of 10 years research by Embraco and involved approximately 100 engineers and researchers, who generated more than 80 patents for the project.
Roberto H. Campos, Embraco president, said, &#;We&#;re actually talking about revolutionizing the refrigeration industry. With Wisemotion technology, manufacturers will be able to think of innovative designs in the refrigeration systems production and to deliver practical benefits to their customers. We&#;re making our clients&#; dream possible: developing the refrigerator of the future. The market for domestic refrigeration will take a technological leap with this new solution.&#;
According to Fabio Klein, research and development director of Embraco, Wisemotion will enable benefits such as better food conservation, better use of the space inside the refrigerator, and low noise. Furthermore, the reduction in energy consumption can reach more than 20 percent when compared to other high efficiency commercial compressors. &#;Wisemotion also innovates in the use of the latest generation of materials and new coatings applied to its mechanical parts, which enable its operation without the use of oil as well as a 50 percent reduction in raw material use,&#; said Klein.
The innovation also demanded research on precision manufacturing processes never used in the industry, which led Embraco to seek references in Swiss watch production.
With Wisemotion it will be possible to obtain minimal temperature differences inside the refrigerator, since it operates with controlled capacity according to the demand on the equipment.
Embraco also said that the Wisemotion doesn&#;t suffer from the usual &#;on and off&#; noise of traditional refrigerators either, and at only about the height of a 100 mm smartphone, saves space inside the refrigerator. For example, the firm said, it enables the addition of a 20 liter drawer for keeping products. Additionally, it uses approximately 20 percent less refrigerant when compared to traditional compressor-driven equipment.
But Embraco said the benefits extend further than just refrigerator size: &#;Compressors which use this new technology can be installed in different locations within the refrigeration system. Therefore, in the future, the same compressor will be able to power simultaneously, the refrigerator, freezer, wine cellar, and mini-bar, optimizing the cooling process. Furthermore, new features and intelligent controls related to food preservation and energy efficiency will also be possible.&#;
Embraco said the Wisemotion compressor is designed using smart electronics and embedded with new materials and mechanical parts coated with a technology which enables the elimination of lubricating oils altogether. The refrigerant in the Wisemotion technology compressor will both cool and lubricate the system&#;s friction points.
Content for the European Spotlight is provided courtesy of Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Magazine, London. For more information, visit www.racplus.com.
Publication date: 11/17/
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