Air Pressure

Air pressure is defined as the amount of force aplied to a given area. In the SI-system, pressure is given in Pascal. This is a very small unit when compared to both the psi unit and bar, since Pascal (Pa) describes Newton per square meter (N/m²). The reason for this is that the area that the force in Pascal is distributed over, is so much greater than for both psi and bar.

Area comparison:

psi         = 1 in²              = 6.453 cm²     = 0.6453⋅10⁻³ m² (1 550 times greater area)

bar        = 0.155 in²       = 1 cm²             = 0.1⋅10⁻³ m²      (10 000 times greater area)

Pascal   = 1.55⋅10³ in²   = 10⋅10³ cm²     = 1 m²

Since the area which Pascal operates with is so much greater than both psi and bar, we often use prefixes together with the Pa unit. Prefixes lets us increase, or decrease, the multiplier of the variable without altering the magnitude of the number.

Example 1:

If we have 10 000 Pa, we can simply replace three of the zeros with a kilo prefix. The new way of writing the same number then becomes: 10 kPa = 10 000 Pa.

We can do the same trick with very small numbers as well (though this is not likely with the Pascal unit, since it's already quite small). 

Example 2:

We have a pressure of 0.00065 Pascal. This number can be hard to read, let alone to spell. The way around this problem is simply to use an prefix that alows us to remove some of the decimals. We could for example use the micro (µ) prefix which is equal to 0.000001. The new number, wiht a prefix, would then become = 650 µPa = 0.00065 Pa

The most commone prefix used toghether with Pascal is probably kilo (k = 1000). This prefix seems to fit perfect with other pressure units like e.g. bar. When we state atmospheric pressure in bar we roughly say that it's 1 bar (actually 1 atmosphere is 1.013 125 bar to be precise). Since Pascal is so much smaller then bar we express 1 bar as 100 000 Pascal. Obviously this is a tiresome way of writing pressure and therefore we often replace three of the zeros with a kilo (k) prefix instead. This way we can write one atmosphere as 100 kPa (101.235 kPa to be acurate).

Compressor Parts and Tools

The reason for why air compressors are so versatile, is becasue of all the different parts and tools that can be connected to them. No mather what job you are planning to do, there will probably exist a tool specaily made for the job. Besides being verry versatile, the air compressor also eliminates fire hasard by powering all the tools with air motors instead of electric motors with burshes that sometimes makes sparks. Air compressor parts often have lower noiselevels as well.

When buying air compressro parts for you compressed air system i crucila to make sure that the pneumatic tools are compatible with your existing compressed air system. You have to make sure the pressure rating is withing the same range as you system pressure, e.g. if you system pressure is 120 psi, the air tool must be rates for at least 120 psi. Bear in mind that if you pneumatic tool is rated to high above the system pressure it might not work properly. If in doubt about which pressure rating you air tools should have, contanct the manufacturer. 

Another ting you need to check when buying air compressor parts for you compressed air system, is the required air flow, or air consumption. This needs to be wihtin you compresseed air systems range to work properly. If you have several tools connected to the system and you plan on using them all at once (which is often the case) make sure that the combined air consumption is lower than the output of you compressor. Lets say we have a Campbell Hausfeld air compressor that can deliver 20 cfm at 120 psi, with that we can easily attach one 80 psi nail gun (taken into account that we use a reduction valve upstream of the nail gun) with a estimated air consumption of 5 cfm, and one 120 psi angle grinder (sander) with an air consumption of 10 cfm, since the combined air consumption will only be 5 cfm + 10 cfm = 15 cfm.

Ingersoll Rand Needle Scaler

There are som air compressor parts which are known to have extremely high air consumption and will normally not work on regular reciprocating air compressors. Some of these air compressor parts are jackhammers; spray paint guns; sandblasting equipment, chisles, needle scalesrs, etc.

Read more here.