Most Common Applications & Industries for Air Compressor Products
Air compressors come in various shapes and designs to suit an array of industrial needs. The Titus Company carries air compressors in five different categories — reciprocating, rotary screw, centrifugal, oil-free scroll and pressure-lubricated. Everyone from woodworkers and shipbuilders to electronics and metal manufacturers has used our compressor products to achieve clean, efficient productions.
Common Air Compressor System Components
The Titus Company carefully selects the products it offers, so you can be sure our equipment is cost-effective, efficient and reliable. For a complete compressed-air system, certain other components are also needed to ensure that the processes work as planned:
Air Filters
Industrial air compressors pressurize air for use as pneumatic power in a multitude of applications, but the air that goes into a compressor could be full of impurities unless the air undergoes filtration. The Titus Company sells air filters that function together with compressed air systems, ensuring that air-bound impurities like dust, oily mist and moisture are removed from the air before it enters the inlet valves.
View Our Selection of Air Filters
Air Dryers
The vast majority of industrial applications require an environment of clean air, free of moisture and oily mist. For this purpose, air dryers go hand-in-hand with air compressors. Air dryers are used at factories to dry the moisture and condensation that often form as a by-product of the pressurization and pneumatic processes.
View Our Selection of Air Dryers
Gas Generators
In industries where oxygen and nitrogen gas are used in particular processes, industrial gas generators are used to separate the two from other gases. A membrane nitrogen generator includes no moving parts and makes the process of nitrogen separation easy and maintenance-free. The Titus Company sells membrane nitrogen generators and swing adsorption oxygen generators.
View Our Selection of Gas Generators
Blowers and Vacuums
Not all applications require high-pressure air. In fact, some applications call for low-pressure air, and a normal compressor could waste energy if used for such purposes. Industrial air blowers can be used to save energy in low-pressure applications, an option that is especially convenient at smaller facilities. The Titus Company sells air blowers as well as vacuums, which are used to purify air and remove harmful particulates.
View Our Selection of Blowers & Vacuums
Chillers and Coolers
Various processes throughout the industrial sector require temperature regulation to prevent the overheating of machines and processes. At factories, chillers and coolers are employed in tandem with air compressors to keep air and water temperatures down to acceptable levels for the machines and tools at hand. The Titus Company offers chillers and coolers that help technicians maintain desired working temperatures.
Most Common Industry Applications
Air compressors are used in a vast range of industrial applications, from pharmaceutical and food and beverage production to nuclear power and chemical and petrochemical manufacturing. Our design, engineering and service capabilities provide efficient operation and cost savings across a wide cross-section of industries. Industries that use large volumes of compressed air regularly include the following:
Naval
The Titus Company is proud to be the exclusive supplier of air dryers to the United States Navy, the Royal Australian Navy, the Royal Navy of the United Arab Emirates and on the new Littoral Combat Ship (LCS). These environments are among the most demanding in the world. We are proud that our specialty drying equipment operates effectively and successfully in these extreme conditions.
(Check out our Extreme Testing video)
Nuclear
As the United States embraces the move to nuclear power, The Titus Company will be at the forefront of compressed air and gas drying technology to satisfy this growing and environmentally important energy sector. The Titus Company has already worked with many nuclear power plants across the country to supply reliable drying systems for their emergency diesel engine start systems. Our expertise doesn’t end there, however, as we can also provide clean, dry instrument air for general plant operations.
Chemical/Petrochemical
Chemical & Petrochemical Plants require very high quality compressed air. Additionally, due to the hazardous conditions that may exist, these plants oftentimes prefer systems that are intrinsically safe. The Titus Company routinely satisfies such demanding requirements with their innovative membrane dehydration systems. Titus can also provide nitrogen generation systems for the blanketing of raw materials and finished product. When unique solutions are called for, The Titus Company answers the call.
Pharmaceutical
As with the chemical and petrochemical industries, compressed air requirements for pharmaceutical applications are very stringent. Compressed air of the very highest quality must be provided, especially when the air will come in contact with either raw materials or finished product. The Titus Company has the expertise and technological sophistication to handle these applications with cost effective solutions. Titus can also provide nitrogen generation systems for the blanketing of raw materials and the MAP gas required for storage and transportation.
Food & Beverage
Again as with pharmaceutical, the Food & Beverage Industries require high purity air delivered reliably. Air that might come in contact with the food or beverage product must be clean. The Titus Company provides high quality solutions to compressed air generation and distribution for these applications. Titus can also provide nitrogen generation systems for the blanketing of raw materials and the MAP gas required for storage and transportation.
Manufacturing
In general manufacturing applications the quality of compressed air required may vary widely depending on the use. Some applications require general purpose air while others require some combination of general purpose and higher quality instrument grade air. The Titus Company has worked out innovative solutions that allow users to have exactly the quality of air that is needed at each point, while creating a cost effective system that does not over-purify air for general purpose applications. For your next compressed air or gas application, contact The Titus Company to see how we might deliver the best of both worlds to you.
Aerospace and Defense
In the aerospace and defense industries, it is crucial for weapon and aircraft manufacturers to have pure air with maximum levels of pressurized power. The Titus Company sells air compressors that are used for a variety of tasks in the defense industry, from the sawing, sanding and painting of machine parts to the automation processes that guide each machine-in-progress down the assembly line. Military tanks and aircraft are pieced together by air-powered equipment, from the formative to the finishing stages. Manufacturers of tanks, military assault rifles and aircraft use rotary screw and rotary vane compressors to ensure that each cut is precise and that the finishing touches are consistent and flawless.
Energy Production
In the field of energy production, compressed air is used for a variety of processes, from the cooling of equipment to the management of temperatures. At facilities, an assortment of machine processes can become hot from the various mechanical stresses that occur throughout each day of operation. With so much equipment that performs nonstop, machines need to have their temperatures regulated to prevent overheating. With proper applications of pressurized air power, temperatures at energy facilities can be regulated at levels that are safe for the high-tech machine arsenals that provide energy to local power grids. The Titus Company offers lubricated and oil-free air compressors that work for a range of energy-related processes.
Pulp and Paper Mills
At pulp and paper mills, the various processes that go into paper production can easily be compromised by external factors, namely the dust, debris and oily vapor that circulate through the air. To keep the paper-making processes clean and free of oil and dirt, today’s paper mills can benefit greatly by using oil-free air compressors, which regulate the flow of pressurized air into the various mechanical steps that yield paper supplies. Additionally, paper mills can also ensure clean interior air by using desiccant air dryers and purifiers, which maximize the purity of air that surrounds the paper-making machinery. The Titus Company sells a range of air compressors, dryers and purifiers that can help paper manufacturers perfect various processes and avoid costly production issues.
Cement and Concrete
At cement and concrete production facilities, the processes that go into making these materials can generate noxious side effects, from dusty pollutants to toxic gases. To minimize the presence of dust and largely eliminate the spread of gases at concrete facilities, an increasing number of concrete producers are turning to air compressors for a variety of processes. During the production of concrete, pressurized air can be used to drive a range of processes with speed and efficiency. Air compressors and dryers can also be used to regulate the flow of air and ensure ambient purity within the working environment. This way, cement and concrete supplies do not become corrupted by stray dust and debris, while the working environment is rendered safer for those on the floor. The Titus Company offers numerous compressors and industrial air dryers that make cement and concrete factories more clean, efficient and environmentally friendly.
Metal Manufacturing
At metal manufacturing facilities, air compressors are used at the finishing end for a variety of processes. As newly formed metals take shape, pressurized air is used to power the pneumatic tools that cut raw metal supplies into measured lengths and defined shapes. Air compressors are also used to power the refining tools that smooth out and clean the surfaces of metal products. The Titus Company sells air compressors and nitrogen generators that make the steel-making process easier and more effective.
Ship Building
The processes involved in the construction of ships require a complex arsenal of tools and machinery, a lot of which rely on air compressors. During the stages of shipbuilding where the parts are made, air-powered tools are employed to cut the pieces, smooth the surfaces, refine the edges and fasten separate parts into one. After the stages of assembly, further rounds of pneumatic tools are used to paint and add finishes to various details of the naval vessels. The Titus Company offers a range of air compressors and nitrogen generators that make the processes of shipbuilding easier and more efficient for the work crews that bring these vessels into existence.
Electronic Manufacturing
At production facilities where electronics are assembled, oil-free air compressors help expedite the various processes of product assembly. As televisions and stereo components move down the production line, air compressors power the pneumatic tools that are used to fasten parts together and stick labels onto the finished products. During the stages where circuit boards are assembled, the air must be clean and free of dust or moisture, as these elements can lead to chip failure and other costly errors that could ruin a whole production. The Titus Company sells desiccant and membrane air dryers that render the air pure and safe for sensitive chip-board assembly.
Plastics & Injection Molding
The processes that go into plastic molding require a pure environment, free of oily moisture and air-bound dust and dirt. If any impurities enter the plastic melts or touch the surfaces of drying plastics, the finished product could lose its integrity. With air compressors, plastic manufactures can run a clean set of processes throughout the stages of product formation and injection molding. The Titus Company sells air compressors that are used to pressurize clean, pure air for the pneumatic applications used in the molding stages of plastic production.
Woodworking
Modern-day woodworking typically involves high-tech machinery, which enables manufacturers to produce wood products in vast quantities. However, the steps involved in woodworking require high levels of sensitivity, as external factors like moisture and oily mist can degrade the quality of wood surfaces. The Titus Company offers a range of air dryers that make it possible for woodworkers to maintain a pure environment throughout the cutting, carving and finishing stages of production. Furthermore, our air compressors are used to power pneumatic saws, buffers, sanders, drills and various other tools used by woodworkers.
Tips for Selecting the Right Air Compressor System and Equipment for Your Industry or Application
If your applications involve a constant need for medium-pressure air, a rotary screw air compressor could be your best bet. In a rotary screw air compressor, incoming air passes between the threads of counter-turning screws. Rotary screw air compressors are big machines that consume large areas of space and offer between 10 horsepower (HP) and 1,000 HP.
For applications that require high pressurization, reciprocating compressors are the ideal choice. In a reciprocating compressor, a piston compresses incoming air through a pressurization chamber. Reciprocating compressors are made in single-and two-stage models. In the second, the pressurized air enters a second chamber for further pressurization. Reciprocating compressors offer 1,500 pounds per square inch (PSI) and higher.
Reciprocating and rotary screw air compressors differ in the way they function, but there are also variations in the features included on different makes and models.
How to Know What Type of Equipment Is Needed
The type of air compressor that would best suit your operations could all depend on the size of your factory arsenal and the pressure demands of the tools on your production line. If your operations require moderate pressurization, a rotary screw air compressor would probably be the ideal choice. You will need to have room for the machine, but it will power medium-pressure tools and consume only modest amounts of energy.
If your operations require high levels of air pressure, you will probably need a reciprocating air compressor. For extra pressurization, a two-stage reciprocating air compressor will provide maximum pressurization for processes that demand maximum levels of power, such as pneumatic fastening tools. Reciprocating air compressors are generally the most practical option at factories where automobiles, aircraft and heavy metals are produced.
In addition to the right air compressor, you might also need extra components for your system to ensure proper air cleanliness. If dust and mist are common byproducts of your processes, industrial air filters will prevent such impurities from passing through the inlet valves of your air compressor. Air filtration separates the air-bound oils and moisture from the ambient air before such particulates enter your compressor, ensuring that the pressurization chambers run smoothly and that the out-coming air is clean as it reaches the end-point application.
An air compressor should also be paired with air dryer, which will absorb moisture and oily mist from the ambient air within your factory setting. The combination of an air dryer and air filter can make your compressed air system virtually free of impurities. These components are most important if you manufacture electronic products or automate steps that involve painting and sanding.
How to Determine the Capacity Needed for an Air Compressor System
Depending on the level of air pressure that your processes require and the number of tools that you use simultaneously, you will need an air compressor that offers either a medium or high level of PSI. The average air compressor will provide anywhere from 100 to 175 PSI, which might not be sufficient if you need to power multiple high-pressure tools at the same time. To determine how much PSI will be needed for your operations, add the peak-demand PSI requirements of all the tools that you plan to use simultaneously and multiply that number by 1.5.
When you select an air compressor, also pay attention to the cubic feet per minute (CFM) rating, which indicates the amount of air that a compressor can pressurize each minute. For applications that demand high pressurization, you will need a compressor with sufficient CFM. To determine the necessary CFM rating for your next compressor, add the CFM requirements for all the pneumatic tools in your arsenal that you intend to run simultaneously and multiply that number by 1.3.
Another important capacity rating is horsepower, which indicates the maximum amount of power that a motor can generate. On air compressors, HP ratings typically range from 1.5 to 6.5. For high-pressure operations, especially those that involve multiple tools, you will need an air compressor that delivers high horsepower.
Air Compressors, Supplies and Repairs From the Titus Company
Air compressors are complex machines that consist of numerous internal parts, each with specific functions that all work together to pressurize air. For all of these internal parts and peripheral components to work for years on end without fail, periodic maintenance is necessary to ensure that the parts are periodically lubricated, if applicable, and that all the moving parts are smooth and free of rust.
When you purchase a new air compressor or accompanying component, that product should give you years of reliable, consistent performance. If you take good care of the product, there is no reason why you should have to replace it in the foreseeable future. If you do need maintenance or repairs on your air compressor, contact the Titus Company, where we perform repairs and maintenance on a variety of air compressor types and models. Contact us today to purchase a new air compressor or to have maintenance performed on your current machine.