subject: Choosing Between Single Stage And Two-stage Air Compressors [print this page] From outdoor construction equipment to indoor industrial factory work, industrial air compressors are used to power the largest and most useful machines on the worksite through its system of compressed air. When dealing with large scale, industrial sized air compressors, there are two main categories that you want to look into before making the final purchase: single stage air compressors and two-stage air compressors.
The biggest difference when determining which stage air compression you want lies with how much pressure you want to get out of your machine. The compressed air that is expelled from the unit comes out at a high PSI, or pounds per square inch. This unit of measurement determines how powerful and how large of a tool can be used in conjunction with the air compressor machine.
An application that requires 125 PSI or below can usually be handled by a single stage industrial air compressor. These compressors work by pulling air into the chamber and compressing it by reducing volume but keeping its mass, creating a large amount of pressure buildup. This pressure is then expelled via a pneumatic hose which connects to your power tools, giving you clean compressed air to run all your necessary equipment.
For anything requiring more than 125 PSI, a two-stage air compressing unit is required. Working through virtually the same principle as the single stage compressor, a two-stage compressor unit compresses the air a second time, creating even more pressure in the unit to be expelled.
Another measurement you need to take into consideration is CFM, or cubic feet per minute, which determines the amount of space that the compressed air will take up. A larger CFM means that more compressed air can be expelled at a higher pressure, allowing for multiple tools to be connected to the compressor.
A single stage compressor is best used for smaller jobs or work sites where the duration of the job or the amount of tools being connected is low. For much larger jobs on larger sites, a two-stage compressor is required because they will have the necessary CFM and PSI to get all your tools working in top shape.
It is important to consider these factors when purchasing an industrial sized air compressor. Each one has its benefits and each one has its specific uses. Determining which one works best for your business is vital to getting the most for your money, so be sure to check out an established, reputable air compressor dealer for more information on single and two-stage air compressors.
