The portable air compressor market was worth more than $1.42 billion in 2020. Analysts expect global industry shipments to reach more than 10.27 million units by 2027.
Is it time for a new air compressor?
You have many factors to consider when you start looking for the best air compressor for your business. The first decision is whether you want an electric, gasoline, or diesel air compressor.
Diesel air compressors have the power, reliability, and efficiency you’re looking for. Find out more here about diesel air compressors and why they’re the right solution for you.
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PSI and CFM
Diesel air compressors are a reliable and efficient way to get the PSI you need. Pounds per square inch (PSI) and cubic feet per minute (CFM) are two important ratings to consider when you start looking for a diesel air compressor for sale.
Get the Right PSI
PSI tells you the amount of pressure placed on a square inch of space. This is the amount of force the air compressor can deliver.
Smaller tools usually need between 70 to 90 PSI. Larger tools have higher requirements at around 100-120 PSI.
Get Enough CFM
CFM tells you the flow rate. The flow rate is the amount of air a compressor can produce at a given pressure.
Compressors with a higher CFM rating can usually produce more air. They’re well-suited for larger applications.
Continuous use tools need a higher CFM than tools that need short bursts of air. For example, a spinning sander will have a higher CFM requirement than a nail gun. If you’ll be using multiple tools at the same time, you can add their individual CFM ratings together to see how much total CFM you’ll need.
Air tools for general use with a portable air compressor usually need up to 5 CFM at 70-90 PSI. Larger tools may need more than 10 CFM at 100-120 PSI.
Commercial vs Industrial Diesel Air Compressors
Air compressors come in three grades: consumer, commercial, and industrial. Consumer air compressors aren’t usually diesel-powered, though. For more than hobby or casual use, you’ll need at least a commercial-grade air compressor.
Commercial Diesel Air Compressors
Commercial-grade diesel air compressors give you consistent, heavy-duty air compression. They can usually provide between 60 and 250 CFM. Commercial-grade portable diesel air compressors are ideal for users like construction crews, mechanics, and tire services.
Commercial diesel air compressors can be towed on their own chassis. You can also mount the compressor on skids or mount it directly to a service vehicle.
Industrial Diesel Air Compressors
Industrial-grade diesel air compressors can produce high CFM and high PSI. The CFM ratings can be 1800 or higher.
These machines are large and can power large tools and equipment. They can also power more than one large tool at a time.
Industrial diesel air compressors come in tow-behind or utility-mounted models.
How Does a Diesel Air Compressor Work?
Diesel air compressors have two main components: the diesel engine and the air end. The diesel engine forces the air end to move and create compressed air.
How Does a Diesel Engine Work?
Diesel engines have a compression-ignited injection system. This makes them different from gasoline engines, which use a spark-ignited system.
Pistons push air into the combustion chamber. As the air is compressed, it heats up. The fuel injectors send diesel fuel into this hot, compressed air. The fuel ignites, which generates energy.
How Does the Air End Work?
When the diesel engine creates energy, it gives the air end the power it needs to operate.
The most powerful and reliable diesel air compressors have rotary screw compressors. Rotary screw compressors have two internal rotors that spin in opposite directions.
The rotors trap air in the space between them. This compresses the air. The motion of the rotors forces the compressed air out through the output.
Benefits of a Portable Diesel Air Compressor
Portable diesel air compressors give you several advantages over gasoline or electric compressors. They’re powerful, reliable, safe, and cost-effective.
More Powerful
Diesel air compressors give you consistently high performance. They’re more powerful than gas compressors. Even electric air compressors don’t match the performance of diesel.
Diesel engines give you more power and torque.
More Self-Sufficient
A mobile diesel air compressor doesn’t need electricity to make it run. If the power goes out, you can keep working. With an electric air compressor, you have expensive downtime until the power comes back on.
You can take diesel air compressors to remote locations. You don’t need to worry about finding an electrical outlet or bringing a generator. All you need is a supply of diesel fuel.
More Efficient
Diesel is more efficient to burn than gasoline. The same amount of fuel goes farther in a diesel air compressor. Diesel contains 10-15% more energy than gasoline.
Check out our Diesel Compressors for Sale
Less Chance of Accidents
A diesel air compressor can be safer than electric or gasoline air compressors. An electric air compressor needs cords to plug it in. This can be a tripping hazard that results in injury or damage to inventory.
Diesel air compressors don’t need wires or cables. Your work environment is safer.
In addition, diesel has a much higher flashpoint than gasoline. The flashpoint for 2D diesel is 125ºF compared to -45ºF for gas.
Gasoline will almost always catch fire if a spark occurs. A diesel fire from sparks is much less likely.
Diesel engines compress air to create heat that ignites the fuel within the engine. The surrounding temperature rarely gets so hot, though. Diesel is safer to store and use.
Finally, many operators drive diesel vehicles. Using a diesel air compressor means you only need one type of fuel. You reduce the risk of a fuel mix-up that could damage the air compressor.
Finding the Best Diesel Air Compressor
Diesel air compressors give you reliable performance that you can take anywhere. You can count on getting the PSI and CFM you need to keep your business running. When you’re ready to buy a diesel air compressor, you want to find the best one for your needs.
Swift Equipment Solutions has a range of high-quality used diesel air compressors available. You can get the performance you need at a more competitive price. If our current stock doesn’t have exactly what you’re looking for, we can source the unit you need.
Contact us today and let us help you find the best air compressor solution for your business.
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