Airend (Air-End)
Trying to figure out what air-end product you need for your air compressor can be a daunting task. With so many options out there, it can be difficult to determine exactly what you need. Below we take a look at how to determine what is best for you and your air compressor.
What is an Airend?
At the heart of most air compressors Is the screw element, which is also called the air-end. This is the most important part of any screw-type compressor. It is the part of the machine where the actual air compression happens. Air-ends tend to last a long time, and due to their build have minimum vibrations and maintenance.
An air-end is essentially two giant screws that turn in opposite directions, and the unit that houses these screws. The rotary screw compressor is a “positive displacement” compressor, which means that the air is physically squeezed together by an external force (like piston and scroll compressors). A typical air-end will last you about 40,000 running hours, so if you have your air compressor running at full speed 24/7, this part of the compressor will last you about 4.5 years. If used sporadically such as in a small business setting, it can last up to 10 or 15 years.
Because your air-end will likely not need to be replaced for years, if not a decade or more, proper air-end maintenance is critical, and replacing one needs to be carefully mapped out to you can determine exactly what you need. Let’s take a look at the different types of air-ends.
Oil-Free vs Oil-Injected
What are the differences between oil-free and oil-injected rotary screw elements? And why is an oil-free element more expensive compared to an oil-injected element?
The injected oil has several functions; one of those functions is to seal any gaps and clearances between the male and female rotors and between the rotors and the housing. Gaps and clearances allow the compressed air to flow back the ‘wrong way’. It lowers the efficiency and performance of the air-end.
Because the oil-free type compressors do not have any oil, the clearance between the rotors and the housing must be much smaller compared to oil-injected type screw elements. Because of this, the price of an oil-free air-end is much higher.
The needed maximum clearance depends on the rotor diameter and is about 1 thousand of the diameter. If the diameter of the rotor is 200 mm, the clearance would be only 0,2 mm, which is fairly small for such a complicated shape.
Besides this, the oil-free elements require extra pockets and channels for cooling water. The oil-injected type element is cooled by the injected oil and does not need extra cooling water.
At www.Edmac.com, you can find many types of air-ends from all of the major OEM brands. All of our own Edmac-branded air-ends meet or exceed OEM specifications and are competitively priced to save you money, while still delivering the performance you need. Our parts benefit your equipment by performing at the level of the manufacturer’s parts at a fraction of the cost.
We sell multiple brands and types of air-ends, and our Edmac Guarantee, which ensures you get fast shipping, excellent customer support, and high-quality performance products, backs each product we sell.
Feel free to browse our full collection of air compressor air-ends. If you have product or compressor-specific questions, please call our product specialist team at (800) 866-2959.
