Air compressors are clever pieces of technology that have lots of potential for generating energy. Essentially, what a compressor does is convert power that comes from an electrical source or fuel, into potential energy. This energy is stored up as the pressurised air inside the compressor, so it can be used as energy when needed. The energy that is stored is a type of kinetic energy. The power comes from the release of the pressurised air from its container.
When the compressor is generating pressurised air, there are two main methods of doing so:
- Positive displacement. Air goes into a chamber, and as it does so, the volume reduces to create the desired pressure. The air will be released into an outlet system once it is at the right pressure.
- Dynamic displacement. There will be a rotating air compressor component that uses centrifugal motion to convert air into pressurised potential energy.