The Development History Of Air Compressors

The development history of air compressors can be traced back to ancient times. The following is its main development process:

### Early Explorations

- **Ancient Prototype**: In the 3rd century BC, the ancient Greek engineer Ctesibius invented the "mercury steam engine", which utilized compressed air to generate power and can be regarded as an early form of the air compressor. In 1640 AD, Germany manufactured a mechanical vacuum pump, which is considered the originator of modern air compression machinery.

- **Early Attempts**: In 1762, the British engineer John Somerville designed and built the first air compressor that was truly used for ventilating coal mines. It is considered the prototype of the modern air compressor. In 1800, the UK manufactured the first single-stage reciprocating piston air compressor with a discharge pressure of 1.38 MPa, laying the foundation for industrial applications.

### Technological Innovations Driven by the Industrial Revolution -

**The 19th Century**: In 1829, the UK designed the first two-stage reciprocating air compressor with intercooling, which improved the compression efficiency. In 1878, the Swiss Bucher mechanical factory produced the first air compressor with a control slide valve for gas distribution, optimizing the gas distribution efficiency. In the same year, the German H. Krihar proposed the concept of a screw air compressor without internal compression, but it could not be realized due to technological limitations. In 1888, there were already 14 reciprocating air compressors in the compressed air station of the pneumatic system in Paris, France, with a total power of 1500 kW. -

**The Early 20th Century**: In 1902, the American Ingersoll Rand Company manufactured the first mobile reciprocating air compressor, which met the needs of scenarios such as mining and construction. In 1904, Atlas in Sweden developed the first piston air compressor. In 1930, the diesel-powered mobile air compressor named Monodloc came out, expanding the outdoor operation capabilities. In 1931, the American Worthington Company manufactured the first opposed air compressor, which later developed into the BDC symmetric balanced air and gas compressor series. In 1934, the German KSB Company manufactured a reciprocating cylinder oil-free lubrication air compressor, using graphite rings as the material for the reciprocating sealing elements, reducing pollution. In the same year, Professor Alf Lysholm of the Royal Institute of Technology in Sweden designed the screw air compressor and its rotor tooth profile, laying the foundation for the development of screw air compressors. ### The Rise and Globalization of Screw Air Compressors -

**The Mid-20th Century**: In 1957, the oil-injected screw air compressor came out, solving the problems of low efficiency and high noise of the early screw machines and promoting its widespread application in manufacturing, chemical industry and other fields. In 1960, Atlas in Sweden launched the DT4 short-stroke air compressor and the ER8 low-power-consumption air compressor. In the same year, the Frenchman Simain proposed the concept of a single-screw compressor and obtained the patent right. In the early 1970s, the French Peugeot Automobile Company officially produced and put it on the market. In 1961, the oil-injected screw refrigeration compressor and screw process compressor were successfully developed, and the superior performance of screw air compressors was continuously brought into play. -

**The Late 20th Century**: In the late 1970s, countries such as the Netherlands, the UK and Japan successively developed and produced single-screw compressors for refrigeration and air conditioning. In the late 1980s, single-screw compressors for compressing various gases in industries such as petroleum, chemical industry and mining were also developed and manufactured.

### The Intelligent and Energy Efficiency Revolution Since the 21st Century

In the early 21st century, the rapid development of China's industry has led to a surge in the demand for screw air compressors. The technological iterations of two-stage compression, permanent magnet variable frequency and other technologies have accelerated, and the technical strength of domestic enterprises has been significantly improved. The permanent magnet variable frequency technology optimizes the motor efficiency and reduces energy consumption by more than 30%. At the same time, with the continuous progress of science and technology, air compressors are constantly developing in terms of intelligent control, energy conservation and consumption reduction, environmental protection, etc., to meet the growing needs of different industries.