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What Is an Air Compressor?

Air compressors are versatile tools used across industrial and commercial applications. These pneumatic devices pressurize air within a tank and store the energy for later use, such as inflating tires or operating power tools. Air compressors provide a simple yet powerful means of converting and storing energy. For that reason, compressed air is sometimes considered a fourth utility, after natural gas, water, and electricity. Unlike these utilities, however, compressed air is usually generated and controlled by the end user. Oasis Manufacturing offers a high-performance line of DC (direct current) powered air compressors to power a variety of critical services.

How Do Air Compressors Work?

Although their specific mechanisms vary, most air compressors use pistons or rotors to force air into a chamber, where one-way valves trap the gas in its compressed state. The air can be stored in a tank until needed, at which point it is released into a connected device or receptacle.

Types of Air Compressors

Many types of air compressors exist, each suitable for certain industrial applications.

• Rotary Screw Compressors: Rotary screw compressors trap air between two helical rotors that turn in opposite directions. These low-maintenance compressors come with a built-in cooling system. They are available in oil-lubricated or oil-free models and have varying degrees of horsepower. Rotary screw compressors typically accommodate continuous use.
• Reciprocating Air Compressors: Reciprocating air compressors generate pressure using a piston, which pumps air into a cylinder on the downstroke and forces it into a chamber on the upstroke. These compressors are most suitable for use in low-to-medium power applications.
• Axial Compressors: Axial compressors are expensive and highly technical devices that use propeller-like components to increase the pressure of incoming air. Despite their high efficacy, these compressors are cost-prohibitive for all but the most demanding applications, such as aerospace research and development.
• Centrifugal Compressors: Centrifugal compressors use a multi-stage compression process that cools and slows the flow of air to generate pressure. These compressors can create significant energy relative to their size, so they are ideal for extensive, high-power applications.
• DC (Direct Current) Compressors: Instead of storing air in a vessel, DC compressors transfer compressed air directly to an object. For this reason, DC air compressors are ideal portable generators essential for mobile and off-road settings. They can inflate tires in emergency situations, reset tire beads, power air tools, and more.

Applications for Air Compressors

Air compressors are used in highly diverse applications across industries. Here are some of the most common uses.

• Military & Government: Tank-mounted air compressors provide military and government personnel a portable way to complete tough jobs in the field. For instance, air compressors can help clean equipment or perform emergency repairs while away from a conventional power source.
• Construction: Power tools such as drills, hammers, compactors, and excavators require a consistent power supply. However, remote construction sites often lack reliable electricity or diesel sources. Portable air compressors solve this problem, offering a consistent, cost-effective way to power construction equipment.
• Tow Trucks & Work Trucks: On-board air compressors mount directly to service vehicles to provide a reliable and compact power source in the field. These compressors are ideal for filling tires and lifting vehicles.
• Manufacturing: Air compressors power conveyor belts, presses, packaging equipment, and similar devices. Oil-free compressors are especially valuable in food and pharmaceutical manufacturing, which call for contaminant-free pressurized air.
• Agriculture: Air compressors are a rugged and efficient option for powering pumps, sprayers, and crop conveyers in agricultural applications. They also help farmers clean equipment and perform repairs.
• HVAC: HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) systems rely on air compressors to control airflow and regulate refrigerants.
• Mining & Oil Drilling: DC air compressors provide a safe, powerful solution for operating pneumatic valves and drilling equipment at isolated mining sites and offshore facilities.
• Motor Coaches & Buses: Many vehicles rely on air suspension systems to kneel for accessibility purposes. Compact DC air compressors can easily regulate these kneeling mechanisms, providing efficient air delivery rates and high-pressure ratings.
• Off-Roading: DC compressors are ideal for the rugged demands of off-roading. These compressors occupy minimal space and yet have the power to reset tire beads, activate air lockers, and run power tools without a tank.
• Pressure Washing: Air compressors force pressurized water through blasters that efficiently clean brick walls, concrete floors, and engines.
• Scuba Diving: Scuba divers require compressed air tanks to breathe longer underwater.
• Spray Painting: Air compressors power handheld spray painters for personal and industrial applications.
• News & Surveillance: News and surveillance vehicles are often equipped with pneumatic masts to mount cameras. These vehicles can benefit from small air compressors, which fit snugly within tool compartments to quickly raise masts on-location.

DC Air Compressors from Oasis Manufacturing

Oasis Manufacturing offers a high-quality line of DC air compressors designed for multipurpose applications. Our offerings include continuous-use and extended-duty DC air compressors, as well as portable tank-mounted options that offer shop-level performance.

XD4000 Continuous-Duty Air Compressor

The XD4000 is our most robust DC air compressor, able to handle continuous performance under rigorous conditions. This GSA-approved product features a dual-fan compression cooling system to support a 100% duty cycle at operating temperatures between -20 °C and 65 °C (-4 °F to 150 °F). Available in 12VDC or 24VDC, the XD4000 achieves a flow rate exceeding 8 cfm at 100 psi.

XD3000 Extended-Duty Air Compressor

With an operating temperature and flow rate similar to the XD4000, our XD3000 extended-duty model can achieve a 100% duty cycle for 30 minutes and 50% thereafter. This makes the XD3000 ideal for medium-duty applications.

Tank-Mounted Air Compressors

Oasis tank-mounted air compressors are ideal for tow truck and utility truck applications, featuring either an XD3000 or XD4000 compressor mounted directly to a 10-gallon, ASME-coded tank. These units ship fully assembled and tested, ready to install.

High-Quality, Convenient Air Compressors from Oasis Manufacturing

Oasis’ extended- and continuous-duty DC air compressors offer unsurpassed performance in some of the most demanding industrial applications. They are specifically engineered to deliver robust, reliable power from a compact size, offering the ideal combination of utility and convenience.

For help choosing an air compressor, contact our team for personalized guidance or request a quote today.

How Does a DC Air Compressor Work?

Air compressors are usually driven by electric motors (alternating current (AC) or direct current (DC)), or by gasoline-powered motors. DC air compressors from Oasis Mfg. are battery powered, typically from the electrical system of a vehicle, or a solar system. They are considerably more powerful than traditional DC air compressors, eliminating the need for bulky motors, and in some applications even air tanks. This allows them to be portable, creating a wide range of application possibilities for anything from off-road and service vehicles to mining and agriculture. DC air compressors are low-noise, low-maintenance, and environmentally friendly equipment for supplying compressed air and power generation efficiently.

What Is a DC Air Compressor & How Does It Work?

DC air compressors provide clean and convenient power through batteries that convert electricity to kinetic energy, eliminating the need for more cumbersome fuel-driven motors. These compressors consist of valves, pistons, connecting rods, and a crankshaft, similar to small engines. DC air compressors require little more than oiling to maintain them, enabling them to power tools using a single air pressure-based engine.

An air compressor powers air tools for a wide range of equipment and facilities. They typically function by drawing in air under vacuum, decreasing its volume to pressurize that air through positive displacement, and then pushing it into a tank. As pressurized air passes through the tank’s opening, the released energy provides the power for certain systems and equipment.

Oasis air compressors are available to operate from either 12 or 24-volt DC power systems.  Choose the model of air compressor that matches the power system of your vehicle or application.

DC Air Compressor Capabilities

In general, the power that these compressors are capable of producing is their main advantage. Additionally, DC air compressors are often portable, making it easy for you to load them from vehicle to vehicle or facility. This transportability helps save time, space, and money because, with various mounting options, you can bring compressed air with you right in your car or truck. It also allows you to be ready in case of flat-tire emergencies.

For other safety features, air compressors provide protection from motor stalling and damage with an automatic shut-off feature in low-voltage situations. Compressor components can add to the safety or functionality of a compressor as well, including adjustable pressure switches, check and safety valves, and tire gauges. The versatility of DC air compressors lends to usage in a variety of different applications.

Applications for DC Air Compressors

Applications of all types use DC air compressors, including tasks at worksites and homes. Inflation, pressure washing, and power generation are some of the more common jobs of DC air compressors, with applications in the following sectors:

• Agriculture: The agricultural industry can generate energy for crop sprayers and other equipment, power-wash farm vehicles and tools, and blow out lines with air compressors.
• Military or Government: Air compressors can be handy in the field for powering air tools, completing emergency maintenance, and cleaning weapon components.
• News and Surveillance: Pneumatic masts on news trucks receive power from air compressors.
• Oil and Gas Mining: For isolated job sites, DC air compressors can use battery power for remote-automated pneumatic valves.
• Vehicles: Mounted air compressors allow tow trucks and service vehicles on-board access to workshop-quality compressed air while out on a job. In motor coaches, compressors provide air suspension.

DC Air Compressors From Oasis Manufacturing, Inc.

For applications requiring air compression, DC air compressors offer a reliable solution. At Oasis Manufacturing, our compressors are environmentally friendly, low noise and maintenance, and the most powerful on-board DC-powered compressors available on the market today with a maximum pressure rating of 200 psi. We offer a comprehensive selection of 12- and 24-volt DC air compressors—including extended-duty, continuous-duty, and tank-mounted compressors—and superior customer service to meet your needs.

If you would like to find out more about our air compressors and technology, contact us today or request more information about our products.