Solar Based Air Compressor For Inflating Tyres: Abstract
Solar Based Air Compressor For Inflating Tyres: Abstract
Abstract: Solar energy is renewable source of energy which can be used for many applications like power
generation, water heating & cooking etc. The hard part is capturing the sunlight. It shines all over the earth. Air
compressors, sometimes referred to as gas compressors, are devices or tools that reduce the volume of a gas thus
creating pressure and heat in the gas being compressed. The most common application of this technology is the
common or garden air compressor that you might have at home for inflating tyres or using with a spray painting
tool. The basic set up of a solar power air compressor is a number of solar panels that are made up of photovoltaic
cells. The cells create direct current electricity through the reaction of photons with silicon dioxide. This direct
current is used to power a motor that works the compressor unit. In the present work solar photo voltaic is used to
generate the power to run the air compressor used for inflating tyres.
Introduction
An Air Compressor is a device that converts power (usually from an electric motor, a diesel engine or a gasoline
engine) into kinetic energy by compressing and pressurizing air, which, on command, can be released in quick
bursts. There are numerous methods of air compression, divided into either positive-displacement or negative-
displacement types. Positive-displacement air compressors work by forcing air into a chamber whose volume is
reduced to compress the air. Piston-type air compressors use this principle by pumping air into an air chamber
through the use of the constant motion of pistons[11]. They use one-way valves to guide air into a chamber, where
the air is compressed. Rotary screw compressors also use positive-displacement compression by matching two
helical screws that, when turned, guide air into a chamber, whose volume is reduced as the screws turn. Vane
compressors use a slotted rotor with varied blade placement to guide air into a chamber and compress the volume[2].
Negative-displacement air compressors include centrifugal compressors. These use centrifugal force generated by a
spinning impeller to accelerate and then decelerate captured air, which pressurizes it. Conventional air compressors
are used in several applications:
To supply high-pressure clean air to fill gas cylinders
To supply moderate-pressure clean air to a submerged surface supplied diver
To supply moderate-pressure clean air for driving some office and school building pneumatic HVAC control
system valves
To supply a large amount of moderate-pressure air to power pneumatic tools
For filling tyres
To produce large volumes of moderate-pressure air for large-scale industrial processes (such as oxidation for
petroleum coking or cement plant bag house purge systems).
Most air compressors either are reciprocating piston type, rotary vane or rotary screw. Centrifugal compressors are
common in very large applications. There are two main types of air compressor's pumps: oil lubed and oil-less. The
oil-less system has more technical development, but they are more expensive, louder and last for less time than the
oiled lube pumps, but the air they deliver is of better quality.
II. Solar Air Compressor
A solar powered air compressor does exactly the same as a regular compressor, but it's powered by the sun. Air
compressors are often used to power drills used by oil and gas companies because there is no power available,
solar powered air compressors make powering these drills very easy[4]. It may seem strange to use solar powered
drills in order to find fossil fuels, but it really is done! It may only be a tiny thing but it does make a difference. We
can only run solar powered air compressors from the solar panels, you cannot run one from a battery at night for
example as this could cause damage to the delicate circuit. The solar powered air compressor is completely green
and will look after the environment. Solar technology is now small enough to be used to charge your cell phone,
run a laptop[8]. You can also buy smaller solar air compressors to run smaller drills and machinery. The solar power
air compressor is basically a standard air compressor with the power being generated from the sun. If you buy one
of these compressors you should have everything you need. Here we have designed a Solar based Air Compressor .