Most plant air runs at 7–10 bar, but a range of processes need far higher pressure. High-pressure compressors deliver from about 30 bar up to several hundred bar for specialised industrial and test duties.
Common applications
- Pressure and leak testing of pipes, vessels and valves
- PET bottle blowing at 30–40 bar
- Laser cutting assist gas at 7–20 bar and above
- Scuba and fire-service cylinder filling at 200–300 bar
- Starting air for diesel engines and power plants
Specifying a high-pressure machine
Match the compressor to the exact pressure and flow of the process, because a machine sized for the wrong band wastes power or fails to perform. Multi-stage piston and booster configurations handle the highest pressures, while high-pressure screw packages cover the 30–40 bar industrial range efficiently.
Safety and air quality
High-pressure air must be dried and filtered to protect the machine and the process. For breathing-air and food-contact duties, purity standards are mandatory. Pressure vessels and relief valves must be rated and certified for the maximum working pressure.