空氣壓縮機有很多種類，不同種類的工作原理不同。三種主要類型壓縮機的 工作原理如下：
There are many kinds of air compressors, and their working principles are different. The working principles of the three main types of compressors are as follows:
1. 活塞式壓縮機的工作原理
1. Working principle of piston compressor
活塞式壓縮機屬於最早的壓縮機設計之一，但它仍然是最通用和非常高效的一種壓縮機。活塞式壓縮機通過連杆和曲軸使活塞在氣缸內向前運動。如果只用活塞的一側進行壓縮，則稱為單動式。如果活塞的上、下兩側都用，則稱為雙動式。
Piston compressor is one of the earliest compressor designs, but it is still the most versatile and highly efficient compressor. Piston compressor makes piston move forward in cylinder through connecting rod and crankshaft. If only one side of the piston is used for compression, it is called single acting. If the upper and lower sides of the piston are used, it is called double acting.
活塞式壓縮機的用途非常廣泛。它可以壓縮空氣，也可以壓縮氣體，幾乎不需要作任何改動。活塞式壓縮機是唯一一種能夠將空氣和氣體壓縮至高壓，以適合諸如呼吸空氣壓縮機等用途的設計。活塞式壓縮機的配置可包括從適用於低壓小容量用途的單缸配置，到能壓縮至非常高壓力的多級配置。在多級壓縮機中，空氣被分級壓縮，逐級增大壓力。
Piston compressor is widely used. It can compress air as well as gas, almost without any modification. The piston compressor is the only design that can compress air and gas to high pressure for applications such as breathing air compressors. Piston compressor configurations can range from single cylinder configurations for low pressure and small capacity applications to multi-stage configurations capable of compression to very high pressures. In the multistage compressor, the air is compressed step by step and the pressure is increased step by step.
壓縮能力：
Compression capacity:
康普艾活塞式壓縮機系列的功率範圍為0.75 kW 至 420 kW（1hp 至 563hp），所產生的工作壓力為 1.5 bar 至 414 bar（21 至 6004psi）。
The CompAir piston compressor range is 0.75 kW to 420 kW (1 HP to 563 HP) and produces operating pressures from 1.5 bar to 414 bar (21 to 6004 psi).
其典型用途是：
Its typical uses are:
氣體壓縮（CNG、氮氣、惰性氣體、填埋氣體）
Gas compression (CNG, nitrogen, inert gas, landfill gas)
高壓空氣（水中呼吸器鋼瓶的呼吸用空氣、地震勘察、氣動迴路等）
High pressure air (breathing air for cylinder of water breathing apparatus, seismic survey, pneumatic circuit, etc.) PET
吹瓶、發動機起動、工業
PET bottle blowing, engine starting, industry
2. 旋轉螺杆式空氣壓縮機的工作原理
2. Working principle of rotary screw air compressor
螺杆式空氣壓縮機屬於容積式壓縮機，其活塞採用螺杆的形式；這是現今使用的最主要壓縮機類型。螺杆壓縮元件的主要部件是凸形轉子和凹形轉子，這兩個轉子相互靠近移動，使它們之間及腔內的體積逐漸減小。螺杆式的壓力比取決於螺杆的長度和外形以及排氣口的形狀。螺杆元件沒有裝備任何閥門，不存在產生不平衡的機械力。因此可以在高的軸速下工作，而且可以兼顧大流量和小的外部尺寸。
Screw air compressor belongs to displacement compressor, its piston adopts the form of screw, which is the main type of compressor used nowadays. The main components of screw compression element are convex rotor and concave rotor. The two rotors move close to each other, which makes the volume between them and the cavity gradually decrease. The pressure ratio of screw type depends on the length and shape of screw and the shape of exhaust port. The screw element is not equipped with any valve, and there is no unbalanced mechanical force. Therefore, it can work at high shaft speed, and can take into account the large flow and small external size.
壓縮能力：
Compression capacity:
康普艾旋轉螺杆式壓縮機系列的功率範圍為 4 kW 至 250 kW（5 至 535 hp），所產生的工作壓力為 5 bar 至 13 bar（72 至 188 psi）。
CompAir rotary screw compressors range in power from 4 kW to 250 kW (5 to 535 HP) and produce operating pressures from 5 bar to 13 bar (72 to 188 psi).
其典型用途是：
Its typical uses are:
食品、飲料、釀造
Food, beverage, brewing
軍事、航天、汽車
Military, aerospace, automobile
工業、電子、製造、石化
Industry, electronics, manufacturing, petrochemical
醫療、醫院、製藥
Medical, hospital, pharmaceutical
儀表空氣
Instrument air
3. 旋轉滑片式空氣壓縮機的工作原理
3. Working principle of rotary vane air compressor
滑片式壓縮機採用傳統的、已經得到驗證的技術，以非常低的速度（1450rpm）直接進行驅動，具有無與倫比的的可靠性。轉子是唯一連續運行的部件，上面有若干個沿長度方向切割的槽，其中插有可在油膜上滑動的滑片。
The vane compressor is driven directly at very low speed (1450rpm) using traditional and proven technology, which has unparalleled reliability. The rotor is the only continuous operating component with several slots cut along the length direction, in which sliding vanes can slide on the oil film are inserted.
轉子在氣缸的定子中旋轉。在旋轉期間，離心力將滑片從槽中甩出，形成一個個單獨的壓縮室。旋轉使壓縮室的體積不斷減小，空氣壓力不斷增大。通過注入加壓油來控制壓縮產生的熱量。高壓空氣從排氣口排出，其中殘留的油通過最終的油分離器予以清除。
The rotor rotates in the stator of the cylinder. During the rotation, centrifugal force throws the sliding blades out of the slots, forming separate compression chambers. Rotation makes the volume of the compression chamber decrease and the air pressure increases. The heat generated by compression is controlled by injecting pressurized oil. High pressure air is discharged from the exhaust port, and the residual oil is removed through the final oil separator.
壓縮能力：
Compression capacity:
康普艾滑片式空氣壓縮機的功率範圍為 1.1 kW 至 75 kW（1.5 至 100hp），所產生的工作壓力為 7 至 8 和 10 bar（101 至 145psi）。
CompAir vane air compressors range from 1.1 kW to 75 kW (1.5 to 100 hp) and produce operating pressures of 7 to 8 and 10 bar (101 to 145 psi).
Let's go back to the familiar truck turbocharger：
1 Working principle of turbocharger
The exhaust gas from the engine drives the rotor to rotate, and the turbine drives the compressor to work, so as to increase the intake and pressure, and finally enhance the fuel combustion of the engine.
2 Function of turbocharger
Improve fuel economy, reduce emissions, reduce environmental pollution, improve engine power and performance, increase power compensation.
When the supercharger works, the rotor speed can reach more than 200000 rpm. that's why the turbocharger and the pipes of input air to engine are so hot.