Compressed air is air which is kept under a certain pressure, usually greater than that of the atmosphere. In Europe, 10 percent of all electricity used by industry is used to produce compressed air, amounting to 80 terawatt hours consumption per year.^[1][2]

Uses[link]

Compressed air is regarded as the fourth utility, after electricity, natural gas and water. However, compressed air is more expensive than the other three utilities when evaluated on a per unit energy delivered basis.^[3]

Compressed air can be used in or for:

• Air-start systems in aircraft engines
• Pneumatic powered weapons - Air guns
• pneumatics, the use of pressurized gases to do work. See compressed air energy storage.
  • Pneumatic post, using capsules to move paper and small goods thru tubes.
• vehicular transportation using a compressed air vehicle.
• energy storage.
• scuba diving, for breathing and to inflate buoyancy devices. See breathing gas.
• cooling using a vortex tube.
• gas dusters for cleaning electronic components that cannot be cleaned with water.
• railway braking systems
• road vehicle braking systems
• Diesel engine cranking (air-start systems)
• paintball ammunition propulsion
• airsoft ammunition propulsion
• air tools

See also[link]

• Air dryer
• Cabin pressurization
• Gas compressor

Notes[link]

External links[link]

• World's largest glossary of terms relating to compressed air
• A source of original articles and information related to compressed air and pneumatics
• Compressed Air and Gas Institute