Compressed Air Glossary of Terms :: A :: Pneumatic Manufacturer Directory @ Pneumatic-Source.com

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Compressed Air Glossary of Terms :: A ::

Glossary Index
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

A&I: ACRONYM - Assembly and Installation

A&R: ACRONYM - Automation and Robotics

Absolute efficiency: An arbitrary filter efficiency rating.
Absolute micron rating: All (not just 98%) particles larger than the stated micron size have been removed from the fluid being filtered.
Absolute pressure: The total pressure measured from absolute zero ( i.e., from an absolute vacuum).
Absolute temperature: The temperature of a body referred to the absolute zero, at which point the volume of an ideal gas theoretically becomes zero. (Fahrenheit scale is minus 459.67°F / Celsius scale is minus 273.15°C).
Absolute viscosity ( Dynamic ): Is the force in newton required to move a fluid layer of one square meter area and a thickness of one meter with a velocity of one meter per second.
Absorb: A method to trap liquids or gases by causing them to penetrate into the absorbent material.
AC: ACRONYM - An electrical current that periodically reverses its direction. Standard in US and Canada is 60 cycles per second. Europe and other countries is 50 cycles per second. Alternating current
Acidity: The quality, state or degree of being acid. In oils, acidity denotes the presence of acid-type constituents whose concentration is usually defined in terms of neutralization number.
ACFM: ACRONYM - Actual cubic feet per minute.
ACT: ACRONYM - Activate, Activation
Activated alumina: An adsorption type desiccant.
ACTR: ACRONYM - Actuator
Actual capacity: Quantity of gas actually compressed and delivered to the discharge system at rated speed of the machine and under rated pressure conditions.
Adiabatic compression: A type of compression where no heat is transferred to or from the gas during the compression process.
Adiabatic efficiency: Ratio between measured shaft power and the adiabatic compression power, referring to measured mass flow.

Adsorb: A method causing a liquid or gas to condense on the surface only of an adsorbing material.
Adsorbent filter: a filter medium primarily intended to hold soluble and insoluble contaminants on its surface by molecular adhesion.
Adsorptive filtration: the attraction to, and retention of particles in, a filter medium by electrostatic forces, or by molecular attraction between the particles and the medium.
Aeration: To combine or charge with gas.
Aerosol: A suspension of fine solid or liquid particles in a gas.
Aftercooler: Heat exchangers for cooling air or gas discharge from compressors. Designed to reduce the temperature and liquefy condensate vapors. Both air cooled and water cooled units are available.
Aftercooling: The removal of heat from a gas after compression is completed.
Air: A colorless, odorless, tasteless gas. A mixture of individual gases. The gaseous mixture surrounding the earth. Standard density of dry air free of carbon dioxide (0°C, 101,325 kPa) is equal to 1,292 8 g/L. Standard conditions for air in spectroscopy are 101,325 kPa, 15°C, 0,03 % CO2, dry.
Air actuator: An elastomeric bellow with specially designed metal end closures used in place of pneumatic or hydraulic cylinders. A device which induces action or motion with compressed air being the medium through which the power is transmitted.
Air amplifier: A component on a compressed air line designed to increase in magnitude the flow by releasing small amounts of compressed air at high velocity through an internal, ring shaped nozzle. This column of air released through the front creates a vacuum behind, thus pulling ambient air through the rear and pushing ambient air in front.
Air borne: Supported or transported by air.
Air brush: a device for applying a fine spray by compressed air.
Air bubble technique: When compressed air is forced through a submerged perforated hose or pipe. Some applications include; ice prevention, reduction of salt intrusion, underwater basting, pneumatic breakwaters and general mixing and agitation
Air cooled compressor: A compressor cooled by atmospheric air circulated around the cylinders or casing.
Air curtain: A component on a compressed air line that provides wide are coverage with a thin sheet of air. Also amplifies compressed air flow, reduces noise. Used in blowing, cooling. Also known as air knife.
Air cylinder: A component made up of a cylinder barrel, end covers, a piston rod, a steel or stainless steel piston. A device which induces action or motion with compressed air being the medium through which the power is transmitted.
Air dryer: A device for drying compressed air by means of condensation obtained by over-compression or cooling, absorption, adsorption or a combination of the above methods.
Air flow: The motion of air relative to a body in it.
Air knife: A component on a compressed air line that provides wide are coverage with a thin sheet of air. Also amplifies compressed air flow, reduces noise. Used in blowing, cooling. Also known as air curtain.
Air leak: A crack or hole that accidentally admits a gas or lets it escape.
Air lock: device that permits passage between regions of differing air pressures, most often used for passage between atmospheric pressure and chambers in which the air is compressed. A typical modern air lock consists of a cylinder of steel plate with airtight doors located at both ends, one opening from the outside into the lock, the other from the lock into the compressed-air chamber, together with valves to admit or to exhaust compressed air. One of the doors must always be closed; before the other is opened, the pressure within the air lock must be equalized with that on the opposite side.
Air motor: Is a compact, low mass unit giving smooth, non-vibrating power. Several types include vane, piston, percussion and turbine type motors
Air nozzle: A projecting aperture at the end of a tube, pipe etc. serving as an outlet for compressed air. Reduces the demand on the compressor by generating the highest thrust and volume for the lowest possible air consumption.
Air preheater: Indirect heat exchanger designed to transfer heat from combustion gas to the air stream added to the combustion zone.


Air pressure: The total gas pressure (static plus velocity).
Air pump: A pump which is used to deliver air to the aquarium. The pump pushes air through silicon tubing and to air stones or other aquatic decor. They are also an essential for UGF's (undergravel filters). An air stone is placed in each clear tube. When the air bubbles travel upward, they generate steady current which brings water from the bottom, through the tubes and to the surface.
Air receiver: A receptacle which serves to store compressed air for heavy demands in excess of compressor capacity.
ALT: ACRONYM - Altitude
Altitude: The elevation of a compressor above sea level.
Alternating current (AC): An electrical current that periodically reverses its direction. Standard in US and Canada is 60 cycles per second. Europe and other countries is 50 cycles per second.
Amagat's law: States that the volume of a mixture of gases is equal to the sum of the partial volumes which the constituent gases would occupy if each existed alone at the total pressure of the mixture.
Ambient: Undisturbed environmental surroundings, particularly to air and temperature.
Ammonia: A colorless gaseous compound of nitrogen and hydrogen used in refrigeration and in making of fertilizers and explosives. Found in some ambient air conditions.
Amonton's law: States that the pressure of a gas, at constant volume, varies directly with the absolute temperature.
AMP: ACRONYM - A unit of electrical current or rate of flow of electrons through a conductor. One volt across one ohm of resistance causes a current flow of one ampere. One ampere is equal to 6.25 x 1018 electrons per second passing a set point in a circuit. Ampere
Ampere (AMP): A unit of electrical current or rate of flow of electrons through a conductor. One volt across one ohm of resistance causes a current flow of one ampere. One ampere is equal to 6.25 x 1018 electrons per second passing a set point in a circuit.
Ancillary equipment: Components subordinate to the compressor.
Anhydrous: devoid of water.
Anion: A negatively charged ion.
ANLG: ACRONYM - Analog

ANR: ACRONYM - Atmosphere normale de reference. The term ANR is not usually applied to cfm, it is the new European replacement for FAD and usually follows the metric measurement of air flow, such as Cu Meters per Minute
Anti re-entrainment sock: The outer layer on a coalescing filter that prevents separated liquids from re-entering the air stream. Also known as anti re-entrainment barrier.
Anti-Pulsation Tank: Sometimes called a pulsation damper this is a small receiver fitted on the inlet or discharge of a reciprocating compressor. The device is designed to remove the resonance from the compressor thereby reducing noise.
AP: ACRONYM - Air pressure
A.P.I.: American Petroleum Institute
Artificial demand: Running a compressed air system at a higher than needed pressure.
ASHRAE: The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers, Inc., (ASHRAE) is an international membership organization operated for the exclusive purpose of advancing the arts and sciences of heating, refrigeration, air conditioning and ventilation, the allied arts and sciences, and related human factors for the benefit of the public.
A.S.M.E.: American Society of Mechanical Engineers
ASL: ACRONYM - Above sea level

A.S.T.M.: American Society For Testing and Materials. -- a society for developing standards for materials and test methods.
ATM: ACRONYM - Atmosphere
Atmosphere ( ATM ): The standard atmosphere is defined as the pressure exerted by a column of mercury 760 mm high with a density of 13,595 g/cm³ at the standard acceleration due to gravity of 9.8 m/s². The 760th part of this pressure unit is the torr. The technical atmosphere (at) denotes the pressure of a force of 1 kg acting on an area of 1 cm².
ATA: ACRONYM - Atmospheres absolute. It is the weight of the column of air existing above the earths surface at 45° Lat and sea level. Is equivalent to 14.696 psiA or 1.0333 kg/sq cm. Equals atmospheres gauge plus 1.
Atmospheres absolute (ATA): It is the weight of the column of air existing above the earths surface at 45° Lat and sea level. Is equivalent to 14.696 psiA or 1.0333 kg/sq cm. Equals atmospheres gauge plus 1.
Atmospheric boundry level: A region near the earth in which the relative velocity increases from zero with elevation, due to the motion of the atmosphere relative to the earth's surface.
Atmospheric dew point: Is the temperature at which water vapor begins to condense at atmospheric pressure. Is the same as dew point, but is related to atmospheric air only.
Atmospheric inversion: A term which describes the rising of warm air above cold air when two air masses of different temperatures, humidity and pressure meet.
Atmospheric pressure: Weight of the earth's atmosphere over a unit area of the earth's surface, measured with a mercury barometer at sea level. which corresponds to the pressure required to lift a column of mercury 760 mm.
Atomize: The breaking-up of paint into fine particles or droplets by a paint gun using compressed air.
Attenuation: The use of a sound barrier separating the sound from the receiver.
Automatic sequencer: A device which operates compressors in sequence according to a programmed schedule.
Avogadro's law: States that equal volumes of all gases under the same conditions of pressure and temperature contain the same number of molecules.
Axial compressor: A compressor belonging to the group of dynamic compressors. Characterized by having its flow in the axial direction.