A piston pump uses cylinders to pump air or liquid into a storage tank for later use. It is powered by an electric or other motor and can be straight, V-configuration, or radial. The pump design generates heat and water, but filters and siphons can reduce water production. Piston pumps recover air quickly, making them useful for air tools.
A piston pump is a device modeled after a small engine. Instead of using cylinders for power, the piston pump uses its cylinders to pump air, liquid, or a combination of the two. The typical configuration uses an electric or other motor that turns the piston pump drive shaft via a belt and pulley configuration. As the pump spins, the cylinders force air or liquid into a storage tank for use at a later time. Often made from cast iron, the piston pump is among the most durable pump designs available.
Using pistons and piston rings much like those found in a gasoline engine, the piston pump works similar to a small engine. When the piston is drawn into the cylinder, air or liquid is drawn in through an inlet valve. As the piston moves to the top of the cylinder, air or liquid is forced out of an exhaust valve and into a reserve or storage tank. The typical piston pump contains a pressure switch that shuts off the motor once a predetermined amount of air pressure is reached in the storage tank.
Piston pump size is usually determined by the size and number of cylinders the pump contains, as well as the horsepower rating of the engine powering the pump. While the vast majority of pumps are powered by electric motors, many pumps are powered by gasoline, diesel and propane engines. The pump design can be a straight up-and-down cylinder, a V-configuration pump, or a radial pump. The radial design pump is typically the most productive and pumps the most material.
A downside to the pump design is that a huge amount of heat is generated by the friction generated by the cylinders accelerating up and down the cylinder walls. The byproduct of this heat is the condensation of water. When used to pump air, water is detrimental to most operations performed using the air compressor. In an effort to reduce the amount of water produced by piston pumps, filters and siphons are used for water both before and after the air is admitted to the storage tank.
One advantage to using a piston pump is that the pumps recover air extremely quickly. Many air tools, such as sanders and drills, use excessive amounts of air. If not for the design and capabilities of the piston pump, these tools could drain the entire air supply.
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