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How to select a laboratory air compressor: My company is planning to build a new laboratory, and a colleague suggested methods for choosing a laboratory air compressor. I’ve shared this with other professionals in the field to discuss whether these suggestions are correct, and I’m hoping to get better recommendations. Selection criteria for laboratory air compressors I. Parameter matching (1) Working air pressure control: That is, what is the air pressure required during operation? Most laboratory air compressors currently have a pressure that can be adjusted between 0–8 BAR (approximately 0–8 kilograms), which meets the pressure requirements of most experimental equipment. (II) Stable and continuous exhaust volume (usually expressed in L/MIN): This refers to the amount of gas flow in liters per minute under the rated operating pressure, and a stable gas flow rate must be maintained; therefore, high requirements are placed on the operational stability of the air compressor. There are many brands available on the market, of varying quality; when making a choice, it is advisable to opt for products from well-known manufacturers with mature technology, such as the DYNAIR brand of laboratory air compressors. II. Quality of compressed air: Oil-free air compressors are the preferred choice. The materials used in oil-free air compressors contain no oily substances, and no lubricating oil needs to be added during operation. This **improves the quality of the air discharged, thereby ensuring the safety of the equipment connected to it. In contrast, oil-based air compressors release large amounts of oil molecules into the exhaust gas, which can cause varying degrees of corrosion to the equipment connected to them. Therefore, it is necessary to choose oil-free, silent air compressors to ensure good air quality. After installing the air filtration system, the air quality should meet the following international standard values: 1. For solid particles, the maximum particle size is in μm, and the maximum concentration is in mg/cubic meter: 1, 2, 3, 4. The values are 40.1 for level 1, 5 for level 2, and 400.1 for level 3; 15 for level 1 and 10 for level 2. The levels regarding solid particle size and concentration are shown in the table below. 2. Water: The water vapor content in the air is expressed as the pressure dew point, and the levels of pressure dew points are shown in the table below. Maximum pressure dew point at each grade, °C: 1 2 3 4 5 6 –70 –40 –20 3 7 10. Note: Maximum oil content per grade, mg/cubic meter: 1 2 3 4 5 0.01 0.1 1 5 25. (1) The particle size depends on the filtration ratio βn=20 (the minimum precision of the measurement method is usually 20% of this value). (2) Ion concentration refers to the concentration under conditions of an absolute pressure of 0.1 MPa, a temperature of 20°C, and a relative vapor pressure of 0.6. 3. Total oil content (including oil droplets, suspended particles, and oil vapor) refers to the oil content under conditions of an absolute pressure of 0.1 MPa, a temperature of 20°C, and a relative vapor pressure of 0.6. III. Noise Control: Industry standards specify that the noise level of air compressors used in laboratories should be kept below 60 decibels, so as to ensure that laboratory personnel work in a relatively quiet environment; it is recommended to choose laboratory air compressors with a noise level of around 50 decibels. IV. Safety, portability, and ease of operation: As a pressure device, air compressors must meet certain safety standards and obtain relevant certifications, such as ISO9001, pressure vessel certifications, and the internationally recognized CE certification. Of course, in terms of use, the simpler and more convenient the operation, the better.