Types of Air Engines

Compressed air engines are also called pneumatic motors. They work by converting and expanding compressed air into mechanical functions through linear motion or rotary motion. This type of mechanism has been in use for over two hundred years in a wide range of forms.

The term air engine is likely referring to a compressed air engine or pneumatic motor. Though a compressed air engine or pneumatic motor may sound like a modern development, the technology has actually been in use for more than two hundred years. Though there are not generally thought to be different types of pneumatic motors, they do power mechanisms by expanding compressed air through one of two means: linear or rotary. A linear motion air engine works like a diaphragm. A rotary motion air engine uses a vane type, turbine or piston motor.

Turbine

These motors are built with a nozzle that guides the compressed air into a turbine wheel. This type of wheel or rotor is recognizable with its curved blades, like that on a pinwheel. The rotor is powered when the air hits the blades and sets it spinning. The power produced or amount of horsepower varies depending on the speed and amount of air flow being blown into the rotor.

Vane

These motors are rotary like the turbine motors, but they use axial vanes slotted through the length of the motor rather than the turbine wheel. The vanes seal interior chambers resulting in built up pressure. This pressure causes the vanes to rotate and power the motor by moving the air from one chamber to another.

Piston

Piston motors are the most powerful of the rotary air motors. These motors are generally made of anywhere from two to six cylinders that contain pistons. Air pressure makes the pistons slide outward, which then causes the cylinders to rotate. The resulting torque then powers the motor.