Compressed Air
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Compressed air is one of the basic utilities, next to water, electricity and gas. In some situations, it can replace these other utilities, providing flexibility (see product ecology, below). It could be generated by small wind installations which are mechanically coupled to air compressor. Alternatively, solar photovoltaic cells could power an electric air compressor, although this arrangement is likely more expensive.
(image from Flickr user Dakohlmeyer via CC license)
Applications and product ecology
- for energy storage (CAES, compressed air energy storage), see energy storage Wikipedia
- compressed air could be "co-fired" with biogas for electricity generation, saving gas
- pneumatic motors for all sorts of uses, replacing electric or hydraulic motors
- run power tools, examples here and also here
- pneumatic transportation (see Treehugger article on FoodTubes)
- compressed air water pump
- various ventilation uses (e.g. air exchange in greenhouses, Passivhaus etc.), as an alternative to electric fans
- drying of biomass (... food, manure, etc.) before further uses, such as combustion, pyrolysis
- aeration of water in aquaculture
- control air flow in updraft and other gasifiers
- inflatable structures (greenhouses, tents, other temporary installations)
- cooling (possibly via vortex tube); for making freeze-dried fruit powders
- generate compressed air via (solar) heat engine that directly powers an air compressor