Editing Compressor (section)

====Diaphragm compressors====

{{main|Diaphragm compressor}}
A '''diaphragm compressor''' (also known as a '''membrane compressor''') is a variant of the conventional reciprocating compressor. The compression of gas occurs by the movement of a flexible membrane, instead of an intake element. The back-and-forth movement of the membrane is driven by a rod and a crankshaft mechanism. Only the membrane and the compressor box come in contact with the gas being compressed.<ref name=Perry/>

The degree of flexing and the material constituting the diaphragm affects the maintenance life of the equipment. Generally stiff metal diaphragms may only displace a few cubic centimeters of volume because the metal cannot endure large degrees of flexing without cracking, but the stiffness of a metal diaphragm allows it to pump at high pressures. Rubber or silicone diaphragms are capable of enduring deep pumping strokes of very high flexion, but their low strength limits their use to low-pressure applications, and they need to be replaced as plastic embrittlement occurs.

Diaphragm compressors are used for hydrogen and compressed natural gas ([[Compressed natural gas|CNG]]) as well as in a number of other applications.

[[File:DiaphragmCompressor.jpg|thumb|right|A three-stage diaphragm compressor]]
The photograph on the right depicts a three-stage diaphragm compressor used to compress hydrogen gas to {{convert|6000|psi|MPa|abbr=on}} for use in a prototype [[compressed hydrogen]] and [[compressed natural gas]] (CNG) fueling station built in downtown [[Phoenix, Arizona]] by the [[Arizona Public Service]] company (an electric utilities company). [[Reciprocating compressor]]s were used to compress the [[natural gas]]. The reciprocating natural gas compressor was developed by [[Sertco]].<ref>{{cite journal | author=Eric Slack | title=Sertco | date=Winter 2016 | url=http://www.emi-magazine.com/index.php/featured-content/1067-sertco | publisher=Phoenix Media Corporation | journal=Energy and Mining International | access-date=February 27, 2016 | url-status=live | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304170914/http://www.emi-magazine.com/index.php/featured-content/1067-sertco | archive-date=March 4, 2016 }}</ref>

The prototype [[alternative fuel]]ing station was built in compliance with all of the prevailing safety, environmental and building codes in Phoenix to demonstrate that such fueling stations could be built in urban areas.