A compressor valve regulates the flow of air or gas in a compressor cylinder. There is at least one suction valve and one discharge valve for every compression chamber. Each valve opens and closes with every cycle of the piston. For example, a valve used in a compressor operating at 1200 r.p.m. for 24 hours a day and 365 days a year, opens and closes:

  • 72,000 times per hour, or
  • 1,728,00 times per day, or
  • 630,720,000 times per year!