從氣閥工作原理來看，氣閥工作性能將直接影響壓縮機氣缸的工作，因此，對氣閥有如下要求：阻力損失小。氣閥阻力損失大小與氣流的閥隙速度及彈簧力大小有關。氣速越高，能量損失越大；彈簧力過大，阻力損失也大，其大小按氣閥運動規律的合理性準則設計確定。氣閥關閉及時、迅速，關閉時不漏氣，以提高機器的效率，延長使用期。壽命長、工作可靠。限制氣閥壽命的主要因素是閥片及彈簧質量，一般對長期連續運轉的壓縮機，希望壽命達8000小時以上；對移動式、短氣閥是往復活塞式壓縮機中的重要部件，也是易損壞的部件之一。它的好壞直接影響壓縮機的排氣量、功率消耗及運轉的可靠性，目前壓縮機正向高速方向發展，而限制轉速提高的關鍵問題之一就是氣閥。活塞式壓縮機一般都采用“自動閥”，就是氣閥的開啟與關閉是依靠閥片兩邊的壓力差實現的，沒有其它的驅動機構。期或間歇運轉的壓縮機，要求可稍低些。    
From   the   air   valve   operating   principles   of   view,   air   valve   performance   will   directly   affect   the   work   of   compressor   tanks,   air   valve   for   the   following   requirements   :   resistance   losses   small.   Air   valve   size   and   airflow   resistance   losses   of   valves   always   speed   and   the   size   of   the   spring-loaded   edge.   Gas   higher   speed,   the   greater   the   energy   losses;   Spring-loaded   edge   too   large,   the   loss   is   great   resistance,   the   size   of   the   air   valve   movement   design   guidelines   to   determine   the   reasonableness   of   the   law.   Air   valve   closed   timely,   rapid,   not   leak   closed   to   improve   the   efficiency   of   machines   and   extended   use   period.   Long   life,   work   reliable.   Life   is   the   main   factor   restricting   air   valve   and   spring-loaded   valves   quality,   the   general   long-term   continuous   operation   of   the   compressors   to   life   80   hours;   For   ,   short-term   or   intermittent   operation   of   compressors,   may   require   slightly   more.
Air   valve   and   piston-type   compressors   are   to   the   important   components   is   one   of   the   components   easily   damaged.   It   will   have   a   direct   impact   on   the   displacement   compressors,   power   consumption   and   reliability   of   operation,   the   current   compressor   is   fast   direction,   and   rotational   speed   limit   is   one   of   the   key   issues   in   improving   air   valve.   Piston-type   compressors   typically   use   the   "automatic   valve"   that   the   air   valve   is   opened   and   closed   valves   on   the   pressure   on   both   sides   to   achieve   poor,   and   there   is   no   other   drive.