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Compressor - A Short Review

There are two main types of compressors: positive displacement and dynamic. Positive displacement compressors mechanically reduce the volume of a gas to increase pressure, including reciprocating and rotary compressors. Dynamic compressors use rotating impellers to impart velocity on gases and convert it to pressure rise, such as in centrifugal and axial compressors. Compressors have many industrial and commercial applications including pipelines, manufacturing, vehicles, and HVAC equipment.

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183 views5 pages

Compressor - A Short Review

There are two main types of compressors: positive displacement and dynamic. Positive displacement compressors mechanically reduce the volume of a gas to increase pressure, including reciprocating and rotary compressors. Dynamic compressors use rotating impellers to impart velocity on gases and convert it to pressure rise, such as in centrifugal and axial compressors. Compressors have many industrial and commercial applications including pipelines, manufacturing, vehicles, and HVAC equipment.

Uploaded by

jonayat222
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© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Compressor

A Short Review on Compressors


Compressor

Compressor | 11/16/2009
A Short Review on Compressors

A gas compressor is a mechanical device that increases the pressure of a gas by reducing its volume.

Compressors are similar to pumps, both increase the pressure on a fluid and both can transport the fluid
through a pipe. As gases are compressible, the compressor also reduces the volume of a gas. Liquids are
relatively incompressible, so the main action of a pump is to pressurize and transport liquids.

Types of compressors:
Air compressors are mainly classified into two types, based on their construction and operation.

1. Positive displacement type

2. Dynamic type

The detailed classification is shown in the diagram below

Positive displacement type air compressors:


Positive displacement compressors mechanically displace a fixed volume of air into a reduced
volume. They deliver a nearly constant volume, when operated at a fixed speed; while the
discharge pressure is determined by the system load conditions. The different types of positive
displacement compressors are as follows:

Reciprocating air compressors:

1
Compressed air is generated by the to & fro movement of the piston in the compression
Compressor | 11/16/2009
chamber. Each movement compresses a fixed quantity of free air at a specific pressure. According
to the type of construction, reciprocating compressors can be further classified as single stage / double
stage and single acting / double acting compressors.

Fig: Reciprocating air compressor Fig: Hermetic Compressor in domestic

refrigeration unit

Rotary type air Compressors:


Air is compressed by two rotating, intermeshing rotors (in some cases one rotor is kept stationery
and the other rotates). The action of the rotary screw / lobe can be compared to a reciprocating
compressor.

Rotary screw compressors


use two meshed rotating positive-displacement helical screws to force the gas
into a smaller space. These are usually used for continuous operation in
commercial and industrial applications and may be either stationary or portable.

Rotary vane compressors Fig: Rotary screw compressors


consist of a rotor with a number of blades inserted in radial slots in the rotor. The rotor is mounted offset
in a larger housing which can be circular or a more complex shape. As the rotor turns, blades slide in and
out of the slots keeping contact with the outer wall of the housing. Thus, a series of decreasing volumes is
created by the rotating blades.

Dynamic type air compressors

2
Dynamic compressors mechanically impart a velocity to the air, through the use of impellers

Compressor | 11/16/2009
rotating at high speed, in an enclosed housing. The air is forced into a progressively reduced
volume. The volumetric flow will vary inversely with the differential pressure across the
compressor. The dynamic type of air compressors are classified into:

Centrifugal air compressors:


The centrifugal air compressor consists of
an impeller, mounted on a shaft and positioned
within a housing, consisting of an inlet duct, a
volute and a diffuser. The impeller rotates at high
speed and imparts a velocity to the air. The
diffuser surrounds the impeller and acts to convert
the kinetic energy of the air into potential energy at
a higher-pressure level.
Fig: Centrifugal air compressors
Axial flow air compressors
The axial flow type air compressor is essentially a large capacity, high speed machine, with
characteristics quite different from the centrifugal. Each stage consists of two row of blades, one row
rotating and the next row stationery. The rotor blades impart velocity and pressure to the gas as the motor
turns, the velocity being converted to pressure in the stationery blades.

Scroll compressor
A scroll compressor, uses two interleaved spiral-like vanes to pump or
compress fluids such as liquids and gases. The vane geometry may be involute,
archimedean spiral, or hybrid curves. They operate more smoothly, quietly, and
reliably than other types of compressors in the lower volume range .Often, one
of the scrolls is fixed, while the other orbits eccentrically without rotating,
thereby trapping and pumping or compressing pockets of fluid or gas between
the scrolls.

Fig: scroll compressor

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
touch with the gas being compressed.

Fig: Diaphragm compressor


Applications:
Compressors are used in various applications -

3
* in pipeline transport of purified natural gas to move the gas from the production site to the consumer.
Compressor | 11/16/2009
* in petroleum refineries, natural gas processing plants, petrochemical and chemical plants, and similar
large industrial plants for compressing intermediate and end product gases.

* in refrigeration and air conditioner equipment to move heat from one place to another in refrigerant
cycles

* in gas turbine systems to compress the intake combustion air

* in storing purified or manufactured gases in a small volume, high pressure cylinders for medical,
welding and other uses.

* in many various industrial, manufacturing and building processes to power all types of pneumatic
tools.

* as a medium for transferring energy, such as to power pneumatic equipment.

* in pressurised aircraft to provide a breathable atmosphere of higher than ambient pressure.

* in submarines, to store air for later use in displacing water from buoyancy chambers, for adjustment
of depth.

* in turbochargers and superchargers to increase the performance of internal combustion engines by


increasing mass flow.

* in rail and heavy road transport to provide compressed air for operation of rail vehicle brakes or road
vehicle brakes and various other systems (doors, windscreen wipers, engine/gearbox control, etc).

* in miscellaneous uses such as providing compressed air for filling pneumatic tires.

Reference:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gas_compressor

http://knol.google.com/k/ragupathy/air-compressor/1pk2xjyg7r0n/9

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