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Compressor Power Estimation Calcs

The document discusses equations and concepts for calculating gas compressor properties under adiabatic and isothermal compression. It provides example calculations for compressing air and discusses variables like pressure, volume, temperature, power requirement, efficiency and specific heat ratios.

Uploaded by

Wael Abdel-Mageed
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© © All Rights Reserved
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Download as XLS, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
70 views

Compressor Power Estimation Calcs

The document discusses equations and concepts for calculating gas compressor properties under adiabatic and isothermal compression. It provides example calculations for compressing air and discusses variables like pressure, volume, temperature, power requirement, efficiency and specific heat ratios.

Uploaded by

Wael Abdel-Mageed
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as XLS, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Thermodynamic Equations for gas compressor calculations

Adiabatic compression:

Changes of state P2/P1 = (V1/V2) = (T2/T1)


k k-1/k

Theoretical
Power P, kW {(k / k - 1)* P1*100000*Q1*[ (P2/P1)(k - 1/k) - 1 ]}/1000
disch.
temperature, T2
°C T1*[P2/P1](k - 1/k)

Isothermal compression:
Changes of state P2/P1 = (V1/V2)
Power P, kW {P1*100000*Q1*ln(P2/P1)}/1000
ISOTHERMAL COMPRESSION IS FOR ACADEMIC PURPOSE ONLY. CHEMICAL PROCESS INDUSTRY
COMPRESSION APPLICATIONS ARE GENERALLY NOT CONSIDERED AS ISOTHERMAL.

Where:
P1 = Gas pressure before compression (inlet), barA
P2 = Gas pressure after compression (outlet), barA
V1 = Gas volume at pressure P1, m3
V2 = Gas volume at pressure P2, m3
Q1 = Gas volume flow rate at inlet of compressor, m3/s
T1 = Gas temperature at inlet of compressor, K
T2 = Gas temperature at outlet of compressor (adiabatic process), K
k = Ratio of specific heat at constant pressure to specific heat at constant volume, C p/Cv
P = Theoretical power requirement of compressor, kW

Example of adiabatic compression of air:


k P1, barA P2, barA T1, °C T1, K Q1, m3/s P, kW T2, K T2, °C
1.4 1 2 20 293.15 1 76.65 357.35 84.20
1.4 1 3 20 293.15 1 129.06 401.25 128.10
1.4 1 4 20 293.15 1 170.10 435.62 162.47
1.4 1 5 20 293.15 1 204.34 464.30 191.15
Note: k is both a function of temperature and pressure. At highly elevated temperatures & pressures, k values
will be different than those given at standard conditions of 15°C & 1-atm pressure and require to be computed.

Example of isothermal compression of air:


P1, barA P2, barA T1 & T2, °C Q1, m3/s P, kW
1 2 20 1 69.31
1 3 20 1 109.86
1 4 20 1 138.63
1 5 20 1 160.94
Note: Actual power requirement of driver is a function of the efficiency of the type of compressor & the speed
transmission mechanical device.

Pmotor = P/(hmachine*htr)

Efficiency Type of compressor


Rotary
Reciprocating (Lobe, Centrifugal
(piston) Vane) (Dynamic)
hmachine 0.85-0.9 0.7-0.75 0.7-0.75

Note: Efficiency values are given as a range and as a general guideline and may differ from the values given in
the table. User is cautioned to check from other resources (compressor manufacturer's literature, handbooks
etc.) for the realistic values of efficiency for the given type of compressor.

Efficiency Type of speed transmission


Direct
worm Hydro Gear Belt coupling
htr 0.7 0.8 0.85 0.97 1

Where:
Pmotor = rating of the driver, kW
hmachine = compression efficiency of the compressor
htr = efficiency of the speed transmission device.

Specific heat ratio of various gases @15°C and 1-atm pressure:

Argon Helium Air Methane Oxygen Nitrogen Hydrogen Ethane


k 1.668 1.66 1.4 1.31 1.4 1.4 1.41 1.22

Prepared by: Ankur Srivastava


Chemical Engineer
e-mail: [email protected]

Disclaimer: The information and methods included within this spreadsheet are presented for 'compressor power'
calculations. It is intended to be used by technically skilled persons at their own discretion. I do not warrant the suitability or
accuracy of these methods.
'compressor power'
do not warrant the suitability or

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