Compressors

Prepared by: Engr. Orik Niko Santos

 Topic Learning Outcomes
• Explain the function of compressors
• Recognize the parts and components of a
compressor
• To be familiar with the different types of
compressor.
 Compressors
This is a machine used to increase the pressure of
a GAS by decreasing its volume.
Reciprocating Compressors

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 Reciprocating Compressors

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 Reciprocating Compressors
Are compressors built in sizes as large as 5000 to
10000 . Piston displacement with pressure range up
to 1000 atm and vacuum down to 0.50 in. Hga.
 Rotary Compressors

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 Rotary Compressors

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 Rotary Compressors
Without Liquid Seal:

These are compressors built in sizes as large as

50,000 and are suitable for moderate vacua not less
than 15 inHga and for moderate pressures of 5 to 20
psi.
 Rotary Compressors
With Liquid Seal:

These are compressors built in sizes up to 5000 and

are suitable for ratios of compression reflected in
vacuum pump service to 28 inHg and positive
pressure service to 75 psig.
 Centrifugal Compressors

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 Centrifugal Compressors
These are compressors built in capacities of 500 to
100,000 and deliver pressures as high as 150 psi
where 10 to 15 stages would be required.
 Axial Flow Compressors

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 Axial Flow Compressors

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 Axial Flow Compressors
These are compressors which extended the field of
the axial flow fans using multistaging so that
pressure of 75 psi can be developed with a 20 or 25
stage unit. Capacities range from 2000 to 100,000 .
 Axial Flow Compressors
Hydraulic Jet compressors are primarily employed
for vacuum pump service requiring 1 to 4 inHga
and capacities of 1000 at suction conditions.
 Vapor Jet Compressors

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 Vapor Jet Compressors
These are used for both exhauster and blower
service with steam as the usual actuating fluid.
 Air Compressors
Industrial plants with its various processes
requires gases at pressures above or below
atmospheric. The most widely used of these gases
is the compressed air in operating air engines,
drive pneumatic tools such as pneumatic
hammers and drills, cleaning by air blast in
operating air hoists, spraying paints, pumping
water by air-lift, manufacture of plastics and other
industrial products and hosts of other jobs.
 PVT relations

Where: n = polytropic exponent

n = k= 1.4 for air, if isentropic compression
n = 1, if isothermal compression
 Capacity of Compressor
It is the actual volume of gas delivered as
measured at intake pressure and temperature.
 Work of Compressor
• Polytropic Compression

• Isentropic Compression
 Work of Compressor
• Isothermal Compression
 Compressor Efficiency
This is the ratio of the compressor Power to the
brake power
 Examples
An air storage vessel has an internal volume of 566
Liters. If the pressure is 40 atm and the temperature is
26 , compute the mass of the air stored in it.
 Examples
An air compressor takes air at 90 kPa and discharges to
700 kPa. If the volume flow of discharge is 1.3 ,
compute the capacity of the air compressor.
 Examples
An ideal single stage compressor without clearance
takes in air at 100 kPa with a temperature of 16 and
delivered it at 413 kPa after isentropic compression.
What is the discharge work done by the compressor in
kJ/kg.
 Examples
A rotary compressor receives 8 of a gas (R=0.410 ) at
108 kPa, 27 and delivers it at 650 kPa. Find the work if
the compression is polytropic with .
 Examples
Air taken from the atmosphere at 100 kPa and 21 is
delivered to the air receiver at 690 kPa and 150 . The
compressor has a rated capacity of 0.15 free air.
Determine the power required to compress the air if
the process is polytropic.
G:
 Examples
R:
S:
a) First step is to solve for “n”.
 Examples
b) Solve for
 Examples
A 5 kW motor is used to drive an air compressor.
Determine the compressor work if the compressor
efficiency is 72 %.
G:

R:
S:
 Examples
In a vapor-compression cycle, Ammonia is being
compressed at a rate of 15 from 30 kPa to 280 kPa. If
the gas constant is 0.53 , and the specific heat at
constant pressure is 2.19 Find the power requirement
of the compressor if the process is isentropic.
 Examples
G:

R:
S:
 Examples
S:
 Examples
S:
 Reciprocating Compressors
A. Single Stage Compressors
B. Multi-stage Compressors
Single Stage Compressor
 Single Stage Compressor
PV Diagram
 Single Stage Compressor
Piston Displacement,
-Is the volume displaced by the piston as it moves from
top dead center to bottom dead center

Where:
 Single Stage Compressor
Piston Displacement with no of cylinder and piston action.

Where:
 Single Stage Compressor
Volumetric Efficiency,
- is the ratio of the actual gas drawn-in at intake
condition to the volume displacement.

Where:
 Mean Effective Pressure
It is considered as the ratio of the work done during
the working stroke to the swept volume.
 Notes
How to recognize compression process

a. From Keywords
○ Isothermal Process: “Isothermally”
○ Isentropic Process: “Isentropically or adiabatic”
○ Polytropic Process: “Polytropically”
 Notes
How to recognize compression process

a. From kind of compressor

○ Isothermal Process: “Perfectly cooled compressor”
○ Isentropic Process: “adiabatic compressor”
○ Polytropic Process: “air or water cooled compressor”
 Examples
A single stage air compressor handles 0.454 of
atmospheric pressure, 27 air, and delivers it to a
receiver at 625 kPa. Its Volumetric efficiency is 0.72,
compression efficiency on an isothermal basis is 0.85,
and its mechanical efficiency is 0.90. If it rotates at 350
rpm, a) What is the power in kW is required to drive it;
b) What is the piston displacement in .
Examples
 Examples
A single acting air compressor has a volumetric
efficiency of 87% operates at 500 rpm. It takes in air at
100 kPa and 30 and discharges it at 600 kPa. The air
handled is 6 measured at discharge condition. If
compression is adiabatic, find the mean effective
pressure in kPa
Examples
 Examples
The piston displacement of a double acting
compressor is 0.358 delivers gas from 101.325 kPa and
300 K to 675 kPa at a rate of 0.166 at 150 rpm. Value of
n for compression and expansion is 1.33. Find the
compressor percent clearance.
Examples
 Examples
A single stage compressor has a cylinder diameter of
250 mm, the stroke of the piston is 350 mm, and the
clearance volume of 900 . Air is taken in at 0.986 bar
and delivered at 4.1 bar. Using the law of compression
calculate the distance travelled by the piston from the
beginning of the compression stroke to the moment
the delivery valves open.
Examples
Multi-stage Compressors
 Multi-stage Compressors
Multi-staging is simply the compression of the gas in
two or more cylinders in place of a single-cylinder
compressor.

It is usually used in reciprocating compressors in order

to:
1. Save power
2. Limit the discharge temperature
3. Limit the pressure differential per cylinder
Two-stage Compressors
P-V Diagram
 Two-stage Compressors
Work of the Compressor

:
 Two-stage Compressors
Intercooler Pressure:
 Two-stage Compressors
Heat Rejected by the intercooler.

Head added to the cooling water

 Two-stage Compressors
Example no. 1
A single acting two-stage compressor compresses air at a rate of 11.33 from 26.7 ,
103.42 kPa to 827.36 kPa. Find the following parameters for a clearance of 8%.

a. Isentropic Work for a single stage compressor as well as its Volumetric

Displacement.

b. Isentropic Work for a two-stage compressor and the piston displacement of each
cylinder.

c. Heat exchanged in the intercooler

d. For an overall compression efficiency of 78%, what driving motor output is required?
Two-stage Compressors
Two-stage Compressors
Two-stage Compressors
Two-stage Compressors
Two-stage Compressors
 Two-stage Compressors
Example no. 2
An air compressor is to compress 8.5 from 98.56 kPa to
985.6 kPa. Assuming ideal conditions, and with n=1.3, what will
be the saving in work due to two-staging? (ans. 5.6 kW)
Two-stage Compressors
Two-stage Compressors
Two-stage Compressors
 Two-stage Compressors
Other Formula for Work of Compressor
Three-stage Compressors
P-V Diagram
 Three-stage Compressors
Work of the Compressor

:
 Three-stage Compressors
Intercooler pressure
 Multi-stage Compressors
Other formula for work:
 Multi-stage Compressors
For heat Rejected in the intercooler:

:
 Three-stage Compressors
Example no. 3
Air is compressed from 103.4 kPa and 32 to 4136 kPa by a
three-stage compressor with a value of n=1.32. Determine a) the
work per kg of air; b) the heat rejected in the intercoolers.
Three-stage Compressors