Thermodynamic Equations for gas compressor calculations

Adiabatic compression:
Changes of state
Power P, kW
Theoretical
disch.
temperature, T
2
Isothermal compression:
Changes of state
Power P, kW
Where:
P
1
= Gas pressure before compression (inlet), barA
P
2
= Gas pressure after compression (outlet), barA
V
1
= Gas volume at pressure P
1
, m
3
V
2
= Gas volume at pressure P
2
, m
3
Q
1
= Gas volume flow rate at inlet of compressor, m
3
/s
T
1
= Gas temperature at inlet of compressor, K
T
2
= 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
/C
v
P = Theoretical power requirement of compressor, kW
Example of adiabatic compression of air:
k P
1
, barA P
2
, barA T
1
, C T
1
, K Q
1
, m
3
/s P, kW T
2
, K T
2
, 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
Example of isothermal compression of air:
P
1
, barA P
2
, barA T
1
& T
2
, C Q
1
, m
3
/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
P
2
/P
1
= (V
1
/V
2
)
k
= (T
2
/T
1
)
k-1/k
T
1
*[P
2
/P
1
]
(k - 1/k)
P
2
/P
1
= (V
1
/V
2
)
{P
1
*100000*Q
1
*ln(P
2
/P
1
)}/1000
{(k / k - 1)* P
1
*100000*Q
1
*[ (P
2
/P
1
)
(k - 1/k)
- 1 ]}/1000
ISOTHERMAL COMPRESSION IS FOR ACADEMIC PURPOSE ONLY. CHEMICAL PROCESS INDUSTRY
COMPRESSION APPLICATIONS ARE GENERALLY NOT CONSIDERED AS ISOTHERMAL.
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 15C & 1-atm pressure and require to be computed.
P
motor
= P/(h
machine
*h
tr
)
Efficiency
Reciprocating
(piston)
Rotary
(Lobe,
Vane)
Centrifugal
(Dynamic)
h
machine
0.85-0.9 0.7-0.75 0.7-0.75
Efficiency
worm Hydro Gear Belt
Direct
coupling
h
tr
0.7 0.8 0.85 0.97 1
Where:
P
motor
= rating of the driver, kW
h
machine
= compression efficiency of the compressor
h
tr
= efficiency of the speed transmission device.
Specific heat ratio of various gases @15C 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: ankur_2061@hotmail.com
Note: Actual power requirement of driver is a function of the efficiency of the type of compressor & the speed
transmission mechanical device.
Type of compressor
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.
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.
Type of speed transmission
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.