INTRODUCTION

Virtually every stage of the modern manufacturing relies on compressed air. Uses May be
broken down in the compressed air into three main categories such as Power service, Process
service, Control.
Power service includes those applications that use either to produce air movement or
exercise of power, or both. Examples are linear motors, pneumatic tools, and clamping devices and
air transport operations. Services operation is defined as an application in the air or gas that enters in
the process itself. Examples include combustion, liquefaction of oils and cooling. Application
controls are those so-called air or gas, and a start, stops, regulate or otherwise directs machines or
processes.
Compressors are devices that are used to increase the gas pressure by reducing the volume of
the air. The air is compressed gas in most cases. Natural gas is compressed also, oxygen, nitrogen
and other important industrial gases for various applications. Compressors come in three types;
Positive displacement
Centrifugal
Axial
Positive displacement compressors are usually of the reciprocating piston type. They are useful
for supplying a small amount of gas under pressure is relatively high. Other types of positive
displacement compressors include: sliding rotary compressors and rotary screw compressors.
Centrifugal compressors increase the kinetic energy of the gas with high-speed impeller and
then convert this energy to increase the pressure in the exit corridor mixed-called publisher.
Centrifugal compressors are particularly suitable for large amounts of pressure gas under moderate
pressure.
In axial compressors gas flows parallel to the axis of rotation of the rotor, which has several
rows or in the form of aerodynamic blades extending outward radially. Surrounded fixed rotor casing
containing a similar number of rows of blades extending and installing home between rows of rotor
blades. As gas passes through the compressor, the speed is increased and alternately decreased.
During each increase in speed is increased kinetic energy of the gas through a reduction in speed is
converted kinetic energy to pressure increases. It uses this type of jet engines for craft air compressor
and gas turbines.

OBJECTIVE
To determine the variation of volumetric efficiency with delivery pressure of a
reciprocating air compressor.
APPARATUS

Reciprocating air compressor

Pressure vessel
Thermometers
Pressure gauges
Liquid Manometers

PROCEDURE

Make sure the valves of cooling water supply and discharge lines are fully open
Completely unload the motor before it is started
Start the air compressor and allow the unit to function for 10 minutes at 450 rpm
Commence test and take required readings.
Make sure the pressure at the air receiver is at the required value while taking the readings and that a
constant speed of 450 rpm is maintained.

CALCULATIONS

Where;
K = Nozzle Coefficient = 7.52

t = Nozzle temperature
H = Observed head in mm of Water of Upstream
M2 = P1

in mm of Hg

h = Observed head in mm of Water of Downstream

t1 = Atmospheric air temperature = 30C
P1 = Pressure in mm Hg = Pressure in psi 51.7149
Other data

Bore = 101.6mm = 0.1016 m

Stroke = 101.6mm = 0.1016 m
No of cylinders = 2
Rpm =450
Cross sectional area of the piston head = A =
For 10 psi delivery pressure

H = 142mm
h = 42mm
P1 = 10 51.7149 = 517.149 mmHg
M2 = 517.149

= 514.0607 mmHg

Pressure of
Vessel

Pressure of
Vessel

Nozzle
Temperatur
e

(psi)

(mm Hg)

(C)

10

P1
517.149

t
31

Free Air
Delivery

Volumetric
Efficiency

per
minute
( m3 / min )
0.685

92.4038

20
30
40
50

1034.298
1551.447
2068.596
2585.745

31
28.5
28
30

0.541588
0.45642
0.312783
0.266166

72.8189
61.87658
42.47426
35.90533

DISCUSSION
In describing an engine or gas compressor, the ratio of volume of working substance actually
admitted, measured at a specified temperature and pressure, to the full piston displacement volume; for
a liquid-fuel engine, such as a diesel engine, volumetric efficiency is the ratio of the volume of air
drawn into a cylinder to the piston displacement.
For a liquid-fuel engine, such as a diesel engine, volumetric efficiency is the ratio of
volume of air drawn into a cylinder to the piston displacement. For a gas-fuel engine, such as a
gasoline engine with carburetor, throttle body, or port injection, volumetric efficiency is based on the
charge of fuel and air drawn into the cylinder.
A compressure is device that work take input and store it as potantial enegy (pressure
energy).since it does not deliver any out put power , efficiency canot be defined using energy
concept. As the air intake and delivering it at high pressure is the main job of the compressure.
Because the air intake and exhaust is what mostly considered factors it is good approach to
define a terms as volumetric efficiency.As noted above this concept does not consider the input
energy, leakages, friction loss that plays major role in overall perfomance of the machine. A

term that considers some these factors will be a good term to decribe the property of the good
compressure.
Factors Affecting Volumetric Efficiency
1) Operating temperature
2) Valve operating speed
3) Cooling
4) How close to the isothermal process
5) Speed of rotation of the engine
6) Delivery Pressure
Temperature and Pressure variation of the delivery gas
The temperature variation of the delivery gas from the out let from the compressor to the out let of
the delivery from the orifice under steady state condition can be given as following.
Temperature Variation
Temperature drop during the flow of the out let pipe
Tthere is somewhat long pipe line from the compressor out let to the tank so the out let gas
temperature drops due to heat transfer between the pipe and the atmosphere. The pipe has
colored while in order to reduce the heat transfer but there is always drop in temperature.

Temperature drop at the pressure controlling gate

The gate opening and closing create turbulence around the gate which in turns absorbs energy
from the flow there is small temperature drop between the two ends of the gate.

Temperature drop at the storing tank

Pressurized air is kept in the tank for some time since the air is at high temperature than
atmosphere some amount of heat is rejected to atmosphere so there is a temperature drop.
If there are any valves, gates on the line then the temperature might get drop due to throttling.
Pressure Variation
Pressure changes at the out let pipe due to the valve action
Because the air is delivered at a high pressure than the tank pressure there is always cyclic
pressure variation.

Pressure drops at a controlling gates

Gates produce some irregularities in the cross section of the tube. That cause pressure drop
between the two sides of the gate.

Pressure drop in the pipe line

To get a flow in pipe there must be a pressure drop between the two ends of the pipe this drop
is gradual one that happen in the two pipes, in one from the compressor to tank and from the
tank to orifice.
Some methods can be adapted to measuring the pressure difference between the two ends of the
orifice with more accuracy using the following methods.

A liquid of low density (than water) can be used to get high sensitivity.
Colored alcohol can be used as the fluid for the manometer. Petroliam or kerosene can be used
also.

Pressure sensors can be introduced get a high accuracy.

Gauged pressure sensors can be directly used to get the pressure. This is very high accurate than
the normal measuring techniques.

Comparison of graphs...
The graph we have got this practical has not similar shape of the expected graph due to some errors.
specially the four reading we have got is varying so much.
Following has mentioned some practical errors can be occurred...
Gas we used for the practical is not an ideal gas.
When the practical is progressing, sometimes there is a huge heat loss to the surrounding. But in
our calculations we neglect the term for heat loss to the surrounding.

 Also we neglect the terms for kinetic energy & potential energy. There will be a error by missing
those terms from the calculations.
Here we only consider the heat loss through the heat conduction, but heat can also transferred by
convection and radiation.