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Compressor in Refrigerant System
2.0 INTRODUCTION
The transfer of heat from a low temperature medium to a high temperature one
requires special devices call refrigerants. A refrigerant is a compound used in a heat cycle
that undergoes a phase change from a gas to a liquid and back.
The refrigerant enters the compressor as a vapor and compressed to the condenser
pressure. Refrigerant leaves the compressor at a relatively high temperature, cools down
and condenses as flows through the coils of the condenser by rejecting heat to the
surrounding medium. Then, enters a capillary tube where the pressure and temperature
drop drastically due to the throttling effect. The low temperature refrigerant then enters
the evaporator, where evaporates by absorbing heat from the refrigerated space. The cycle
is completed as the refrigerant leaves the evaporator and reenters the compressor.
The refrigerant can be applied in Industrial refrigeration systems present in an
ethylene plant or an ammonia plant is designed based on the demand of refrigerant in the
process. Once the function of the heat exchangers and the temperatures of the refrigerant
are specified, the refrigeration system consisting of compressors, condensers and flash
drums is designed. The refrigeration system is design by using feed forward or feed back
controllers to determine required refrigerant flow rates and the resulting compressor
capacities.
3.0 DISCUSSION
3.1 Types of Compressor
The compressor is dividing into two types which are positive displacement and
dynamic. For positive displacement is contains reciprocating and rotary type. For
dynamic is dividing into centrifugal and axial.
Rotary air compressors are positive displacement compressors. The most common
rotary air compressor is the single stage helical or spiral lobe oil flooded screw air
compressor. These compressors consist of two rotors within a casing where the rotors
compress the air internally. There are no valves. These units are basically oil cooled (with
air cooled or water cooled oil coolers) where the oil seals the internal clearances.
Rotary screw air compressors are easy to maintain and operate. Capacity control
for these compressors is accomplished by variable speed and variable compressor
displacement. For the latter control technique, a slide valve is positioned in the casing. As
the compressor capacity is reduced, the slide valve opens, bypassing a portion of the
compressed air back to the suction. Advantages of the rotary screw compressor include
smooth, pulse-free air output in a compact size with high output volume over a long life.
The oil free rotary screw air compressor utilizes specially designed air ends to compress
air without oil in the compression chamber yielding true oil free air. Oil free rotary screw
air compressors are available air cooled and water cooled and provides the same
flexibility as oil flooded rotaries when oil free air is required.
rotate at higher speeds than the other types of compressors. These types of compressors
are also designed for higher capacity because flow through the compressor is continuous.
Adjusting the inlet guide vanes is the most common method to control capacity of
a centrifugal compressor. By closing the guide vanes, volumetric flows and capacity are
reduced. The centrifugal air compressor is an oil free compressor by design. The oil
lubricated running gear is separated from the air by shaft seals and atmospheric vents
refrigerant in a process exchanger E2. The process stream is cooled and the liquid
refrigerant absorbs the process duty Q and is vaporized. The vapor ethylene returns to the
suction head of the compressor hence completing the cycle.
The size of the compressor C1, exchanger E1, expansion valve V1 and the flash
drum F1 depends on the temperature level of the refrigerant multi-level industrial
refrigeration system is comprised of a combination of several single level refrigeration
system. There are four-level ethylene refrigeration system which has four refrigeration
loops each consisting of a compressor, a flash drum and several process exchangers
demanding refrigerants.
4.0 CONCLUSION
4.1 Advantages
Very mature technology.
Relatively inexpensive.
Can be driven directly using mechanical energy (water) or with electrical energy.
4.2 Disadvantages
Many refrigeration systems use compressors having lower efficiencies of between 4055%, since the 60% efficient ones cost almost twice as much as the lower efficiency ones.
4.3 Applications
Partial lists of compressor applications are including:
In pipeline transport of natural gas to move the gas from the production site to the
consumer.
In oil refineries, natural gas processing plants, petrochemical and chemical plants
In refrigeration and air conditioner equipment refrigerant cycles: see Vaporcompression refrigeration.
In industry and manufacturing to supply compressed air for all types of pneumatic
tools.
In oil field re-injection of high pressure natural gas to improve oil recovery
5.0 REFERENCES
1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Axial_compressor
2. http://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/air-compressor-types