TYPES OF AIR COMPRESSORS

1. Positive Displacement - Positive displacement compressors increase air pressure by

reducing air volume within a confined space. In a positive displacement compressor
mechanical linkage is used to reduce the volume of air, which results in a change to the
air pressure. To think of it another way, the energy which is used to displace the air
volume is converted into an increase in air pressure.

2. Dynamic - utilize an increase in air velocity to cause a change in air pressure. For a
dynamic compressor, the fluid (air) is accelerated to a high velocity through a rotor or
impeller. The kinetic energy of the air is then converted to an increased potential
energy/static pressure by slowing the flow through a diffuser. The air at the outlet of
the diffuser is the compressed air which is used to perform work.

Positive Displacement Compressor

There are two types of positive displacement compressor; the reciprocating compressor and the
rotary compressor.

Reciprocating compressor
Use pistons driven by a crankshaft. They can be either stationary or portable, can be single or multi-
staged, and can be driven by electric motors or internal combustion engines.
Examples of reciprocating compressor

 Single Acting
The term “single acting” refers to manner in which the cylinder inside of the compressor
motor interacts with the working fluid (the air). When the fluid (air) acts only on one side of
the piston, the motor is referred to as “single acting”. This type of motor relies on the load of
the motor, a flywheel, springs, other cylinders, or some other device/momentum to return the
piston back to its original location.

Single acting compressors can be air-cooled or water cooled, lubricated or non-lubricated,

and packaged to provide a wide range of pressure and flow capacities. Because of this
adaptability, single acting compressors are quite common and serve a variety of industrial
needs.
 Double Acting
The double acting compressor compresses the air on both the up-stroke and the down-stroke
of the piston, doubling the capacity of a given cylinder size. This “double” compression cycle
is what makes this type of air compressor very efficient.

To explore the internals a bit closer, the mechanical linkage used to move the piston is slightly
different as well as the additional intake and exhaust valves. Instead of the connecting rod
being attached directly to the piston as seen inside a single acting compressor, a crosshead
is added between the compression piston and the connecting rod. The rod that connects the
crosshead to the compression piston can be sealed to keep the cylinder completely
encapsulated. For every rotation of the electric motor, the air is being compressed twice. With
the added heat of compression, the double acting compressors are generally water-cooled.
Also, with the added mechanism between the crank and the piston, the rotational speeds are
typically less. Because of the larger size, water jackets, and added parts, the initial cost is
more expensive than the single acting compressor, but the efficiency is much higher.
 Diaphragm
are a variation of reciprocating compressors. The diaphragm compressor develops pressure
through a reciprocating or oscillating action of a flexible disc actuated by an eccentric. Since a
sliding seal is not required between moving parts, this design is not lubricated. Diaphragm
compressors are often selected when no contamination is allowed in the output air or
atmosphere, such as hospital and laboratory applications. Diaphragm compressors are limited
in output and pressure and they are used most often for light-duty applications.
Rotary Compressor
Rotary compressors, on the other hand, use rollers. They sit slightly off-center in a shaft, with
one side always touching the wall. As they move at high speeds, they accomplish the same
goal as the reciprocating compressors--one part of the shaft is always at a different pressure
than the other, so gas can come in at the low pressure point and exit at the high pressure
point.
Examples of rotary compressor:

 Vane compressor
consist of a rotor with a number of blades inserted in radial slots in the rotor. The rotor is
mounted offset in a larger housing that is either circular or a more complex shape. As the rotor
turns, blades slide in and out of the slots keeping contact with the outer wall of the housing.
Thus, a series of increasing and decreasing volumes is created by the rotating blades. Rotary
Vane compressors are, with piston compressors one of the oldest of compressor technologies.
 Screw compressor
Rotary helical screw compressors utilize two intermeshing helical rotors in a twin-bore case.
In a single-stage design, the air inlet is usually located at the top of the cylinder
near the drive shaft end. The discharge port is located at the opposite end of the cylinder. As
the rotors unmesh at the air inlet end of the cylinder, air is drawn into the cavity between the
main rotor lobes and the secondary rotor grooves. As rotation continues, the rotor tips pass
the edges of the inlet ports, trapping air in a cell formed by the rotor cavities and the cylinder
wall. Compression begins as further rotation causes the main rotor lobes to roll into the
secondary rotor grooves, reducing the volume and raising cell pressure.

 Scroll compressor
Air compression within a scroll is accomplished by the interaction of a fixed and an orbiting
helical element that progressively compresses inlet air (Figure 8). This process is continuously
repeated, resulting in the delivery of pulsation-free compressed air. With fewer moving parts,
reduced maintenance becomes an operating advantage. Scroll compressors can be of
lubricated or oil-free design.
Types of Dynamic Compressor
1. Centrifugal Compressor - is characterized by its radial discharge flow. Air is drawn into
the centre of a rotating impeller with radial blades and is pushed out towards the perimeter
of the impeller by centrifugal forces. The radial movement of the air results simultaneously
in a pressure rise and a generation of kinetic energy. Before the air is led to the centre of
the impeller of the next compressor stage, it passes through a diffuser and a volute where
the kinetic energy is converted into pressure.

2. Axial-flow compressor - An axial compressor has axial flow, whereby the air or gas passes
along the compressor shaft through rows of rotating and stationary blades. In this way, the
velocity of the air is gradually increased at the same time that the stationary blades convert
the kinetic energy to pressure. A balancing drum is usually built into the compressor to
counterbalance axial thrust. Axial compressors are generally smaller and lighter than their
equivalent centrifugal compressors and normally operate at higher speeds. They are used for
constant and high volume flow rates at a relatively moderate pressure, for instance, in
ventilation systems. Given their high rotational speed, they are ideally coupled to gas turbines
for electricity generation and aircraft propulsion.