Compressors

A device that pressurizes fluids generally. Compressors are similar to pumps: both increase
the pressure on a fluid and both can transport the fluid through a pipe. Compression of gases and
vapors is an important operation in chemical and petrochemical plants. It is necessary to be able
to specify the proper type of equipment by its characteristic performance. The compression step is
conveniently identified for the process design engineer by the principal operation of the equipment:

• Reciprocating.
• Centrifugal.
• Rotary displacement.
• Axial flow.

Compression may be from below atmospheric as in a vacuum pump or above atmospheric

as for the majority of process applications. A gas compressor is a mechanical device that increases
the pressure of a gas by reducing its volume. An air compressor is a device specifically for
compressing air to power other tools.

Positive Displacement Compressor

• Reciprocating compressors
• Ionic liquid piston compressor.
• Rotary screw compressors.
• Rotary Vane compressors.
• Rolling piston.
• Scroll compressors.
• Diaphragm compressors.

Dynamic compressor
• Air bubble compressor.
• Centrifugal compressors.
• Continuous Blade Compressor.
• Diagonal or mixed-flow compressors.
• Axial-flow compressors.
Compressor Sizing Calculation Steps
• Select the compressor type.
• Calculate the reduce temperature and pressure and then calculate compressibility at the
inlet of compressor.
• Calculation of specific volume.
• Calculation of volumetric flow rate.
• Calculate hydraulic efficiency.
• Calculate the work of compressor.
• Calculate the discharge temperature.
• Calculate the reduce temperature and pressure at outlet conditions.
• Calculate the overall compressibility factor.
• Calculate the shaft work.
• Power calculation.
• Standard compressor size selection.

Compressor Calculations
Flow rate = 42418 kg/hr.
P = 1.01 bar
T = 25 C

Flow rate = 42418 kg/hr.

P = 2.1 bar
T = 25 C

Figure: Centrifugal compressor

Flowrate = 42418 kg/hr. = 35675.33 m3/hr.

P1 = 1.01 bar

P2 = 2.1 bar

T1 = 25℃ = 298 K
Selection of the Compressor
Compressor is selected from figure 9.

Figure: Compressor selection chart

Hence the compressor selected is centrifugal compressor.

The advantages of centrifugal compressor are following:

• Can handle wide range of flow rate

• Compatible for corrosive fluids
• They can deal liquid with large amounts of solids.
• Maintenance costs are lower than from other types of compressors.

Calculation of critical temperature and critical pressure of gaseous mixture

Components Composition(X) k Pc(bar) Tc(K) X*k X*Pc X*Tc

Inert 0.76 1.40 34 126 1.06 25 95
O2 0.24 1.39 50.5 154.5 1.39 50.5 154.5
1.45 37.5 131
Calculate the reduce temperature and pressure and then calculate compressibility
Reduced temperature:

TR = T1/Tc = 1.96

Reduced Pressure:

PR = P1/Pc = 0.10

Compressibility:

Z = 0.99(from fig 10).

Figure: Compressibility factor chart

Calculate hydraulic efficiency

Figure 1: Hydraulic efficiency Graph

From graph the Polytrophic efficiency = η= 0.75

𝑘−1
𝑛−1 𝑘
=
𝑛 𝜂
Where, k = Cp/Cv = 1.39
𝑛−1
= 0.38
𝑛

Calculate the work done

Let assume that initially we have only one stage N=1

𝑍𝑅𝑇1 𝑛−1
𝑃2 𝑛
𝑊𝑃𝑁 = 𝑛 − 1 [( ) − 1]
𝑛 𝑃1

WP1 = 210474 J/kmol

 𝑊𝑃𝑁
𝑊𝐶𝑁 =
Ƞ𝑃 Ƞ𝑆 Ƞ𝐵 Ƞ𝐺

Ƞ𝑆 = 0.98 , Ƞ𝐵 = 0.97 , Ƞ𝐺 = 0.98 , Ƞ𝑝 = 0.75

𝐾𝐽
𝑊𝑐1 = 3012.3
𝐾𝑚𝑜𝑙
For discharge temperature
𝑅
𝑊𝐶𝑁 = (𝑇𝐷 − 𝑇1)
(𝐾 − 1)
𝐾

Calculate the discharge temperature

𝑅
𝑊𝐶𝑁 = 𝑘 − 1 (𝑇𝐷 − 𝑇1)
𝑘
By putting values, as
R = 8314 J/kmol
K = 1.39
T1 = 298 K
So,
TD = 302.61 K
Which is less than 505 K so only one stage can do the required work and there is no need of
inter-stage cooling.
𝑃𝐶𝑃 = 𝑊𝐶1 ṁ
= 131 KW (175 hp) As, 1hp = 745.7 W
From standard motors we select 200 hp motor

Table 1: Specification sheet for compressor

Specification Sheet
Identification
Item Compressor
Item No. C-101
Type Centrifugal
Function
To increase pressure from 1 bar to 2.1 bar
Feed Flow Rate 42418 kg/hr.
Inlet Pressure 1 bar
Outlet Pressure 62.1bar
Power 1750hp