Gas Turbine engines

Compressors

Types of Compressors
Reciprocating air compressors are the type of
compressor found in most small shops, they are
positive displacement machines.
This means that they increase the pressure of the air
by reducing its volume, this is accomplished by a
piston moving up a cylinder compressing the air above
it.

Single-stage and two-stage reciprocating

compressors are commercially available. Single-stage
compressors are generally used for pressures in the
range of 70 psi to 150 psi. Two-stage compressors are
generally used for higher pressures.

Rotary Screw Compressors

Rotary air compressors are also positive
displacement compressors. The most common
rotary air compressor is the single stage helical
or spiral lobe oil flooded screw air compressor,
consisting of two rotors within a casing where
the rotors compress the air internally. There are
no valves. These units are basically oil cooled
with the oil sealing the internal clearances. Since
the cooling takes place right inside the
compressor, the working parts never experience
extreme operating temperatures making them
continious duty compressors.

Centrifugal Compressors
The centrifugal air compressor is a dynamic
compressor which depends on a rotating
impeller to compress the air.
In order to do this efficiently, centrifugal
compressors must rotate at higher speeds
than the other types of compressors.
These types of compressors are designed for
higher capacity because flow through the
compressor is continuous and oil free by
design.

Centrifugal compressors consist of three main

parts, as shown in Figure 1.
The first is a rotating impeller, which imparts
work to the gas by increasing its angular
momentum. The fluid static pressure and
absolute velocity (stationary frame of
reference) increase through the impeller
passage.
The second component is the diffuser
section, often with vanes to increase the
effectiveness. The diffuser converts the kinetic
energy into the static pressure by decelerating
the fluid.

 The third and final component is a volute or

collector, used for collecting the gas from
diffuser and delivering to the outlet pipe. A
volute has two functions: collection and
diffusion.
The volute must collect and transport the
fluid to the downstream system. It also raises
the static pressure by converting kinetic
energy (u2) to potential energy (static
pressure).
The latter function has performance benefits,
as the discharge pressure is increased.

Figure 1: Centrifugal compressor layout. (a) A cross-sectional

view, showing the impeller followed by a vaned diffuser, and a
volute. (b) An isometric view of the package.

Examples of Application
Impeller of a compressor

Examples of Application
Vaned diffuser for centrifugal compressor

Examples of Application
Turbo charger

Axial Compressor