Air - compressors

COMPRESSORS
A machine which takes in
atmospheric air during suction and
then compresses it with the help of
mechanical energy and delivers high
pressure air to a storage tank.
Classification of air
compressors
Classification of air compressor

According to number of stages

Single stage, double stage, three stage of
multiple stage
According to action
Single acting or double acting
According to position of cylinder w.r.t.
crankshaft
Cylinders inline, vertical, radial position, V-
type cylinder arrangement
Classification of air compressor

According to prime mover

Electric motor drive or IC engine drive, Gas
turbine drives
According to cooling medium
Air cooled, water cooled air compressors
Reciprocating Compressor
Reciprocating Compressor
Construction
Consists of a piston , cylinder with cooling
arrangement, connecting rod, crank, inlet
and delivery valves.

The piston fitted with piston rings

reciprocates in the cylinder.

Prime mover (engine or motor) runs the

crankshaft and crank rotates and converts
rotary motion into reciprocating motion
of piston with the help of connecting rod.
 Cylinder head consists of spring
loaded inlet and delivery valves,
which are operated by a small
pressure difference across them

Cylinder is surrounded by a water

jacket or metallic fins for proper
cooling of air during compression.
 Working of a Single-Acting
air compressor
The piston moves in downward stroke
(TDC to BDC) , the residual compressed
air left in cylinder from previous cycle
expands first.
Further movement decreases the
pressure in the cylinder below
atmospheric pressure.
The atmospheric pressure pushes the
inlet valve and fresh air enters the
cylinder. This is the suction stroke. The
Working Contd..
The piston begins its return stroke from BDC to
TDC, the pressure in the cylinder increases , and
closes the inlet valve. The air in the cylinder is
compressed by piston.

The pressure inside the cylinder reaches a value

slightly more than the pressure of compressed
air acting outside the delivery valve.

The delivery valve opens and the compressed air

is discharged from the cylinder to storage tank.
The cycle repeats again.
 Process c-1 : Suction stroke inlet valve opens
and air enters the compressor at constant
pressure p1.

Process 1-2: Polytrophic compression of air

from pressure p1 to pressure p2.

Process 2-d: Discharge of compressed air

through delivery valve at constant pressure
p2.

Process d-c: No air in the cylinder and return

of piston for suction stroke.
 Reciprocating Compressor
TERMINOLOGY
Single Acting compressor
It is a compressor that has one discharge per
revolution of crankshaft.
Double Acting Compressor
It is a compressor that completes two
discharge strokes per revolutions of
crankshaft. Most heavy-duty compressors are
double acting.
Single stage compressor
The compression of air from the initial
pressure to final delivery pressure is carried
 Multi-stage compressor
The compression of air from initial pressure to
final delivery pressure is carried out in more
than one cylinder in series.
Pressure ratio
It is the ratio of absolute delivery pressure of
air to absolute suction pressure.
Piston speed
Linear speed of piston in m/minute.
Distance travelled by the piston in one
revolution of the crankshaft * No of
revolutions in one minute
Piston speed = 2LN
 Free air delivery (FAD)
Actual volume of compressed air delivered corresponding to
atmospheric condition is known as free air delivered.

Compressor displacement volume

Volume created by the displacement of the piston from the
top dead centre (TDC) to the bottom dead centre (BDC) of
the cylinder. (Stoke volume or swept volume).

Volume flow rate of air

Volume of air sucked per cycle * Number of suction stroke
per cycle * Number of revolutions per second

Capacity of compressor
The actual quantity of air delivered per unit time at
atmospheric conditions. The actual free air delivered (FAD)
by the cylinder per cycle per unit time is known as the actual
capacity of the compressor.
 Factors effecting volumetric
efficiency
1. High speed of compressor

2. Leakage past the piston

3. Too large clearance volume

4. Obstruction at inlet valve

5. Heated cylinder walls