AIR COMPRESSORS

Module - 3
INDEX
1. Introduction
2. Uses of Compressed air
3. Reciprocating compressors
4. Operation of a compressors
5. Work of compression
6. Power required
7. Reciprocating compressor efficiencies
8. Multistage reciprocating compressors
9. Rotary compressors
 Introduction
•
• The machine which takes in air or any other gas
• at low pressure and compresses it to high
pressure are called compressors.
•
• They are power consuming machines in which
• mechanical work is converted into the pressure head
of air or gas.
•
• They are also considered as reversed heat engine.
• Generally,
•
the compressors are driven by electric motors,
I.C. engine or gas turbines.
• A
•
compressor is used for increasing the pressure of air is
called air compressor.
Classification of compressors
(1) Method of compression
• Reciprocating compressors:.
• Rotary compressors:
• Centrifugal compressors
(2) Delivery pressure
• Low pressure
• Medium pressure
• High pressure
• Very high pressure
(3) Principal of operation
 Positive of displacement

 Rotodynamic or steady flow compressor

(4) The number of stages

 Single stage compressor - pressure up to 5 bar

 Multistage compressor - pressure above 5 bar

(5) The number of cylinder

 Single cylinder

 Multi cylinder
(6) Volume of air delivered
• Low capacity

• Medium capacity

• High capacity

(7) Fluid to be compressed

• Air compressor

• Gas compressor

• Vapour compressor
 Uses of compressed air
• In refrigeration cycle
• Operation tools like drill hammers etc.
• Filling the air in automobile tyres
• Spray painting
• Increasing inlet pressure of I.C. engine
• To operate air motor I mines where fire risk are more
• Pumping water
• Gas turbine power plant
• Conveying the materials like sand and concrete along a
pipe line
• For sand blasting
• Operating blast furnace
• Operating air brakes used in buses truck trains etc.
Classification of Compressor

•Positive Displacement
• Reciprocating
• Single acting
• Double acting
• Rotary
• Roots blower
• Vane type

•Dynamic displacement
• Centrifugal
• Axial
 Reciprocating compressor
 A single stage reciprocating compressor. It used for
compressing air and it is satisfactory for all
ranges of pressure it consist of the cylinder in
which a piston reciprocates the piston is driven by
crank through connecting rod .the crank is
mounted in a crank case. the value are generally
pressure differential type.
 Work for compression
(1) Compression without clearance
W = p1 V1 (p2/p1) = p2 V2 loge(p2/p1) = pV loge
(p2/P1)

(2) Compression with clearance

W = n/n-1 mad RT1 p2/p1 n-1/n – 1 J/cycle

Power required

(1) Indicated Power:

I.P. = pmLAn KW
60000

(2) Brake power:

B.P.= 2 NT
60,000
 Reciprocating compressor
efficiencies

(1) Mechanical efficiency

ῃ= I.P/B.P
(2) Isothermal efficiency
ῃiso = p1 V1 loge (p2/P1)
[ (n/n-1) p1V1 (p2/p1)n-1/n -1}]

(3)Volumetric efficiency
ῃ=1- C [(p2/p1)1/n -1)]
Multistage reciprocating compressor
 There are several disadvantages to compress the
air at a high pressure in a single cylinder the air is
compressed by more than one cylinder in series in
a single stage compressor if the pressure ratio is
increased the volumetric efficiency decrease .by
the equation when the pressure ratio is
p2/p1=[1+1/c]n
Advantages of multistage compressor
• Without inter cooling the curve of compression
will follow the path hence the saving work input
due to inter cooling .
• Volumetric efficiency is increased due to the
smaller pressure range as the effect of
expansion of air in the clearance volume is less
Less shaft power is required for a given pressure
• ratio due to the saving in work input
 Due to smaller working temperature better
lubricating effect is provided
 Better mechanical balance and smoother
torque – angel diagram is obtained
 In multistage compressor the low pressure
cylinder is lighter
 There is less leakage problems due to less
pressure difference for each stage
Rotary compressor
 (1) Centrifugal compressor
A general arrangement of this compressor is similar
• to a centrifugal pump Fig. shows main components
of a centrifugal compressor It consist of a rotating
elements called impeller and a volute casing impeller
rotates at a very high speed may be up to 30,000
RPM T
into the compressor through the he air enter
suction eye of the impeller. due to t
rotation of the impeller at a high he
velocity.
• Then air with high velocity enter into a
diffuser ring. the diffuser blade of the
diffuser ring are so shaped that these
provided an increased area of passage to
the air which is passing outward due to
which the velocity of air leaving the impeller
is reduced and its pressure is increased the
high pressure air then flows to the divergent
passage of volute casing the velocity air is
further reduced due to increased cross
sectional area of volute casing causing very
small rise in pressure from the casing the
compressor air leads to exit pipe and finally
 (2) Axial Flow compressor
• It consists of a casing fitted with several rows of fixed
blades and rotor attached with several rows of
moving blades.
• The fixed and moving blades are placed on alternate
rows the function of the fixed blades is to receive the
high velocity air from the moving blades.
• Axial flow compressor is also a high speed machine
and speed may even vary from 10,000 to 30,000
RPM. Pressure ratio of 10:1 can be achieved.
Positive Displacement
Compressors
 (1) Roots Blowers
• The roots blower consists of two lobe For
higher pressure ratio three and four lobes may
be used here the pressure of air delivered is
slightly above the atmosphere.
• The machine consists of a fixed casing two
shafts fitted with two lobe rotors one of the
rotor is driven by electric motor or other prime
movers and other is driven through the gears
from first.
 The air is drawn through the inlet pipe due to

•
• rotation of due rotors. the volume of air is
• entrapped between one rotor and casing for a
• very short interval due to rotation of lobe
• trapped air is carried to the discharge side
• continued rotation of rotors open the trapped
• space to the discharge port. the air is pushed to
• the receiver due to the continued rotation of rotors.
 (2) Vane type compressor or Blower
• This type of compressor is shown inn fig. The
compressor is consists of rotor drum mounted
eccentrically in the cylindrical casing. The rotor is
provided with vanes in the slots. These vanes or
blades are made from non-metallic material usually
fiber or carbon.
• The vanes can slide in and out in the slots. The volum e
between two vanes keeps on
changing due to eccentric mot ion
of the rotor. The rotation of the
rotor causes space to be cr eated
between the vanes,the rotor a nd
casing.The space is connect ed to
suction pipe so that air enters into
the created space and filled.
• A volume V1 of air trapped between the vanes and casing. With
the rotation of rotor of rotor, air gets compressed due to reduction of
space towards delivery side.
• The fluid volume reduces to V2,when it communicates with the
delivery side. Since the receiver pressure is higher than the
compressed air between the vanes, the back flow of air from the
receiver will take place.
• Due to rotation of vanes air is delivered to the receiver. In this type
of compressor. the total pressure rise is partially due to internal
compression between the vanes and partially due to back flow of air
from receiver.
• This type of compressor can produce a pressure ratio up to 6 per
stage