AIR OR GAS COMPRESSORS

Compressor is a steady state, steady flow machine in which mechanical work is added to the
gaseous fluid in ordere to increase its pressure.
TYPES OF COMPRESSORS
Centrifugal Compressors - For low pressure and high capacity application
Rotary Compressors - For medium pressure and low capacity application
Reciprocating Compressors - For high pressure and low capacity application
USES OF COMPRESSED AIR
Operation of small engines
Pneumatic tools
Air hoists
Industrial cleaning by air blast
Tire inflation
Paint Spraying
Air lifting of liquids
Manufacture of plastics and other industrial products
To supply air in mine tunnels
Other specialized industrial applications
ANALYSIS OF CENTRIFUGAL AND ROTARY TYPE

Assuming: KE = 0; and PE = 0
From SSSF Equation
Q = h + KE + PE + W (Steady state - steady flow equation)
Q = h + W
For a compressor, work is done on the system; thus
-W = h - Q; Let -W = Wc (compressor work)

W VdP

let - W Wc (Compressor Work)

A) Isentropic Compression (PVk = C)

P
2
-W = Wc = VdP
k
dPPV = c
V

V
For Isentopic compression' Q = 0
-W = h ;-W = VdP = Wc
Wc = mCp(T2-T1)

kmRT P2
W
1
c

k -1
P
1

Q=0
PV1 = mRT1
P,V, and T relationship
k 1

P
T
2 2
P
T
1 1

k 1
k

V
1
V
2

KW

k 1

Where
m - mass flow rate of the gas in kg/sec
Wc - work in KW
P - pressure in KPa
T - temperature in K
R - gas constant in KJ/kg-K
V - volume flow rate in m3/sec
B) Polytropic Compression (PVn = C)
P
2
-W = Wc = VdP
n
dPPV =C
V

1
V

For Polytropic compression, Q 0

Wc= h - Q ; Wc = VdP
h = mCp(T2 - T1)
Q = mCn(T2 - T1)
n 1

n
nmRT P
1 2
Wc
1 KW

n-1 P

k n
C Cv

n
1 n
n 1
n V n1
P
T
2 2
1
P
V
T
1 1
2
C) Isothermal Compression (PV = C)
P
2
-W = Wc = VdP
PV = C
dP
V

1
V

Wc = Q

P
Wc P V ln 2
1 1 P
1
P1V1 = mRT1

ANALYSIS OF RECIPROCATING TYPE COMPRESSOR

valves

cylinder

piston

piston-rod

dD
HE

CE

P232
P1
41
V1
V
CVD

VD

HE - Head end
CE - Crank end
L - length of stroke, m
VD - Displacement volume, m3/sec
D - diameter of bore, m
d - diameter of piston rod, m
A) For Isentropic Compression and RE-expansion process (PV K = C),no heat
is removed from the gas.
- W Wc Pdv
kmRT1
Wc
k-1

P
2
P1

k 1
k

Q0
P1 V1' mRT1
Q=0

PV1' = mRT1
P,V, and T relationship
T2 P2

T1 P1

where:

k 1
k

V
1
V2

k 1

KW

V1' - volume flow rate measured at intake, m3/sec

m - mass flow rate corresponding V1', kg/sec
B) For Polytropic Compression and Re-expansion process (PV n = C), some
amount of heat is removed from the gas.
-W = Wc = h - Q ;Wc = VdP
h = mCp(T2 - T1)
Q = mCn(T2 - T1)
nmRT1
Wc
n -1

P
2
P1

n 1

KW

P1V1' = mRT1
k n
C n Cv

1 n KJ/kg-K

T2

P2

n 1

V1

n 1

P
V
1
2
C) For Isothermal compression and re-expansion process (PV = C), an
amount of heat equivalent to the compression work is removed from the
gas.
Wc = -Q
T1

Wc P1 V1'ln

P2
P1

P1V1' = mRT1
PERCENT CLEARANCE

Clearance Volume
Displacement Volume
V
C 3 x 100%
VD

For compressor design, values of percent clearance C ranges from

3 to 10 %.
V3 = CVD
where: V3 - clearance volume

VOLUMETRIC EFFICIENCY

ClearanceVolume
x 100%
Displaceme
nt Volume
V
v 1' x100%
VD
v

A) For Isentropic Compression (PVk= C)

P
1 C C x 100%

P
1/k

B) For Polytropic Compression (PVn = C)

1/n

P2
x 100%

v 1 C C
P

C) For Isothermal Compression (PV = C)

P
v 1 C C 2 x 100%
P
1

DISPLACEMENT VOLUME
A) For single acting

LD 2 Nn' m 3
VD
4(60) sec
B) For Double acting without considering the volume of piston rod

2LD 2 Nn' m 3
VD
4(60)
sec
C) For Double acting considering volume of piston rod

LNn ' (2D 2 d 2 ) m 3

VD
4(60)
sec
where: L - length of stroke, m
D - diameter of bore, m
d - diameter of piston rod, m
n' - no. of cylinders

ACTUAL VOLUMETRIC EFFICIENCY

va

Va
VD

100 %

Va - actual volume of air or gas drawn in

MEAN EFFECTIVE PRESSURE

Pm

W
KPa
VD

W in KJ, KJ/kg, KW
VDin m3, m3/kg, m3/sec
PISTON SPEED
PS 2LN m/min
2LN
PS
m/sec
60
EFFICIENCY
A) COMPRESSION EFFICIENCY
cn

Ideal Work
x 100%
Indicated Work

B) MECHANICAL EFFICIENCY
m

Indicated Work
x 100%
Brake or Shaft Wor k

C) COMPRESSOR EFFICIENCY
c cn m
c

Indicated Work
x 100%
Brake or Sfaft work

By. Engr. Yuri G. Melliza

Sample Problems
1. A low pressure, water jacketed, centrifugal compressorcompresses 6.8 kg/min of air from 101
KPa and 21C to 135 KPa and 43C.
a. Assuming the process to be polytropic and neglectingKE and PE, determine the
compressor power, the heat transfer and the mass of water circulating if tw = 5C
b. Consider the process as an irreversible adiabatic (no cooling system) with a final
temperature of 54C, find the value of m in PVm = C.

2. Measured at 101.325 KPaand 300 K, 14 m3/sec are compressed to 305 KPa by a rotary
compressor. The initial velocity is 20 m/sec and the final velocity is 85 m/sec. Neglecting
mechanical friction and PE, determine the motor power required to drive the compressor if
motor efficiency is 92%, considering
a. Isentropic compression
b. Polytropic compression with n = 1.31
c. Isothermal compression

Wc h Q KE
Motor Power

Wc
0.92