EXPERIMENT : PERFORMANCE EVALUATION OF SINGLE STAGE AIR

COMPRESSOR TEST RIG

OBJECTIVE :

To conduct a test on one-cylinder single stage air compressor and to draw graphs of
isothermal efficiency and volumetric efficiency at various delivery pressures.

DISCRIPTION :

Single stage compressor is reciprocating type driven by a prime mover AC motor through
belt. The test rig consists of a base on which the tank (air reservoir) is mounted. The electrical safety
valve & mechanical safety valves are provided. The suction side of low pressure cylinder is
connected to the air tank with an orifice plate. The pressure drop across the orifice plate can be
measured by inclined manometer. The input of the motor can be measured by an energy meter.

COMPRESSOR DETAILS & PARAMETERS :

Dia of Cylinder D = 51 mm
Stroke l = 40 mm

APPARATUS:
Digital Thermometer
Digital Tachometer

PROCEDURE :

1. Before starting the experiment, the air which is already compressed if any in the reservoir is
released out so that initial gauge pressure in compressor reservoir is zero/atmospheric.
2. Close the outlet valve.
3. Check the manometer connections.
4. Start the compressor by pressing the green color (on) button.
5. Read the tank pressure gauge for a particular pressure.
6. The pressure of air is maintained constant to the desired value (say 2 bars) by adjusting at the
opening of the compressed air outlet valve in the reservoir manually.
7. The following observations are to be taken by keeping reservoir pressure constant. Say (2
bars)
a. Room Temperature (Ta)
b. Speed (N)
c. Manometer reading (hw)(Pressure difference across orifice)
d. Temperature of air entry to LP cylinder [T1]
e. Temperature of air entry to HP cylinder [T2] after attaining the steady state
condition.
f. Load on the motor
8. Note down the RPM of the compressor using a digital tachometer.
9. Note down the manometer readings.
10. Note down the temperature readings.
11. Note down the reading of energy meter. Press button twice for Active Power (kW)
 12. The same procedure of observations is to be made for the other reservoir pressures. (Say
2,4,5,6 bars)
13. Then the motor is switched off by pressing the red color (off) button.

CALCULATIONS :

Pa
1. Density of Air: ra =
RaTa

hw r w
2. Pressure Head of Air : ha =
ra
kg
r w = 1000 density of water
m3
3. Velocity of air through orifice: va = 2 gha

p do 2
4. Area of orifice: Ao =
4

do = dia of orifice = 25 mm ( 0.025 m)

5. Volume flow rate of air at inlet condition: Q = Cd Ao va

where Cd is co-efficient of discharge = 0.61

6. Theoretical Volume of air, (sweep volume): Qs = p D 2 LN c

D is dia of piston = 51 mm = 0.051 m

L is stroke length = 40 mm = 0.040 m
Nc is speed of the compressor in RPM.

Q
7. Volumetric efficiency: hv =
Qs

8. Mass flow rate of air: ma = Q r a

P2
9. Isothermal power: Wiso = ma RaT1 ln
P1

Wiso
10. Isothermal efficiency: hiso =
Input Power

k -1
� �
k �P2 �k
� �
11. Adiabatic power: Wk = � � - 1�
ma RaT1 �
k -1 �P1 �
� �
�
 Wk
12. Adiabatic efficiency: h k =
Input Power

Q
13. Free air delivered: FAD =
Input Power

OBSERVATIONS:

Room Temperature [Ta] :_________oC

Manomete Inlet Outlet Tank Pressure (P2) Inlet Speed Input

r Temperatur Temperatur Pressure (RPM) Power
Reading e e (kW)
(in H20)
hw T1 T2 Bar Abs Pa – hw
(kPaa) (kPaa)
0.24 36 94 3.25 987 .82

Results
Q Qs hv Adiabatic Isothermal FAD
Wk hiso Wiso hk

Pa
ra =
RaTa
1. Density of Air: 101.325
ra =
0.287 ( 30 + 273)
r a = 1.165177

hw r w
2. Pressure Head of Air : ha =
ra
 kg
r w = 1000 density of water
m3
hw r w
ha =
ra
0.22 ( 1000 ) ( 9.81) ( 0.0254 )
ha =
1.16
ha = 47.04715
DP
3. Velocity of air through orifice: va = 2 gha = 2
d
DP
va = 2
d
47.04715
va = 2
9.81

p d o 2 p 0.02542
4. Area of orifice: Ao = = = 0.000507
4 4

do = dia of orifice = 25.4 mm ( 0.0254 m)

5. Volume flow rate of air at inlet condition: Q = Cd Ao va

where Cd is co-efficient of discharge = 0.61

Q = 0.61( 0.000507 ) 3.097042

p D2
6. Theoretical Volume of air, (sweep volume): Qs = LN c
4

D is dia of piston = 51 mm = 0.051 m

L is stroke length = 40 mm = 0.040 m
Nc is speed of the compressor in RPM.

p ( 0.051)
2

Qs = ( 0.040 ) ( 968)
4

Q
7. Volumetric efficiency: hv = = 71.22%
Qs

8. Mass flow rate of air: ma = Q r a = 0.001115389

P2
9. Isothermal power: Wiso = ma RaT1 ln = 0.08854155 =
P1
 Wiso
10. Isothermal efficiency: hiso = = 11%
Input Power

k -1
� �
k � �
� P2 k �
11. Adiabatic power: Wk = � � - 1�= 0.27801515
ma RaT1 �
k -1 �P1 �
� �
�

Wk
12. Adiabatic efficiency: h k = = 34%
Input Power

Q
13. Free air delivered: FAD = =0.0011674
Input Power