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Air Compressors: Graph of Pressure Against Volume in A Reciprocating Compressor
Air Compressors: Graph of Pressure Against Volume in A Reciprocating Compressor
Crankcase lubrication
Lubrication of the crankcase in a compressor does not pose any specific
problems and normally consist of splash lubrication with pressurised oil being
fed to shell bearings. Where drip cylinder lubrication is used, this should be
kept to a minimum conducive with liner wear. A standard mineral oil similar to
that used in the main engine may be used, although due to carbon deposits,
higher quality oils are generally used with the most effective being specifically
designed synthetics which have allow a considerable reduction in maintenance
but are costly.
Mineral oils contain a blend of lighter elements such as paraffin's,
and heavier elements such as asphaltenes. During compression the lighter
elements are vaporised leaving the heavy ends, these coat the piston rings and
discharge valves in combination with oxidised oil deposits. These deposits also
coat passage ways and coolers resulting in higher interstage air temperatures.
Deposits on discharge valves cause them to become sticky and leak resulting in
hot air being drawn back into the cylinder for recompression. This increases the
temperature and hence causes greater oxidation and deposits, and so the
condition deteriorates with increasing rapidity.
Temperature can become very high, this may result in oily deposits
at the discharge valves carbonising. Eventually this carbon could glow red and
cause detonation. It is more likely, however, that oily deposits will be carried
over to the air receiver and air start manifold to be ignited by blowpast at the
cylinder air start valve.
Deposits at piston rings cause leakage allowing oil to enter the
cylinder from the crankcase thus increasing the danger it is essential that
crankcase lubrication be kept to a minimum compatible with an acceptable
wear rate. Regular maintenance will minimise oily deposits build up and hence
the risk of explosion
seat squarely. Uneven spring force or deposits on the seat cause valves to
bend resulting in fatigue cracking.
Rotary Compressor
Rotary/reciprocating Compressor
Rotary compressors in general do not require internal lubrication but they are
not suitable alone for providing air at a pressure for starting duties. They can,
however, be linked to reciprocating stages to produce a hybrid compressor.
The compressor is lighter, more compact and better balanced than
an equivalent all reciprocating unit. In basic terms the rotary first stage
supplies air to the reciprocating second and subsequent stages. All stages
being driven by the same shaft
Safety Valve
Materials
Cast iron-Casing, Liners, Pistons( the LP piston is sometimes made from an
aluminium alloy, Cylinder covers Steel- Crankshaft, Conrods, Pistons, Valve
seats Vanadium Steel- Valve plates
=
=
stage
compression
pressure
pressure
two
a
for
three
ratio
ratio
stage
stage
P1/P2
=
V2g/V1g
T1.
=
take
From
these
we
get;
(g
-1)/g
T2
(P2/P1)
g
1.4
and
if
we
for
and
example
P1
=
0.4
bar
P2
=
1
bar
Pf
=
5
bar
Tinitial = 300 K we end with final temperatures for the two compression's of
T1=
617
K
and
T2
=
475
K
from the graph it can be clearly seen that losses due to the bump clearance
has increased and the period of constant pressure delivery has been reduced.
Coolers