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A small stationary high pressure breathing air compressor for filling scuba cylinders
A compressor is a mechanical device that increases the pressure of a gas by reducing its volume. An air compressor is a specific type of
gas compressor.
Compressors are similar to pumps: both increase the pressure on a fluid and both can transport the fluid through a pipe. As gases are
compressible, the compressor also reduces the volume of a gas. Liquids are relatively incompressible; while some can be compressed, the
main action of a pump is to pressurize and transport liquids.
Contents
1Types of compressors
o 1.1Positive displacement
1.1.1Reciprocating compressors
1.1.2Ionic liquid piston compressor
1.1.3Rotary screw compressors
1.1.4Rotary vane compressors
1.1.5Rolling piston
1.1.6Scroll compressors
1.1.7Diaphragm compressors
o 1.2Dynamic
1.2.1Air bubble compressor
1.2.2Centrifugal compressors
1.2.3Diagonal or mixed-flow compressors
1.2.4Axial-flow compressors
o 1.3Hermetically sealed, open, or semi-hermetic
2Thermodynamics of Gas Compression
o 2.1Isentropic Compressor
o 2.2Minimizing work required by a Compressor
2.2.1Comparing Reversible to Irreversible Compressors
2.2.2Effect of Cooling During the Compression Process
o 2.3Compressors in Ideal Thermodynamic Cycles
3Temperature
4Staged compression
5Drive motors
6Applications
7See also
8References
Types of compressors[edit]
The main and important types of gas compressors are illustrated and discussed below:
Positive displacement[edit]
A positive displacement compressor is the system which compresses the air by the displacement of a mechanical linkage reducing the
volume (since the reduction in volume due to a piston in thermodynamics is considered as positive displacement of the piston).[vague]
Reciprocating compressors[edit]
Main article: Reciprocating compressor
A motor-driven six-cylinder reciprocating compressor that can operate with two, four or six cylinders.
Reciprocating compressors use pistons driven by a crankshaft. They can be either stationary or portable, can be single or multi-staged,
and can be driven by electric motors or internal combustion engines.[1][2][3] Small reciprocating compressors from 5 to 30 horsepower (hp) are
commonly seen in automotive applications and are typically for intermittent duty. Larger reciprocating compressors well over 1,000 hp
(750 kW) are commonly found in large industrial and petroleum applications. Discharge pressures can range from low pressure to very high
pressure (>18000 psi or 180 MPa). In certain applications, such as air compression, multi-stage double-acting compressors are said to be
the most efficient compressors available, and are typically larger, and more costly than comparable rotary units.[4] Another type of
reciprocating compressor, usually employed in automotive cabin air conditioning systems,[citation needed] is the swash plate or wobble plate
compressor, which uses pistons moved by a swash plate mounted on a shaft (see axial piston pump).
Household, home workshop, and smaller job site compressors are typically reciprocating compressors 1½ hp or less with an attached
receiver tank.
A linear compressor is a reciprocating compressor with the piston being the rotor of a linear motor.
Ionic liquid piston compressor[edit]
Main article: Ionic liquid piston compressor
An ionic liquid piston compressor, ionic compressor or ionic liquid piston pump is a hydrogen compressor based on an ionic liquid piston
instead of a metal piston as in a piston-metal diaphragm compressor.[5]
Rotary screw compressors[edit]
Diagram of a rotary screw compressor
The Rolling piston in a rolling piston style compressor plays the part of a partition between the vane and the rotor.[13] Rolling piston forces
gas against a stationary vane.
2 of these compressors can be mounted on the same shaft to increase capacity and reduce vibration and noise. A design without a spring
is known as a swing compressor.
In refrigeration and air conditioning, this type of compressor is also known as a rotary compressor, with rotary screw compressors being
also known simply as screw compressors.
Scroll compressors[edit]
A small hermetically sealed compressor in a common consumer refrigerator or freezer typically has a rounded steel outer shell permanently welded shut,
which seals operating gases inside the system. There is no route for gases to leak, such as around motor shaft seals. On this model, the plastic top
section is part of an auto-defrost system that uses motor heat to evaporate the water.
Compressors used in refrigeration systems are often described as being either hermetic, open, or semi-hermetic, to describe how the
compressor and motor drive are situated in relation to the gas or vapor being compressed. The industry name for a hermetic
is hermetically sealed compressor, while a semi-hermetic is commonly called a semi-hermetic compressor.
In hermetic and most semi-hermetic compressors, the compressor and motor driving the compressor are integrated, and operate within the
pressurized gas envelope of the system. The motor is designed to operate in, and be cooled by, the refrigerant gas being compressed.
The difference between the hermetic and semi-hermetic, is that the hermetic uses a one-piece welded steel casing that cannot be opened
for repair; if the hermetic fails it is simply replaced with an entire new unit. A semi-hermetic uses a large cast metal shell with gasketed
covers with screws that can be opened to replace motor and compressor components.
The primary advantage of a hermetic and semi-hermetic is that there is no route for the gas to leak out of the system. Open compressors
rely on shaft seals to retain the internal pressure, and these seals require a lubricant such as oil to retain their sealing properties.
An open pressurized system such as an automobile air conditioner can be more susceptible to leak its operating gases. Open systems rely
on lubricant in the system to splash on pump components and seals. If it is not operated frequently enough, the lubricant on the seals
slowly evaporates, and then the seals begin to leak until the system is no longer functional and must be recharged. By comparison, a
hermetic or semi-hermetic system can sit unused for years, and can usually be started up again at any time without requiring maintenance
or experiencing any loss of system pressure.
The disadvantage of hermetic compressors is that the motor drive cannot be repaired or maintained, and the entire compressor must be
replaced if a motor fails. A further disadvantage is that burnt-out windings can contaminate whole systems, thereby requiring the system to
be entirely pumped down and the gas replaced (This can also happen in semi hermetic compressors where the motor operates in the
refrigerant). Typically, hermetic compressors are used in low-cost factory-assembled consumer goods where the cost of repair and labor is
high compared to the value of the device, and it would be more economical to just purchase a new device or compressor. Semi-hermetic
compressors are used in mid-sized to large refrigeration and air conditioning systems, where it is cheaper to repair the compressor rather
than buying and installing a new one. A hermetic compressor is simpler and cheaper to build than a semi-hermetic compressor.
An advantage of open compressors is that they can be driven by non-electric power sources, such as an internal combustion
engine or turbine. However, open compressors that drive refrigeration systems are generally not totally maintenance-free throughout the life
of the system, since some gas leakage will occur over time.
re-arranging:
By substituting the know equation into the last equation and dividing
both terms by T:
or
and
All processes are internally reversible
The gas behaves like an ideal gas with constant specific heats
Isentropic ( , where ):
Polytropic ( ):
Isothermal ( or ):
Temperature[edit]
Main article: Gas laws
Compression of a gas increases its temperature.
where
or
and
so
in which p is pressure, V is
volume, n takes different
values for different
compression processes
(see below), and 1 & 2 refer
to initial and final states.
Adiabatic - This model
assumes that no energy
(heat) is transferred to
or from the gas during
the compression, and
all supplied work is
added to the internal
energy of the gas,
resulting in increases of
temperature and
pressure. Theoretical
temperature rise is:[25]
with T1 and T2 in
degrees Rankine or kel
vins, p2 and p1 being
absolute pressures
and ratio of
specific
heats (approximately
1.4 for air). The rise in
air and temperature
ratio means
compression does not
follow a simple pressure
to volume ratio. This is
less efficient, but quick.
Adiabatic compression
or expansion more
closely model real life
when a compressor has
good insulation, a large
gas volume, or a short
time scale (i.e., a high
power level). In practice
there will always be a
certain amount of heat
flow out of the
compressed gas. Thus,
making a perfect
adiabatic compressor
would require perfect
heat insulation of all
parts of the machine.
For example, even a
bicycle tire pump's
metal tube becomes hot
as you compress the air
to fill a tire. The relation
between temperature
and compression ratio
described above means
that the value
of for an adiabatic
process is (the
ratio of specific heats).
Isothermal - This
model assumes
that the
compressed gas
remains at a
constant
temperature
throughout the
compression or
expansion process.
In this cycle,
internal energy is
removed from the
system as heat at
the same rate that it
is added by the
mechanical work of
compression.
Isothermal
compression or
expansion more
closely models real
life when the
compressor has a
large heat
exchanging
surface, a small gas
volume, or a long
time scale (i.e., a
small power level).
Compressors that
utilize inter-stage
cooling between
compression stages
come closest to
achieving perfect
isothermal
compression.
However, with
practical devices
perfect isothermal
compression is not
attainable. For
example, unless
you have an infinite
number of
compression stages
with corresponding
intercoolers, you
will never achieve
perfect isothermal
compression.
For an isothermal
process, is 1, so
the value of the work
integral for an
isothermal process is:
When evaluated,
the isothermal work
is found to be lower
than the adiabatic
work.
Polytropic -
This model
takes into
account both a
rise in
temperature in
the gas as well
as some loss of
energy (heat) to
the
compressor's
components.
This assumes
that heat may
enter or leave
the system, and
that input shaft
work can
appear as both
increased
pressure
(usually useful
work) and
increased
temperature
above adiabatic
(usually losses
due to cycle
efficiency).
Compression
efficiency is
then the ratio of
temperature
rise at
theoretical 100
percent
(adiabatic) vs.
actual
(polytropic).
Polytropic
compression
will use a value
of betwee
n 0 (a constant-
pressure
process) and
infinity (a
constant
volume
process). For
the typical case
where an effort
is made to cool
the gas
compressed by
an
approximately
adiabatic
process, the
value
of will be
between 1
and .
Staged
compression[
edit]
In the case of
centrifugal
compressors,
commercial designs
currently do not
exceed a
compression ratio
of more than 3.5 to
1 in any one stage
(for a typical gas).
Since compression
raises the
temperature, the
compressed gas is
to be cooled
between stages
making the
compression less
adiabatic and more
isothermal. The
inter-stage coolers
typically result in
some partial
condensation that is
removed in vapor-
liquid separators.
In the case of small
reciprocating
compressors, the
compressor
flywheel may drive
a cooling fan that
directs ambient air
across
the intercooler of a
two or more stage
compressor.
Because rotary
screw compressors
can make use of
cooling lubricant to
reduce the
temperature rise
from compression,
they very often
exceed a 9 to 1
compression ratio.
For instance, in a
typical diving
compressor the air
is compressed in
three stages. If
each stage has a
compression ratio
of 7 to 1, the
compressor can
output 343 times
atmospheric
pressure (7 × 7 × 7
=
343 atmospheres).
(343 atm or
34.8 MPa or
5.04 ksi)
Drive
motors[edit]
There are many
options for the
motor that powers
the compressor:
Gas turbines po
wer the axial
and centrifugal
flow
compressors
that are part
of jet engines.
Steam
turbines or wat
er turbines are
possible for
large
compressors.
Electric
motors are
cheap and
quiet for static
compressors.
Small motors
suitable for
domestic
electrical
supplies
use single-
phase alternati
ng current.
Larger motors
can only be
used where an
industrial
electrical three
phase alternati
ng current
supply is
available.
Diesel
engines or petr
ol engines are
suitable for
portable
compressors
and support
compressors.
In automobiles
and other types
of vehicles
(including
piston-powered
airplanes,
boats, trucks,
etc.), diesel or
gasoline
engines power
output can be
increased by
compressing
the intake air,
so that more
fuel can be
burned per
cycle. These
engines can
power
compressors
using their own
crankshaft
power (this
setup known as
a supercharger)
, or, use their
exhaust gas to
drive a turbine
connected to
the compressor
(this setup
known as
a turbocharger)
.
Applications[
edit]
Gas compressors
are used in various
applications where
either higher
pressures or lower
volumes of gas are
needed:
In pipeline
transport of
purified natural
gas from the
production site
to the
consumer, a
compressor is
driven by a gas
turbine fueled
by gas bled
from the
pipeline. Thus,
no external
power source is
necessary.
Petroleum
refineries,
natural gas
processing
plants,
petrochemical
and chemical
plants, and
similar large
industrial plants
require
compressing
for intermediate
and end-
product gases.
Refrigeration a
nd air
conditioner equi
pment use
compressors to
move heat in re
frigerant cycles
(see vapor-
compression
refrigeration).
Gas turbine
systems
compress the
intake combusti
on air.
Small-volume
purified or
manufactured
gases require
compression to
fill high
pressure
cylinders
for medical, wel
ding, and other
uses.
Various
industrial,
manufacturing,
and building
processes
require compre
ssed air to
power pneumat
ic tools.
In the
manufacturing
and blow
moulding of
PET plastic
bottles and
containers.
Some aircraft
require
compressors to
maintain cabin
pressurization a
t altitude.
Some types
of jet engines—
such
as turbojets an
d turbofans—
compress the
air required for
fuel
combustion.
The jet
engine's turbine
s power the
combustion air
compressor.
In SCUBA
diving, hyperba
ric oxygen
therapy, and
other life
support
devices,
compressors
put breathing
gas into small
volume
containers,
such as diving
cylinders.[26][27]
In surface
supplied diving,
an air
compressor
frequently
supplies low
pressure air (10
to 20 bar) for
breathing.
Submarines us
e compressors
to store air for
later use in
displacing
water from
buoyancy
chambers to
adjust depth.
Turbochargers
and supercharg
ers are
compressors
that
increase intern
al combustion
engine perform
ance by
increasing the
mass flow of air
inside the
cylinder, so the
engine can
burn more fuel
and hence
produce more
power.
Rail and
heavy road
transport vehicl
es
use compresse
d air to
operate rail
vehicle or road
vehicle brakes
—and various
other systems
(doors, windscr
een
wipers, engine,
gearboxcontrol,
etc.).
Service stations
and auto repair
shops use
compressed air
to fill
pneumatic tires
and power
pneumatic
tools.
Fire
pistons and hea
t pumps exist to
heat air or other
gasses, and
compressing
the gas is only
a means to that
end.
Rotary lobe
compressors
are often used
to provide air in
pneumatic
conveying lines
for powder or
solids.
Pressure
reached can
range from 0.5
to 2 bar g.[28]
Diving air
compressor in noise
reduction cabinet
See also[edit]
Axial
compressor
Cabin
pressurization
Centrifugal fan
Compressed air
Compressed air
dryer
Electrochemical
hydrogen
compressor
Energy-saving
rotary Blade
compressor Pat
ent numbers:
EP0933500
Fire piston
Foil bearing
Gas
compression
heat pump
Guided rotor
compressor
Hydrogen
compressor
Linear
compressor
Liquid ring
compressor
Hydride
compressor
Natterer
compressor
Pneumatic
cylinder
Pneumatic tube
Reciprocating
compressor (pi
ston
compressor)
Roots blower (a
lobe-type
compressor)
Slip factor
Trompe
Vapor-
compression
refrigeration
Variable speed
air compressor
References[e
dit]
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(Editors)
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28). Hydrauli
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