Compressors

• Power Plant Lab

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• Engr. Nadeem ur Rehman
 Presentation Outline

 Introduction
 Types
 Compressor System

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 Introduction
• Compressors used to increase the pressure of a
gas (compressible fluid)
• Examples
– Increase the pressure for instrument air
systems (to get control valves to operate),
transport gases such as hydrogen, nitrogen,
fuel gas, etc. in a chemical plant

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 How They Are Different From
Pumps?
• Major difference is that compressors handles the
gases and pumps handles the liquids.
• As gases are compressible, the compressor also
reduces the volume of gas
• Liquids are relatively incompressible.

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 WHY WE NEED?

Compressors have many everyday uses, such as

• Air conditioners, (car, home)

• Home and industrial refrigeration
• Hydraulic compressors for industrial machines
• Air compressors for industrial manufacturing

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Classification

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 Working
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2E1km-qDkqc

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 Lobe Compressors
• Characterized by 2 kidney-bean shaped
impellers used to trap and transfer gases.
• The 2 impellers move in opposite directions
on parallel mounted shafts as the lobes sweep
across the suction port.
• Compressed gases are released into the
discharge line.
• The lobes do not touch each other. A few
thousands of an inch clearing exists between
the casing and lobes.
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 Lobe Compressors
• Designed to have constant volume discharge
pressures and constant speed drivers.
• Lobe Compressors can be used as
compressors or vacuum pumps.

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 Animation
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yNgqI4XP
UZc

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 Sliding Vane Compressors
• Uses a slightly off-center rotor with sliding vanes
to compress gas.
• Inlet gas flows into the vanes when they are fully
extended and form the largest pocket. As the
vanes turn toward the discharge port, the gases
are compressed.
• As the volume decreases, the pressure increases
until maximum compression is achieved. Then
the gas is discharged out the compressor.
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 Vane Compressor
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b93GSe-
xgqI

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Sliding Vane Compressor

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CENTRIFUGAL COMPRESSORS
• Centrifugal compressors accelerates the velocity
of the gases (increases kinetic energy) which is
then converted into pressure as the gas flow
leaves the volute and enters the discharge pipe.
• Usually operate at speeds > 3,000 rpm.
• Deliver much higher flow rates than positive
displacement compressors.

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 Centrifugal Compressors
• 2 Types of Centrifugal Compressors
 Single- Stage : Compress the gas once

• Use for high gas flow rates, low discharge

pressures
 Multi- Stage : Take the discharge of one stage
and pass it to the suction of another stage
• Use for high gas flow rates, high discharge
pressures
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 Centrifugal Compressors
• Basic Components
 Impellers, Vanes, Volutes, Suction Eyes,
Discharge lines, Diffuser Plates, Seals, Shaft,
Casing
 Suction Vane Tips = Part of the impeller vane

that comes into contact with gas first.

 Discharge Vane Tips = Part of the impeller
vane that comes into contact with gas last

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Centrifugal Compressor

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 Centrifugal Compressor: Axial
Design
• Composed of a rotor that has rows of fanlike
blades.
• In industry, axial compressors are used a lot
where high flows and pressures are needed.
• Gas flows along the shaft.
• Rotating blades attached to a shaft push gases
over stationary blades called stators.
• Stator blades are attached to the casing.
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 Centrifugal Compressor: Axial
Design
• As the gas velocity is increased by the rotating blades,
the stator blades slow it down. As the gas slows, kinetic
energy is converted into pressure.
• Gas velocity increases as it moves from stage to stage
until it reaches the discharge.
• Multi-Stage axial compressors can generate very high
flow rates and discharge pressures.
• Axial compressors are usually limited to 16 stages (due
to temperature/material limitations)
• Axial compressors are lighter, more efficient, and
smaller than centrifugal compressors. 34
Axial Compressor

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Axial Compressor

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