Expt No: 6

MOHAMMED RASHID BIN ZAIN

18BME2063

PERFORMANCE TEST ON DOUBLE STAGE RECIPROCATING

AIR COMPRESSOR

AIM:

To conduct the performance test on two – stage reciprocating air compressor and to
determine the volumetric efficiency and isothermal efficiency at various discharge pressures.

SPECIFICATIONS:

Low Pressure Cylinder:

Stroke length : 0.078 m

Bore diameter : 0.0935 m
Orifice dia. : 0.011 m
Motor eff. : 90%

PROCEDURE:

1. Start the air compressor after closing the receiver tank discharge valve.
2. Set the discharge pressure at a constant value by adjusting the delivery valve.
3. Note down the following readings.
a. Discharge Pressure
b. Manometer reading
c. Compressor speed
d. Time taken for 5 revolutions of energy meter disc.

4. Take five set of readings at different discharge pressures.

APPLICATIONS:

1. These are used in chemical industries and fertilizer plants.

2. To start high capacity Diesel Engine.
 3. It is used in Refrigeration plants and air-conditioning systems.

PRECAUTIONS:

Make sure that the discharge pressure remains constant while taking readings.

FORMULAE:

1. Density of the air, a = Pa / RT (kg/m3)

Pa = Atmospheric Pressure, (101325 N/m2)

R = Characteristic gas constant, (for air R = 287 J / kg K)
T = Ambient temperature, K.

2. Head of the air causing air flow, (m)

HW w (m)
Ha =
a

Where w = Density of water , 1000 kg/m3

3. Actual volume of air, Va, taken into the L. P. Cylinder

Va = Cd a ( 2gHa) ½ m3 /sec

Where,
Cd =Coefficient of discharge , (0.64)

a = area of the orifice = d2 / 4, m2 d

= Diameter of the orifice , (0.015 m).

4. Theoretical volume of air, VT, taken into the L. P. Cylinder

VT = ( / 4) DL2 LL NC / 60, m3/sec

Where, NC = Speed of the compressor, rpm

DL = Diameter of the low pressure cylinder, m
LL= Stroke length of the LP cylinder, m

5. Free air delivered, FAD = (Pa.Va.To) / (Ta.Po), m3/sec

 Po = Pressure at NTP conditions, N/m2 To =
Temperature at NTP conditions, K

6. Volumetric efficiency, v = (Va / Vt) 100, %

7. Work Input Win = (20 x 3600) /( t x Energy meter constant (EMC)) t=

Time for 20 pulses
EMC = 3200 pulses / kWhr

8. Isothermal work, Wiso = Pa. Va. ln (r), (kW)

Where, r = (Gauge pressure + atm. pressure) / atm. pressure

Pa = atmospheric pressure, kPa

9. Isothermal efficiency, iso = ( Wiso/ Win) 100, %
 OBSERVATION TABULAR COLUMN:

Time taken Free Air Actual Theoretical %

Gauge Compressor Manometer reading Head of air, % Vol.
for 20 pulses Delivered, Volume volume rate Isothermal
Pressure Speed (m) Ha efficiency
S. No in Energy FAD, rate, Va VT efficiency
(kg / cm2 ) (rpm) (m) v
meter ( sec) m3/sec (m3/sec) (m3 / sec) iso
h1 - h2
10000 478 13.5 11.44068 0.00166 0.001693 0.0042644 39.713979 7.9318586
10.4 61 16 19
1

30000 480 13.7 11.6102 0.00167 0.001706 0.0042823 39.840379 8.0672278

10.5 04 08 57
2

50000 473 13.8 11.6949 0.00168 0.001712 0.0042198 40.577269 8.4050593

10.9 53 4 06
3

70000 470 14.1 11.9492 0.001697 0.001731 0.0041930 41.277759 8.7297603

11.2 89 31 18
4

90000 474 13.9 12.3 11.7797 0.00168 0.001718 0.0042287 40.638107 9.5189107
75 46
5
WORK INPUT ISOTHERMAL WORK

2.163461538 0.171602711

2.142857143 0.172869168

2.064220183 0.173498931

2.008928571 0.175374649

1.829268293 0.174126415
 Free Air Delivered ,FAD Vs Gauge
0.0017
3
0.00172
5
0.00172
0.00171
5
0.00171
0.00170
5
0.0017
0.00169
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

25

20

15

10

0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
 Free Air Delivered ,FAD Vs Gauge Pressure(kg/cm2)
0.00173
0.001725
0.00172
0.001715
0.00171
0.001705
0.0017
0.001695
0.00169
0.001685
0.00168
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10