Group 04

Laboratory Report – 3 To draw the relation between RPM and compression ratio
of single stage and double stage reciprocation air compressor

Laboratory Report – 3
Title:
To draw the relation between RPM and compression ratio of single stage and double stage
reciprocation air compressor

Objectives:
 To find the relation between RPM and power output of compressor.
 Effect of 2nd stage of reciprocating air compressor.
 To find the compression ratio of first and second stage of compressors
 To find the relation between RPM and Compression ratio of Double-stage compressor

Apparatus:
 Single-stage reciprocating compressor
 Two-stage reciprocating compressor
 Tachometer

Theoretical Background:

Compressor:

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.

Positive Displacement Air Compressor:

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).

Types:

 Reciprocating type positive displacement compressors

 Rotary type positive displacement compressors.

Reciprocating Positive Displacement Air Compressors:

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 Group 04
Laboratory Report – 3 To draw the relation between RPM and compression ratio
of single stage and double stage reciprocation air compressor

Reciprocating compressors generally, employ piston-cylinder arrangement where displacement

of piston in cylinder causes rise in pressure. Reciprocating compressors are capable of giving
large pressure ratios but the mass handling capacity is limited or small.

Types of Reciprocating Air Compressors:

 Single-Stage Reciprocating Compressor

 Two-Stage Reciprocating Compressor

1. Single-Stage Reciprocating Compressor:

This single-stage reciprocating air compressor is the machine that offers the compression in a
single stage or stroke.

Figure 1 Single-Stage Reciprocating Compressor

2. Two Stage Reciprocating Air Compressor:

In a two-stage compressor, the air is compressed twice for double the pressure. By increasing
the number of cylinder stages and pressure, these machines work more effectively with a faster
recovery time and can handle more tools at once.

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 Group 04
Laboratory Report – 3 To draw the relation between RPM and compression ratio
of single stage and double stage reciprocation air compressor

Figure 2 Two Stage Reciprocating Air Compressor

Tachometer:

A tachometer (revolution-counter, tach, rev-counter, RPM gauge) is an instrument measuring

the rotation speed of a shaft or disk, as in a motor or other machine. The device usually displays
the revolutions per minute (RPM) on a calibrated analogue dial, but digital displays are
increasingly common.

Figure 3 Tachometer

Compression Ratio:

The compression ratio is the ratio of the absolute discharge pressure (psi (abs)) to absolute
suction pressure (psi (abs))

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 Group 04
Laboratory Report – 3 To draw the relation between RPM and compression ratio
of single stage and double stage reciprocation air compressor

Formula:
Discharge Pressure Absolute
Compression Ratio =
Suction Pressure Absolute

Specifications of reciprocating air compressor available at our

lab:
Bore:
In a piston engine, the bore is the diameter of each cylinder. The bore sizes for the compressor
placed in our lab are as follows:
Table 1 Bore of Cylinders

Stage no. Bore size (cm)

First Stage 101.1
Second Stage 63.3

RPM:
RPM stands for revolutions per minute, and it's used as a measure of how fast any machine is
operating at a given time. The rpm for the compressor placed in our lab are as follows:
Table 2 RPM

Stage no. RPM

First Stage 500 (constant)
Second Stage 300 – 500 (varies)

1. To draw a relation between RPM and Compression ratio of

Double-stage compressor (2nd stage compressor only):

Procedure:

 First set the switch to second stage compressor.

 Now turn ON the compressor.
 Note the initial pressure value (P0)
 Note down the value of pressure for a particular value of RPM.

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 Group 04
Laboratory Report – 3 To draw the relation between RPM and compression ratio
of single stage and double stage reciprocation air compressor

 Change the RPM to get different pressure values.

 Take at least three readings

Observations:
Table 3 Observations

Pressure
Initial Final
ratio
S.No.: RPM Pressure (Po Pressure (Pf
(rp =
bar) bar)
Pf/Po)
1 500 2 2.5 1.25
2 480 2 2.4 1.2
3 460 2 2.25 1.125

Graphical Relation:

Relation b/w RPM & Pressure Ratio

1.26
1.24
1.22
1.2
Pressure Ratio

1.18
1.16 Pressure ratio (rp =
Pf/Po)
1.14
1.12
1.1
1.08
1.06
450 460 470 480 490 500 510
RPM

Figure 4 Relation b/w RPM & Pressure Ratio

Conclusion:

With increase in the RPM of reciprocating compressor, the pressure ratio increased.

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 Group 04
Laboratory Report – 3 To draw the relation between RPM and compression ratio
of single stage and double stage reciprocation air compressor

2. To draw a relation between RPM and Power output of

compressor (2nd stage compressor only):

Procedure:

 To find the relation, set the Rocker switch to second stage compressor.
 Note down the value of force for a particular value of RPM.
 Now change RPM to get different force values.
rpm× Force
 After that calculate power output using formula: P = Kw
43.3
 Note down at least three readings and plot a graph to find the relation between RPM
and Power output of compressor.

Observations:
Table 4 Observations

Power Output
S.No.: RPM Force (N)
(KW)
1 500 28 323.3256351
2 490 26 294.2263279
3 480 22 243.8799076
3 460 11 116.8591224

Graphical Relation:

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 Group 04
Laboratory Report – 3 To draw the relation between RPM and compression ratio
of single stage and double stage reciprocation air compressor

Relation b/w Power Output & RPM

350

300

250
Power Output (KW)

200
Power Output (KW)
150

100

50

0
5 0 5 0 5 0 5 0 5 0 5
4 5 4 6 4 6 4 7 4 7 4 8 4 8 4 9 4 9 5 0 50
RPM

Figure 5 Relation b/w Power Output & RPM

Conclusion:

With increase in the RPM of reciprocating compressor, the output power increased.

3. To find the compression ratio of first and second stage of

compressor

Procedure:

 Set the switch to first and second stage of compressor

 Note down the pressure values for both first and second stage before compression
 Now turn ON the power supply to perform compression.
 Note down the values of pressure Pf for both the stages after one minute.
Pf
 Find the Compression ration using formula: rp=
Pₒ

Observations:
Table 5 Observations

Initial Final Pressure Pressure

Stages RPM
Pressure (Po (Pf bar) ratio

7
 Group 04
Laboratory Report – 3 To draw the relation between RPM and compression ratio
of single stage and double stage reciprocation air compressor

(rp =
bar)
Pf/Po)
1st
Stage 500 2 3.4 1.7
only
Both
500 2 3.7 1.85
Stages

Conclusion:

With the addition of 2nd stage, pressure ratio was increased as stated in theory

References:
1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compressor
2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reciprocating_compressor
3. https://www.machinerylubrication.com/Read/775/reciprocating-compressor
4. https://mechdiploma.com/what-necessity-multistage-compression
5. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tachometer#:~:text=A%20tachometer%20(revolution
%2Dcounter%2C,digital%20displays%20are%20increasingly%20common.