EXPERIMENT- 3 RECIPROCATING AIR COMPRESSOR TEST RIG

Objective:
To evaluate the performance characteristics of an air compressor i.e.
➢ To study the variation of Volumetric Efficiency as a function of relevant
parameters.
➢ To find out the Isothermal Efficiency

Theory:
Air compressor is a device which increases the pressure of gases. There are three main types of
compressors namely Reciprocating, Centrifugal and Rotary. A Reciprocating compressor can
compress gases to a pressure of more than 1:15. They develop high pressure due to the to and
fro motion of the piston. The experimental setup consists of a two stage single acting, air cooled
reciprocating compressor.
In two stage compression, air is partially compressed in low pressure cylinder. This air is passed
through an inter cooler and fed into the second stage i.e. a high pressure cylinder. The
compressed air coming out of the high pressure cylinder is stored in a reservoir tank.
Temperatures sensors are provided at inlet and outlet. To find out the inlet volume of air, an
orifice meter is provided. A pressure gauge is provided on the reservoir tank.
 Procedure:
1. Connect cooling water supply to the inter cooler, outlet to the drain and start the cooling
water supply
2. Close the delivery valve of the reservoir tank and start the compressor.
3. Let the reservoir pressure rise up to around 1 kg/cm2. Now open the delivery valve
slightly so that delivery pressure is maintained constant.
4. Record the time for 10-20 pulses of energy meter.
5. Record the manometer reading and temperatures of thermocouples
(T1, T2, T3, T4)
6. Record the RPM of the compressor by RPM indicator.
7. Repeat the same procedure for different delivery pressures.

Specific Data:
Energy meter constant (EMC) = 3200 pulses/kW hr Length of stroke (L) = 0.078 m
Atmospheric pressure (Pa) = 101.32 KN/ m2 Bore diameter (d) = 0.0935 m
Co-efficient of discharge of orifice meter (Cd) = 0.64 Diameter of orifice (d0) = 0.011 m
Density of Air (ρa) = 1.21 kg/m3 Diameter of pipe (dp) = 0.022 m
Density of Water (ρm) = 1000 kg/m3
Radius of swinging field dynamometer (R) = 0.17m RPM of Motor (Nm) = 1440

Nomenclature:
Nom Column Headings Units Type

a0 Cross-sectional area of orifice m2 Calculated

ap Cross-sectional area of pipe m2 Calculated

Cd Co-efficient of discharge of orifice Given

d Bore diameter m Given

d0 Diameter of orifice m Given

dp Diameter of pipe m Given

EMC Energy meter constant Pulses /kw hr Given

Ei Power input Kw Calculated

Eiso Isothermal power Kw Calculated

Es Shaft power Kw Calculated

g Acceleration due to gravity m/s2 Given

ΔH Total head m of air Calculated

h Manometer pressure difference m Calculated

h1,h2 Manometer reading at both points cm Measured

L Length of stroke m Given

N RPM of compressor RPM Measured

Nm RPM of motor RPM Given

Pa Atmospheric pressure N/m2 Given

P Number of pulses from energy meter Measured

Pd Delivery Pressure Kg/cm2 Measured

Qa Actual volume of air m3 /sec Calculated

Qt Swept volume of compressor m3 /sec Calculated

R Radius of swinging field dynamometer m Calculated

r Compression ratio Calculated

T Torque N-m Calculated

tp Time for P pulses sec Measured

W Weight for weight balance kg Measured

ρm Density of water Kg/m3 Given

ρa Density of air Kg/m3 Given

ηv Volumetric efficiency % Calculated

ηiso Isothermal efficiency % Calculated

T1 Temperature of air inlet 1st stage of compressor 0

C Measured

T2 Temperature of air outlet 1st stage of compressor 0

C Measured

T3 Temperature of air inlet to 2nd stage of compressor 0

C Measured

T4 Temperature of air outlet to 2nd stage of compressor 0

C Measured
Observations:
S.No N Pd h1 h2 W P tp T1 T2 T3 T4
(RPM) (kg/cm2) (cm) (cm) (kg) (sec) (0C) (0C) (0C) (0C)
1
2
3
4
5

Results:
S.NO Delivery RPM Flow Volumetric Isothermal Compression
Pressure(Pd) Rate(Qa) Efficiency(ηv) Efficiency(ηiso) Ratio (r)
(kg/cm2)
1
2
3
4
5

Draw the following graphs:

1. Delivery Pressure vs. Flow rate
2. Delivery Pressure vs. Volumetric efficiency
3. Delivery Pressure vs. Isothermal Efficiency

Inference:

Formulae Used:
h = h1 −h2 (m)
100

 
H =  m −1h (mof air)
 a 

a0 =  d02 (m2)
4
a0 =  dp2 (m2)
4

a0ap
Qa =Cd 2gH (m3/s)
ap −ao
2 2

Qt =  d LN (m3 /s)

2

604

v = Qa 100(%)
Qt

Ei = P3600 (kW)
tp EMC

T =WgR (Nm)

2 Nm T
Es = (kW)
601000

(Pd 105) + Pa
r=
Pa

Qa lnrPa
Eiso = (kW)
1000

iso = Eiso 100(%)

Es