USEFUL CORRELATIONS

THEORY OF RECIPROCATING COMPRESSORS

PISTON DISPLACEMENT
THEORY OF RECIPROCATING COMPRESSORS

S
Compressor
piston
S Suction

D Discharge

D Compressor
cylinder

ΠD2
Piston area – Rod area 1 Single acting Pd = St × N ×
4
Stroke (St)
Π(2D2 − d2 )
2 Double acting w/o a tail rod Pd = St × N ×
Number of strokes (N) 4
Cylinder diameter (D) 2Π(D2 − d2 )
3 Double acting with a tail rod Pd = St × N ×
4
THEORY OF RECIPROCATING COMPRESSORS

VOLUMETRIC EFFICIENCY
THEORY OF RECIPROCATING COMPRESSORS

1 Because of the clearance at the end

of the piston travel

2 The cylinder will not achieve the

volumetric performance
Why should we modify
the calculated
displacement ?

1 k1
Vol Eff = 0.97 − �� � rp − 1� × c − L
f

L = 0.03 for lubricated comp. / 0.07 for non lubricated comp.

THEORY OF RECIPROCATING COMPRESSORS

INLET CAPACITY
THEORY OF RECIPROCATING COMPRESSORS

Q inlet = Vol Eff × Pd 0.03 for lubricated compressors

0.07 for non lubricated compressors

1 k1
Q inlet = �0.97 − �� � rp − 1� × c − L� × Pd
f

ΠD2
1 Single acting Pd = St × N ×
4
Π(2D2 − d2 )
2 Double acting w/o a tail rod Pd = St × N ×
4
2Π(D2 − d2 )
3 Double acting with a tail rod Pd = St × N ×
4
THEORY OF RECIPROCATING COMPRESSORS

PISTON SPEED
THEORY OF RECIPROCATING COMPRESSORS

PS = 2 x St x N

Pd = St x N x ΠD /4
2

Stroke (St) Piston speed (PS)

Number of strokes (N) Piston displacement (Pd)

Cylinder diameter (D)

THEORY OF RECIPROCATING COMPRESSORS

DISCHARGE TEMPERATURE
THEORY OF RECIPROCATING COMPRESSORS

k−1
T2 = T1 �rp k �

T1 : Inlet Temperature
T2 : Discharge Temperature
k : Ratio of specific heats, Cp / Cv

rp : Pressure ratio P2 / P1
THEORY OF RECIPROCATING COMPRESSORS

COMPRESSOR HEAD
THEORY OF RECIPROCATING COMPRESSORS

k k−1
Ha = RT1 �rp k − 1�
k−1

Ha : Adiabatic Head (ft)

R : Gas constant
T1 : Inlet Temperature (°R)

T2 : Discharge Temperature (°R)

k : Ratio of specific heats, Cp / Cv

rp : Pressure ratio P2 / P1
THEORY OF RECIPROCATING COMPRESSORS

POWER
THEORY OF RECIPROCATING COMPRESSORS

Workstage = Ha x Weight Flow

k k−1
Work stage = P1 Q1 �rp k − 1�
k−1 Ha : Adiabatic Head (ft)
R : Gas constant
For 2 stages : T1 : Inlet Temperature (°R)

T2 : Discharge Temperature (°R)

k k−1 k k−1
Work stage = P1 Q1 �rp k − 1� + Pi Q i �rpi k − 1� k : Ratio of specific heats, Cp / Cv
k−1 k−1 rp : Pressure ratio P2 / P1
Q1 : Inlet volume flow (cfm)
Pi P2
Pi = �P1 × P12 = P1 : Inlet Pressure (psia)
P1 Pi
THEORY OF RECIPROCATING COMPRESSORS

GAS VELOCITY
THROUGH VALVES
THEORY OF RECIPROCATING COMPRESSORS

v : Average gas velocity (ft/min)

Pd
v = 144 Pd : Piston displacement per cylinder (ft3/min)
A A : Total inlet or discharge valve area per cylinder (in2)

A= � Valve actual lift × Valve opening periphery

inlet /discharge

ΠD2
1 Single acting Pd = St × N ×
4
Π(2D2 − d2 )
2 Double acting w/o a tail rod Pd = St × N ×
4
2Π(D2 − d2 )
2 Double acting with a tail rod Pd = St × N ×
4