Compressors

CM4120
Julie King
Presentation Outline

Introduction
Types
Compressor System
References
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
2 Types of Compressors
 Positive Displacement (PD) : Operate by trapping a
specific volume of gas and forcing it into a smaller volume
– 2 Basic Designs for PD Compressors
» Rotary
» Reciprocating
 Centrifugal : Operate by accelerating the gas and
converting the energy to pressure
– 2 Basic Designs for Centrifugal Compressors
» Centrifugal
» Axial
Positive Displacement Compressors:
Rotary Design
 Rotary compressors (get their name from
the rotating motion of the transfer element)
compress gases with lobes, screws, and
vanes into smaller volumes.
 4 Primary Types of Rotary Compressors:
– Rotary Screw
– Sliding Vane
– Lobe
– Liquid Ring
Rotary Screw Compressors

 Commonly used in industry.

 It operates with 2 helical rotors that rotate toward each
other, causing the teeth to mesh.
 As the left rotor turns clockwise, the right rotor rotates
counterclockwise. This forces the gases to become
trapped in the central cavity.
 The 2 rotors are attached to a drive shaft and drive that
provide energy to operate the compressor.
 Have an inlet suction line and outlet discharge port.
Rotary Screw Compressor
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.
Sliding Vane Compressor
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.
Lobe Compressors

 Designed to have constant volume

discharge pressures and constant speed
drivers.
 Lobe Compressors can be used as
compressors or vacuum pumps.
Lobe Compressor
Liquid Ring Compressors

 It has one moving transfer element and a casing

that is filled with water or seal liquid.
 As the rotor turns, the fluid is centrifugally forced
to the outer wall of the elliptical casing. An air
pocket is formed in the center of the casing.
 As the liquid ring compressor rotates, a small % of
the liquid escapes out the discharge port. Make up
water or seal liquid is added to the compressor
during operation. The liquid helps cool the
compressed gases.
Liquid Ring Compressors

 Used to compress hazardous and toxic gases as

well as hot gases.
Positive Displacement Reciprocating
Compressors

 Most common type of compressors.

 Work by trapping and compressing specific
volumes of gas between a piston and a cylinder
wall.
 The back and forth motion incorporated by a
reciprocating compressor pulls gas in on the suction
(or intake) stroke and discharges it on the other.
 Spring-loaded suction and discharge valves
open/close automatically as the piston moves up and
down in the cylinder chamber.
Positive Displacement Reciprocating
Compressors

 Basic Parts of are:

– Piston
– Connecting Rod
– Crankshaft
– Diver
– Piston Rings
– Suction Line
– Discharge Line
– Spring -Loaded Suction and Discharge Valves
Positive Displacement:Reciprocating
Compressors

 Can have 1 to 4 cylinders. One shown only has one cylinder.

Mulitstage Compressors

 Discharge from Stage 1 is suction for Stage 2.

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.
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
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
Centrifugal Compressor
Centrifugal Compressor: Axial
Design

 Composed of a rotor that has rows of fanlike

blades.
 In industry, axial compressors are used alot
high flows and pressures are needed.
 Gas flow is moves along the shaft.
 Rotating blades attached to a shaft push gases
over stationary blades called stators.
 Stator blades are attached to the casing.
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)
 Pound for pound, axial compressors are lighter, more
efficient, and smaller than centrifugal compressors.
Axial Compressor
Typical Compressor System

Other equipment needed in a process system.

Typical Compressor System

 Safety valves and pressure relief valves used to

remove excess pressure that could damage
equipment and people.
 Silencers are mounted on the inlet and outlet of
a compressor to ‘reduce’ the noise.
Compressors are very noisy. Exxon had one
for a refinery light ends stream nicknamed
“Old Snort” by the technicians.
Typical Compressor System

 Demister removes moisture (liquid) from the

gas stream. The liquid falls to the bottom of the
demister and is removed. The clean gases goes
out the top of the demister.
 Dryer sometimes used on the compressor
discharge line to remove any liquids
(moisture). Silica gel and molecular sieves (3A
mole sieve) often used.
Typical Compressor Start Up
Procedures

 Check valve line up on the compressor and associated

equipment.
 Check compressor oil levels and bearing cooling water
systems.
 Be sure all the compressor controls are set correctly.
 Turn on the compressor.
 Monitor equipment and process until conditions
‘steady’ out.
Reference

 “ The Process Technology Handbook”, by

Charles E. Thomas, UHAI Publishing,
Berne, NY, 1997.