Chapter five

Theory of Positive Displacement

Compressors
 In this chapter we study the theoretical principles behind
the design and operation of positive displacement
compressors. There are many similarities between the
theories of rotary and reciprocating compressors and
reciprocating compressors are the most dominating one,
hence more emphasis is given to reciprocating
compressors.
Type of
compressor

Positive
Dynamic
displacement

Reciprocating Rotary Centrifugal Axial

 Reciprocating Compressors
 are the most common positive displacement
compressors used in the CPI.
 are special preferred for small capacity and high
compression ratio tasks.
 used in single stage and multi stage compressions.
 single stage
Air cooled (compression ratio of 3)
water cooled (compression ratio of 6)
 Indicator Diagram of Reciprocating
Compressors

 The indicator diagram of a reciprocating compressor

describes the variation of the pressure inside the cylinder
over the displaced volume (% stroke) for one complete
rotation of the crank
 Theoretical Indicator Diagrams
 Theoretical Indicator Diagrams
 Line 1-2: Both the suction and discharge valves are closed gas in the
cylinder is compressed up to the final pressure P 2.
 Line 2-3: The discharge valve opens when the pressure reaches P 2 and the
compressed gas is discharged at constant pressure. volume V cl in Figure
6.1, to be left over inside the cylinder at the end of the discharge stroke.
 Line 3-4: The piston starts the return stroke and the left over gas in the
clearance volume expands until the suction pressure P 4 is reached.  
 Line 4-5: When the pressure decreases and reaches P 4, the discharge valve
is closed and the suction valve opens and gas is drawn into the cylinder.

Vdis and Vdel in Figure 5.1 represent the displaced volume and the delivered volume
respectively. The expanded volume of the gas in the clearance volume is
represented by Vexp.
Actual Indicator Diagrams
The actual indicator diagram deviates from the theoretical
one due to
 Inertia of valves
 Valve plate sticking to the seat
 Pressure drop across the valve
 Inertia of the gas following through the suction and discharge
valves
The above mentioned factors cause the actual suction
pressure to be below the theoretical and the actual
discharge pressure to be above the theoretical as shown
in the next slide.
Actual Indicator Diagrams cont…
 Capacity of Reciprocating
Compressors
Compressors cylinders are built with a clearance in
order to prevent the piston head from striking against
the cylinder when approaching the extreme left
position.
Vcl
a 
Vdis

• In single stage compressors a=0.025 – 0.06 (2.5%-

6%).
• In multistage compressors a=0.2(20%)
 Capacity of Reciprocating
Compressors
For the polytropic equation

n n
P2 V cl  P1V exp n- polytropic exponent

1/ n
 P2 
Vexp    Vcl Vi  Vdis (1  a( 1 / n  1))lk th
 P1 

Vexp  aVdis 1 / n
Qi  Vi N  Vdis (1  a( 1 / n  1))lk th N
Vs  Vdis  Vcl  Vexp
D 2 Vs
Vs  Vdis  aVdis  aVdis 1/ n
Vdis  vol 
4 Vdis
Vs  Vdis (1  a( 1 / n  1))
 The Specific Work of Reciprocating
Compressors
3 2

v1- specific volume of the gas

4 1

v(specific volume)
Figure 5.3 Theoretical Indicator Diagram of a Reciprocating
Compressor

Y1 by:
The specific work done by the gas flowing into the cylinder (Y1), is given  P1v1

2
The specific Work done to compress the gas in the cylinder (WY22)  1 Pdv

Work done on the gas flowing out of the cylinder (W3Y) 3  P2 v 2

The total specific work done by the shaft is the sum of Y1, Y2 and Y3
Y  Y1  Y2  Y3
2
Y   P1v1  1 Pdv  P2 v 2
 a. Y for Adiabatic Isentropic Compression (Yad)

 For adiabatic, isentropic compression it is already noted that

n=k=cp/cv.

P v K  Constant  P s v SK
1 R C
 P s v  P1S/ k vS
K
S
k C P  CV  R  , and P  k
v   1/ k M CV
 P  P

D
1/ k
P S v s dP  1 / k D 1 / k dp CP R  k  R
Y ad  S P S v s S P CP    CP  
P
1/ k
k M  k  1 M

 1  11/k
Yad  PS vs 
1/k
 PD  P1S1/k 
 
K 1

1  1/k   PD K
Yad  C P T s    1
 PS 
 
 K 1

 k   P D  K
Yad  P S vs       1
 k  1   PS 
 

 K 1

RTs  k   P D  K
Yad   k  1    1
10 M PS  
 
 b. Y for Isothermal Compression /Yiso

 For isothermal compression n=1. Hence,

Yiso  P2 v 2  P1v1  1
2 P1 v1
dv
Pv  constant  P S  S
v

v  Ps vs
• But P2 v 2  P1 v1 P
D P s v s dP  D dP
Y iso  S P s vs S
P P

 PD 
Y iso  P s v s ln  
 PS 

R T S  PD 
Y iso  ln  
M  PS 
11
 Power of Reciprocating Compressors
 The brake power of reciprocating machine can be easily
determined by using the formula already developed in
Chapter 3. The adiabatic and isothermal efficiencies are
also defined in Chapter 3, accordingly.

 Yad
m
Nb 
 ad
QP
Nb 
 ad P  gH ad

m Yiso
Nb 
 iso
 5.2 Rotary Compressors
 Most of the characteristics of rotary compressors are
similar to reciprocating compressors; therefore it would be
redundant to repeat them here. The capacity of screw
compressors depends on the speed, length diameter and
gear ratio. The following equations give the capacity,
adiabatic head and brake power of screw compressors.
Q  D 3 ( L / D )(GR)n( v / C )

RTs k  PD
( k 1) / k
 
H ad     1
M k  1  Ps  


QP
Nb 
 ad P  gH ad
5.3. Capacity regulation of positive displacement
compressors
1. reciprocating compressors
Regulation by Speed
Opening Inlet valves
Varying Clearance Volume
 fixed clearance volume
 variable clearance volume

Bypass Regulation
Not recommended most of the time since
 the energy used to compress the excess gas is wasted
 the gas from the discharge line is hot and it should be cooled to the
suction temperature before it is turned back to the suction line.
 2. Rotary compressors
Just as in the other positive displacement machines the
common capacity regulation method is speed
regulation.
Bypass regulation may also be used even though it is
energy inefficient method.