Reciprocating Air Compressor and Its Applications

Group 1 _B2

NAME ROLL NO. PRN NO.

TANMAY KASLIWAL 29 12010595

ADITYA KHABIYA 34 12010930

SUSHOM KHAIRE 35 12010818

AMIT KHARE 39 12011073

GUIDED BY – Dr. Mangesh Chaudhari

1 DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING - VIT PUNE 03/13/2023

 Contents

 Introduction
 Literature Survey
 Reciprocating Air Compressor
 Working
 Classification
 Advantages/Disadvantages
 Application
 References

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 Introduction

● The machine which takes in air or any other gas

at low pressure and compresses it to high
pressure is called compressor.
● Power consuming machine in which mechanical
work is converted into pressure energy of fluid.
● They are also considered as reversed heat
engine.
● George Medhurst of England designed the first
motorized air compressor in 1799 and used it in
mining. Fig 1 :Sturgeons Air Compressor

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Name Publication Summary

Investigation on Researchgate ● The paper is based on maintaining

Reciprocating Air Publica,2015 the Isothermal conditions in the
Compressor - A Review
reciprocating air compressor and
study of heat transfer around the
compressor.
● The two-stage reciprocating air
compressor is used
● The paper also drives attention to
the hazards of increased

●
temperature in a Reciprocating
Air Compressor
The conclusion of the paper
Paper 1
promotes the use of Radiator
cooling over normal water
cooling.

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Name Publication Summary
Performance Analysis International Journal of ● The paper explains the
of a Single-acting Engineering Science Thermodynamic concept
Reciprocating Invention (IJESI),2007
using analysis of
Compressor Using
Thermodynamic Reciprocating Air
Concepts Compressor
● The paper also covers some
basic concepts like
Isothermal efficiency, work
transferred, etc.
● The paper presents a
relationship between
efficiency and pressure.
Paper 2
● The overall results show
that as the pressure
increases, there is a
corresponding increase in
isothermal
● efficiency of the
compressor, giving the
overall isothermal
efficiency of the compressor
of 84.3%.
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Name Publication Summary
Numerical simulation Mechanical ● Mathematical model of 5
and experimental study Systems and physical processes: speed–torque
of a two-stage Signal
characteristics of an induction
reciprocating compressor Processing,2007
for condition monitoring motor, cylinder pressure
variation, crankshaft motion,
flow characteristics through
valves and vibration of valve

●
plates.
IAS fluctuation and pressure
waveform aresensitive detection
Paper 3
features for compressor faults
such as valve leakage and valve
spring deterioration.
● Further studies using model and
experiments are being
undertaken in order to develop
fault detection features

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Name Publication Summary

Thermal Analysis of International ● The paper presents a critical

Paper 4
Reciprocating Compressor review of different approaches for
Compressors - A Critical Engineering
reciprocating compressors
Review Conference,2008
thermal analysis.
● i) electrical efficiency;ii)
mechanical efficiency, iii)
thermodynamic efficiency,
● The gas superheating may account
for up to half of the
thermodynamic losses in a small
reciprocating compressor.
● Concerning experimental
methodologies are thermocouples
,infrared camera, heat flux
sensors and temperature sensors.

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 Reciprocating Air Compressor

 In a reciprocating compressor, a volume of

gas is drawn into a cylinder, compressed by
piston and then discharged.
 The cylinder valves control the flow of gas.
 Reciprocating compressors are driven by
electric motors, or I.C. engine.
 It is not driven by gas turbines.
 Intermittent output
 Generally seen where there is requirement of
high pressure and low flow.
Fig 2 :Reciprocating Air Compressor

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 Working

 The compressor takes inside successive amount of

volume of air from intake valve and confined it in
closed surface at that time piston moves
downward with the closure of intake valve.
 Then there is compression of air by reducing its
volume .
 Now the piston moves upward and compress the
air and then displace the compressed air through
exhaust valve.
 And then again intake take place and cycle
repeat Fig 3 : Working
 These types of compressor also called positive
displacement machines.
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Construction of a Reciprocating Air
Compressor

Fig4 : Construction
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Classification

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Types of RAC on basis of no. of Stages

On basis of no. of
stages

Single stage Multi stage

Compressor Compressor

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Types of RAC on basis of no. of Compressions

On basis of no. of
Compressions

Double
Single Acting
Acting
Compressor
Compressor

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Advantages Disadvantages

 Sounds too much.

 One has to arrange a room for
Relatively Cheap. it or put it into isolating box.
 High outlet temperature of
compressed air.
Easy  High oil content in air piping.
maintenance.

Suitable for high

pressure.
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Recent Application

As stated earlier, reciprocating compressors are found in almost every

work setting including but not limited to diving, dental surgeries,
automotive workshops, and agriculture.

Pneumatic (air-powered) tools, such as drills and angle-grinders, are

important in industry because they are generally lighter and safer than
those with an electric motor which further highlights the significance of
reciprocating compressors.

Some of the applications of air compressors are supercharging IC engines,

Gas turbines and jet engines, Packing machines, Hand tools, CNC
machines etc. and in spray paintings.

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 References
1. Gohel Ketankumar Nathalal, A REVIEW ON STUDY OF AN AIR COMPRESSOR, Journal of
Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (JETIR), April 2018, Volume 5, Issue 4
2. Vijaykumar F Pipalia, Dipesh D. Shukla and Niraj C. Mehta, Investigation on
Reciprocating Air Compressor- A Review, Researchgate Publications
3. Ekong, Godwin I. , Ibibom, Emmanuel N. , Bassey, Isaiah U., Performance Analysis of
a Single-acting Reciprocating Compressor Using Thermodynamic Concepts,
International Journal of Engineering Science Invention (IJESI), 2020
4. Investigation on Reciprocating Air Compressor - A Review, ResearchGate Publica,2015
5. Performance Analysis of a Single-acting Reciprocating Compressor Using
Thermodynamic Concepts , International Journal of Engineering Science Invention
(IJESI),2007

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