DEPARTMENT OF TECHNICAL EDUCATION

ANDHRA PRADESH
Name : K. MANIKYA RAO
Designation : Lecturer
Branch : Mechanical Engg.
Institute : MBTS Govt. Polytechnic, Guntur.
Year/Semester : V Semester
Subject : Refrigeration & Air conditioning
Sub. Code : M-501
Topic : Refrigerants & Equipment
Duration : 50 min
Sub Topic : Rotary Compressor
Teaching Aids : Diagrams
M504.36 1
 Recap

In the previous period we discussed about

• Construction and working of Reciprocating

Compressor

• Hermetically sealed compressor

M504.36 2
 Objectives

On completion of this period, you would

be able to

• Know different types of rotary compressors

• Explain different types of rotary

compressors

• Explain about centrifugal compressor

M504.36 3
 Rotary compressor

• Rotary compressors employ a rotating member in

place of piston to compress the fluid

• Rotary compressors are less noisy in operation

and possess high volumetric efficiency due to
negligible clearance

M504.36 4
 Classification of rotary compressor

The rotary compressors may be classified

as
• Roller type compressors
• Vane type compressors
• Screw compressor
• Centrifugal compressors

M504.36 5
Roller type compressor

(Fig – 1)
M504.36 6
Working of roller type compressor

(Fig – 2)
M504.36 7
 Roller type compressor

• It consists of cylinder, roller mounted

eccentrically on motor shaft and a spring loaded
blade

• The centre of the shaft coincides with the centre

of the cylinder

M504.36 8
 Roller type compressor

• Roller is in the closest possible contact with the

wall of the cylinder, and the point of contact runs
around the cylinder as shaft and roller rotate.

• A inlet is separated from a outlet by a spring

loaded blade, which remains in constant contact
with the roller

M504.36 9
 Roller type compressor (contd….)
• Due to eccentricity between roller and cylinder the
clearance between them is not uniform

• When the space permits, low pressure refrigerant

vapour from the evaporator enters the cylinder

• As the roller rotates, this refrigerant vapour is

compressed until its pressure forces open the
discharge valve, and the high pressure vapour flows
towards the condenser

M504.36 10
Vane type rotary compressor

(Fig – 3)

M504.36 11
 Vane type rotary compressor
• In this design the motor shaft is set off centre with
the cylinder and is arranged co-axially with a rotor
which is rotating around the inside of the cylinder.

• Two or more vanes are recessed into slots in the

rotor, and these are thrown out by centrifugal force
when the rotor rotates.

• The vanes moves in and out of the slots in the rotor

and make effective contact with the cylinder.

M504.36 12
 Vane type rotary compressor

• The vanes making the contact with cylinder divide the

clearance space between rotor and cylinder into
sections.

• The rotation of the rotor enables one of these to

expand in size while another is being compressed.

M504.36 13
 Vane type rotary compressor

• Low pressure refrigerant vapour from evaporator

enters into the expanding section, and is gets
compressed in the contacting section as the rotor
rotates.

• Compressed refrigerant vapour is forced out at high

pressure into the condenser through the discharge
valve

M504.36 14
Screw compressor

(Fig – 4)
M504.36 15
 Screw compressor
• Screw compressors are used in large refrigeration
capacities.

• The compressor consists of two helically grooved

rotors; one with lobes around its periphery is called
male rotor another with gullies is called female rotor.

• The male rotor with lobes derives the female rotor in

a stationary housing

M504.36 16
 Screw compressor (contd…)

• As these lobes rotate, the trapped refrigerant vapour

is moved circumferentially around the housing of the
compressor.

• Further rotation results in decreasing the volume in

the cavity and compressing the refrigerant vapour.

• At certain point the discharge port is uncovered and

the compressed refrigerant vapour is discharged by
further meshing of the lobe and the gully

M504.36 17
Centrifugal Compressor

(Fig – 5)

M504.36 18
 Centrifugal compressor
• The centrifugal compressors are widely used in
large capacities in the range of 35 – 10,000 ton
capacity

• The refrigerant vapour from evaporator passes

into the channels formed between the blades of
the impeller.

M504.36 19
 Centrifugal compressor

• As the impeller revolves, the refrigerant vapour is

thrown into the diffuser due to centrifugal force.

• In the diffuser pressure is increased due to

decrease in kinetic energy.

• In the volute casing the pressure is further increased

due to decrease in kinetic energy

M504.36 20
 Summary

We have discussed about

• Different types rotary compressors and their working

-Roller type compressor
-Vane type compressor
-Screw compressor
-Centrifugal Compressor

M504.36 21
 Quiz

• The leakage of refrigerant is totally

prevented in

a) Hermetic type compressor

b) Semi Hermetic type compressor

c) Centrifugal compressor

d) None of these

M504.36 22
 Quiz

• Centrifugal compressor are used for the capacity

of the refrigerating system
a) 10 – 100 tons
b) 100 – 200 tons
c) 35 – 1000 tons
d) 5 – 1000 tons

M504.36 23
 Frequently asked questions
• Describe with neat sketch construction details
and working principle of roller type compressor

• Describe with neat sketch construction details

and working principle of Vane and Screw type
compressor

• Explain the construction and working of

centrifugal compressor with a neat sketch.

M504.36 24