ENGINEERING UTILITIES II:

BASIC MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

COMPRESSORS

MELANIE LOVE P. ALCANTARA

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WHAT IS A COMPRESSOR?

‰Compressor is a device which is used to

increase the pressure of air from low pressure
to high pressure by using some external energy
for:
9 automobile service station to clean vehicles
9 spray painting in paint industries

9 filling the air in tube of vehicles

9 cleaning workshop machines

9 vehicle to operate air brakes

9 supercharging of an IC engines

9 operation of pneumatictools i.e. rock drills, vibrators etc.

Types of compressor:
A. Positive Displacement
1. Reciprocating
¾ Single-Acting
¾ Double-Acting
¾ Diaphragm
2. Rotary
¾ Lobe
¾ Liquid Ring
¾ Screw
¾ Scroll
¾ Vane

B. Dynamic
1. Centrifugal
2. Axial
 Positive displacement
Positive displacement compressors draw in and capture a
volume of air in a chamber. They then reduce the volume of the
chamber to compress the air.

1. Reciprocating Compressor
A reciprocating compressor or piston compressor is a positive-displacement compressor that
uses pistons driven by a crankshaft to deliver gases at high pressure.

2. Rotary Compressor
Rotary compressor is the another type of famous compressors. It uses two Asymmetrical
rotors that are also called helical screws to compress the air.
 Reciprocating Compressor

¾ SINGLE-ACTING
This type of compressor is
characterized by its automotive type piston
driven through a connecting rod from the
crankshaft. Compression takes place on the
top side of the piston on each revolution of
the crankshaft. A design variation in small
single stage oil less compressors is a
combined piston and connecting rod which
tilts or rocks in the cylinder during its travel
within the cylinder.
 Reciprocating Compressor
¾DOUBLE-ACTING
The double acting compressor compresses
the air on both the up-stroke and the down stroke of
the piston, doubling the capacity of a given cylinder
size. This “double” compression cycle is what makes
this type of air compressor very efficient. A single
acting compressor will have an operating efficiency
between 22 – 24 kW/100 cfm of air while the double
acting compressor has an operating efficiency between
15 – 16 kW/100 cfm. Therefore, electricity cost is less
with a double-acting reciprocating air compressor to
make the same amount of compressed air.
Reciprocating Compressor
¾ Diaphragm
A diaphragm compressor is a variant of the classic reciprocating
compressor with backup and piston rings and rod seal. The compression of
gas occurs by means of a flexible membrane, instead of an intake element. The
back and forth moving membrane is driven by a rod and a crankshaft
mechanism.
 Rotary Compressors
¾ Lobe
The Rotary lobe type compressor is
a positive displacement, non-contact - or
clearance type design. With no mechanical
contact inside the compression chamber,
lubrication within this chamber is not
required. Lubrication of bearings, timing
gears, and speed increasing gears is all
external to the compression chamber and
shaft seals prevent any migration of oil to the
compression chamber. This ensures oil free
compression and air delivery.
Rotary Compressors

¾ Liquid Ring
The liquid ring (or liquid piston)
rotary compressor is also a positive
displacement type compressor. The mode of
compression is similar to that of the rotary
vane compressor but the vanes (or blades)
are fixed on the rotor.
 Rotary Compressors
¾ Rotary Screw
The oil injected rotary screw compressor is
commonly driven by an electric motor, hydraulic
motor, diesel engine, or natural gas engine and it is
used in a wide variety of industrial, mining,
construction and energy exploration applications.
The oil injected rotary screw compressor is a
positive displacement type, which means that a
given quantity of air or gas is trapped in a
compression chamber and the space which it
occupies is mechanically reduced, causing a
corresponding rise in pressure prior to discharge.
The stationary version is characterized by low
vibration, requiring only a simple load bearing
foundation and providing long life with minimal
maintenance in broad ranges of capacity and
pressure. They are also used widely in vacuum
service.
Rotary Compressors

¾ Rotary Scroll
The operating compression principle of a
rotary scroll type compressor is accomplished by
means of two intermeshing spirals or scrolls, one scroll
being stationary and the other orbiting in relation to
the stationary scroll. The stationary scroll is shown in
black and the orbiting scroll in white. Air entering
through the suction port in the stationary scroll, fills
the suction chamber consisting of the outer labyrinth
of the stationary scroll and on the outside edge of
the orbiting scroll.
 Rotary Compressors

¾ Rotary Vane
The oil injected rotary vane
compressor is a positive displacement type,
which means that a given quantity of air or
gas is trapped in a compression chamber and
the space which it occupies is mechanically
reduced, causing a corresponding pressure rise
prior to discharge.
 Dynamic Compressors

Dynamic compressors are rotary continuous-flow

machines in which the rapidly rotating element accelerates the
air as it passes through the element, converting the velocity
head into pressure, partially in the rotating element and
partially in stationary diffusers or blades.

1. Centrifugal Compressor
2. Axial Compressor
 Dynamic Compressors
1. Centrifugal Compressor
A centrifugal compressor is a type of dynamic compressor, or turbocompressor, with a
radial design. They work at a constant pressure and the performance is affected by external
conditions such as changes in inlet temperatures.
 Dynamic Compressors
2. Axial Compressor
An axial compressor is a gas compressor that can continuously pressurize gases. It is a
rotating, airfoil-based compressor in which the gas or working fluid principally flows parallel
to the axis of rotation, or axially.