Machine Technology II

Week 1 Air Compressors

1
Objectives
• Discuss Gas laws
• Describe basic types and operating principles of:
• Reciprocating Compressors
– Piston, Diaphragm
• Rotary Compressors
– Screw, Lobe, Vane, Liquid Ring, and Dynamic

2
The gas laws
• These natural laws govern how a gas is affected by pressure and temperature
• Gas laws give us idea about how the three important parameters are related
• Pressure
• Temperature and
• Volume
• mole
• For ease of understanding, it is always good to fix one variable, to see how the other two are
related

3
Physical Laws Relating to Fluid Power
• Blaise Pascal (1623 - 1662)
• His discoveries are important to the
technology of modern fluid power
transmission

𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹 (𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙)
𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖 𝑈𝑈𝑈𝑈 𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠, 𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃 𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝 =
𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴 (𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖2 )

𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹 (𝑁𝑁)
𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖 𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚 𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠, 𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃 =
𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴 (𝑚𝑚2 )
𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴, 105 𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃 = 1 𝑏𝑏𝑏𝑏𝑏𝑏

4
Pascal’s Law

Pressure applied on a confined fluid is

F=10 lb transmitted undiminished in all directions
and acts with equal force on equal areas
and at right angles to them.
A=1 in2

P=10 psi
A=10 in2
F=?

5
Can anyone lift a car like superman?
Can anyone lift a car like superman?
The gas laws

• These natural laws govern how a gas is affected by pressure and temperature
• Gas laws give us idea about how the three important parameters are related
• Pressure
• Temperature and
• Volume
• mole
• For ease of understanding, it is always good to fix one variable, to see how the other
two are related
Constant Pressure
Constant pressure
Temperature
• Charles’ law states: for a given Celsius
mass of gas at constant pressure 100
the volume is proportional to the 80
absolute temperature. 60

• Assuming no friction a volume will 40

change to maintain constant 20

293K
pressure. 0
-20
-40

-60
0 0.25 0.5 0.75 1 1.25 1.5 1.75 2 Volume

V1 V2
= =c
T1(K) T2(K)
Constant pressure
Temperature
• Charles’ law states: for a given Celsius
mass of gas at constant pressure 100
the volume is proportional to the 80
366.25K
absolute temperature. 60

• Assuming no friction a volume will 40

change to maintain constant 20

pressure. 0

• From an ambient of 20oC a change -20

of 73.25oC will produce a 25% -40

change of volume. -60

0 0.25 0.5 0.75 1 1.25 1.5 1.75 2 Volume
• 0o Celsius = 273K

V1 V2
= =c
T1(K) T2(K)
Constant pressure
Temperature
• Charles’ law states: for a given Celsius
mass of gas at constant pressure 100
the volume is proportional to the 80
absolute temperature. 60

• Assuming no friction a volume will 40

change to maintain constant 20

pressure. 0

• From an ambient of 20oC a change -20

of 73.25oC will produce a 25% -40

219.75K
change of volume. -60
0 0.25 0.5 0.75 1 1.25 1.5 1.75 2 Volume
• 0o Celsius = 273K

V1 V2
= =c
T1(K) T2(K)
Constant pressure
Temperature
• Charles’ law states: for a given Celsius
mass of gas at constant pressure 100
the volume is proportional to the 80
366.25K
absolute temperature. 60

• Assuming no friction a volume will 40

change to maintain constant 20

293K
pressure. 0

• From an ambient of 20oC a change -20

of 73.25oC will produce a 25% -40

219.75K
change of volume. -60
0 0.25 0.5 0.75 1 1.25 1.5 1.75 2 Volume
• 0o Celsius = 273K

V1 V2
= =c
T1(K) T2(K)
Constant Temperature
Constant temperature
Pressure P
• Boyle’s law states: the product of bar absolute
absolute pressure and volume of a 16
given mass of gas remains 14
constant if the temperature of the 12
gas remains constant. 10

• This process is called isothermal 8

(constant temperature). It must be 6
slow enough for heat to flow out 4
of and in to the air as it is 2
compressed and expanded. 0
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 Volume V

P1.V1 = P2.V2 = constant

Constant temperature
Pressure P
• Boyle’s law states: the product of bar absolute
absolute pressure and volume of a 16
given mass of gas remains 14
constant if the temperature of the 12
gas remains constant. 10

• This process is called isothermal 8

(constant temperature). It must be 6
slow enough for heat to flow out 4
of and in to the air as it is 2
compressed and expanded. 0
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 Volume V

P1.V1 = P2.V2 = constant

Constant temperature
Pressure P
• Boyle’s law states: the product of bar absolute
absolute pressure and volume of a 16
given mass of gas remains 14
constant if the temperature of the 12
gas remains constant. 10

• This process is called isothermal 8

(constant temperature). It must be 6
slow enough for heat to flow out 4
of and in to the air as it is 2
compressed and expanded. 0
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 Volume V

P1.V1 = P2.V2 = constant

Constant temperature
Pressure P
• Boyle’s law states: the product of bar absolute
absolute pressure and volume of a 16
given mass of gas remains 14
constant if the temperature of the 12
gas remains constant. 10

• This process is called isothermal 8

(constant temperature). It must be 6
slow enough for heat to flow out 4
of and in to the air as it is 2
compressed and expanded. 0
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 Volume V

P1.V1 = P2.V2 = constant

Constant temperature
Pressure P
• Boyle’s law states: the product of bar absolute
absolute pressure and volume of a 16
given mass of gas remains 14
constant if the temperature of the 12
gas remains constant. 10

• This process is called isothermal 8

(constant temperature). It must be 6
slow enough for heat to flow out 4
of and in to the air as it is 2
compressed and expanded. 0
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 Volume V

P1.V1 = P2.V2 = constant

Problems: Gas Laws
• A gas occupies a volume of 10 ft3 at 20 psia. What law applies to this
problem? What volume does it occupy at 40 psia?

20
Problems: Gas Laws
• To what absolute pressure must a gas be compressed in order to get 100 ft3
of gas at standard pressure into a 5 ft3 container? What pressure would
show on the container’s pressure gauge?

21
Problems: Gas Laws
• 10 ft3 of air is at 30°F. What volume does this air occupy at 70 °F, assuming
pressure remains constant. Consider the volume of air trapped in a plastic
bag that can change volume without increasing pressure on the air inside.

22
Problems: Gas Laws
• A tank of compressed air is at 20 °C, and 600 kPa. The tank is re-located
outside the building, where temperatures reach 40°C. What is the maximum
pressure expected in the tank?

23
Air Compressors
• Purpose: to give air potential energy in the form of pressure.
• Accomplished by reducing the volume of atmospheric air.
• As the air is reduced in volume, it’s pressure increases

24
The Compression of Air

𝑃𝑃1 × 𝑉𝑉1 = 𝑃𝑃2 × 𝑉𝑉2

14.7 𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝 × 10 𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓 3 = 145 𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝 × 1𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓 3

25
The Compression of Air
• When the space of a given volume of air is changed, both its temperature
and pressure are changed in accordance with the following laws:
– Boyle’s Law: At constant temperature, the absolute pressure of a gas varies inversely to
its volume.
– Charles Law: At constant pressure, the volume of gas is proportional to its absolute
temperature .

26
The Compression of Air
• In the ordinary process of air compression, two principles are at work in the
production of a higher pressure:
– The reduction of air volume.
– Temperature increase due to increasing pressure corresponding to the reduced volume.

27
The Compression of Air
• The application of the two
laws is illustrated by a piston.
If it is filled with air at 14.7 B A
PSIA., and the piston is moved
to position B, then according
to Boyle’s law, the pressure
will be tripled: 14.7 X3 = 1/3 volume
full volume
44.1PSIA. Or 44.1 - 14.7 = 29.4
PSI. In reality, a pressure
gauge on the cylinder would
show a higher pressure at this
time because of the increase
in temperature.
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Compressor Types
• Two basic classifications:
• Positive displacement
• Non-positive displacement (dynamic)
• Further classified as to their type of operation, e.g.. Reciprocating, rotary,
diaphragm, etc.

29
Operation
• Operate by creating a partial vacuum at its inlet so that air at atmospheric
pressure can flow into the compressor. The air is trapped and reduced in
volume while increasing in pressure.
• When compressed, the air flows through the compressor discharge valves
into the storage tank (receiver)

30