Compressor

The function of a compressor is to take a definite quantity of fluid (usually gas, and most
often air) and deliver it at a required pressure.
An air compressor takes in atmospheric air compresses it and delivers the high-pressure air
to a storage vessel from which it may be conveyed by the pipeline to wherever the supply of
compressed air is required.
Compressor must be driven by some form of prime mover.
CLASSIFICATION OF AIR COMPRESSORS

1. Reciprocating compressors 2. Rotary compressors.

Single-stage, or multi-stage.
Single-acting and double-acting
Blowers and superchargers are essentially air compressor
RECIPROCATING COMPRESSORS

General arrangement of a compressor set.

Consists of a piston which reciprocates in a cylinder, driven through a connecting rod and
crank mounted in a crankcase.
There are inlet and delivery valves mounted in the head of the cylinder - pressure differential
type - operate as the result of the difference of pressures across the valve.
P-V diagram for a single-stage reciprocating air compressor
Multi-stage reciprocating compressors
Multistage compression is a series arrangement of cylinders
in which compressed air from the cylinder before, becomes
the intake air for the cylinder, which follows.

ROTARY COMPRESSORS
Machines which develop pressure and have a rotor as their primary element.
Whenever large quantities of air or gas are required at relatively low-pressure.
Classifications
1. Displacement (positive) compressors
(i) Roots blower
(ii) Sliding vane compressor
(iii) Screw compressor.
2. Steady-flow (or Non-positive displacement) compressors
(i) Centrifugal (or radial) compressor
(ii) Axial flow compressor.
Displacement Compressors
Compressors in which air is compressed by being trapped in the reduced space formed by
two sets of engaging surfaces.
Roots Blower
One of the rotors is connected
to the drive and the second rotor
is gear driven from the first.
Vane Type Blower
Consists of a rotor mounted eccentrically.
The rotor is slotted to take the blades, which are of a non-metallic
material, usually fiber or carbon.
As each blade moves past the inlet passage, compression begins due to decreasing volume
between the rotor and casing.
Delivery begins with the arrival of each blade at the delivery passage.
Steady-flow Compressors
Compression occurs by transfer of kinetic energy from a rotor.
The centrifugal type of compressor was used in the earliest gas turbine units for aircraft.
For low-pressure ratios (no greater than about 4: 1) the centrifugal compressor
For higher pressure ratios the axial flow compressor is more efficient
For industrial and large marine gas turbine plants axial flow compressors are used.
For aircraft higher-pressure ratios, axial flow compressors are used.
The centrifugal compressors are used in:
(i) Superchargers (ii) Turbo-prop.
Centrifugal compressors are preferred where simplicity, light weight, ruggedness are more
important than maximum efficiency and smaller diameter.
Centrifugal Compressor
1. Curved radial vanes
2. Impeller - impeller may be single-eyed or double sided.
3. Casing.
4. Diffuser.

Centrifugal compressor

Single-eyed Impeller

Double eyed impeller

Axial Flow Compressor

The flow proceeds throughout the compressor in a direction parallel to the axis of the
machine.
Consists of adjacent rows of rotor (moving) blades and stator (fixed) blades. The rotor blades
are mounted on the rotating drum and stator blades are fixed to the casing stator.
One stage of the machine comprises a row of rotor blades followed by a row of stator blades.
The "fixed blades" serve the following two purposes
(i) Convert a part of the K.E. of the fluid into pressure energy.
(ii) Guide and redirect the fluid flow so that entry to the next stage is without shock.

Prevention of leaks - Seals

A seal is a device, which helps join systems or mechanisms together by preventing leakage
(e.g., in a plumbing system), containing pressure.
Types of Seal
Adhesive, sealant
A sealant is a viscous material that changes state to become solid, once applied, and is used to
prevent the penetration of air, gas, noise, dust, fire, smoke or liquid from one location
through a barrier into another.
Sealants are used to close small openings that are difficult to shut with other materials
Gasket
A gasket is a mechanical seal that fills the space between two objects, generally to prevent
leakage between the two objects while under compression.
Gaskets are commonly produced by cutting from sheet materials, such as gasket paper,
rubber, silicone, metal, cork, felt, neoprene, fiberglass, or a plastic polymer.
Gaskets for specific applications may contain asbestos.
O-ring
An o-ring is a mechanical gasket in the shape of a torus; it is a loop
of elastomer with a disc-shaped cross-section, designed to be
seated in a groove and compressed during assembly between two
or more parts, creating a seal at the interface.
O-ring boss seal
A technique for joining two fluid-carrying pipes, hoses or tubing.
In an o-ring boss system, a male threaded part is inserted
into a female threaded part, providing a mechanical seal.

Piston ring
An open-ended ring that fits into a groove on the outer diameter of a piston in a reciprocating
engine - internal combustion engine. Main function is to Seal the combustion chamber.