Module 5

COMPRESSORS

R. A. Attalage
Professor
Department of Mechanical Engineering
University of Moratuwa

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Outline
1. Introduction
2. Reciprocating Compressors
3. Rotary Screw Compressors
4. Rotary Vane Compressors
5. Scroll Compressors
6. Centrifugal Compressors

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1. Introduction
3 2
HP
CONDENSER

COMPRESSOR

EXPANSION
VALVE

Compressor
EVAPORATOR LP
4 1

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1. Introduction (Functions of a compressor)
Compressor transfers the refrigerant from
the evaporator to the condenser so that it
will condense
The discharge pressure must be
sufficiently high enough such that the
corresponding saturation temperature is
greater than that of the environment

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1. Introduction (Types of Compressors)
Compressors

Positive displacement Dynamic compressors

Reciprocating compressor Centrifugal compressor

Rotary screw compressor
Rotary vane compressor
Scroll compressor

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2. Reciprocating Compressors

Configurations can be of
single cylinder or multi
cylinder
Arrangements available
are, In line, V and W

Hermetically sealed reciprocating

compressor
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2. Reciprocating (Fundamental Features)
Characteristics
1. Pressure ratio
PDis
Pressure ratio =
Psuc

2. Displacement rate
The volume of refrigerant
drawn into the cylinder
during one suction stroke
is defined as Vd
Vd = V3 Vc.
2
Vd B L
4

Ideal reciprocating compressor and
Vd ncylVd N
pressure volume plot
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2. Reciprocating (Fundamental Features)
Clearance volumetric efficiency vc
V3 V1
100%
V3 Vc

Assumptions:
Refrigerant does not leak past closed discharge and suction
valves
Refrigerant does not leak past the piston sealing ring
No heat transfer occurs from refrigerant to the compressor
internal metal surfaces
Discharge and suction valves are friction less

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2. Reciprocating (Fundamental Features)
Mass of the refrigerant when the Vc ~ clearance volume
piston is at top center
Vc ~ specific volume of the
Vc Vc refrigerant
mc Vdis ~ specific volume of the
vc vdis
refrigerant in the discharge
line
As the refrigerant expands when piston moves towards bottom
center, the vapor mass remains same inside the cylinder till the
suction valve opens. If that is at point 1 the vapor mass is,
V1 V1
m1 mc
v1 vsuc

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2. Reciprocating (Fundamental Features)
Define compressors volume ratio Vc Vc
as; rvc
V3 Vc Vd

vc becomes:
vsuc
vc 1 rvc 1
vdis

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2. Reciprocating (Drive Method)
Hermetic - compressor-motor assembly:
contained in a welded steel case, typically used in household
refrigerators, residential air conditioners, smaller commercial
air conditioning and refrigeration units.
Semi-hermetic - compressor-motor assembly:
contained in a casting with no penetration by a rotating shaft
and with gasketted cover plates for access to key parts such
as valves and connecting rods.
Open compressor:
only with shaft seal and external shaft for coupling connection
to belt - or direct-drive using as electric motor or natural gas
engine. These are largely used for ammonia refrigeration
applications as hermetic designs cannot be used with
ammonia refrigerant, and for engine-driven units.
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2. Reciprocating (Accessories and Sub Components)

Head cooling:
Beyond a threshold temperature, the metal plates inside
the compressor lose their temper
Head cooling also prevents carbonization of the
lubricating oil.
Capacity control:
To cater for different cooling loads
Methods of capacity control
Lubrication and oil cooling
Lubrication oil separation

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3.Rotary Screw Compressors
Screw compressors are
manufactured in two
configurations;
Single screw
Twin screw

Single screw rotary compressor

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3. Rotary Screw (Compression process of a
single screw)
2. Compression

1. Suction
3. Discharge

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 3. Rotary Screw (Compression process of a
twin screw)

Two helical grooved rotary screws are engaged with each other.

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3. Screw (Fundamental characteristics)
2. Discharge

1. Suction 3. Compression

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3. Screw (Fundamental characteristics)
When operating the screw compressor delivers refrigerant at a pressure that
is dependant only on the suction vapor conditions and the compression
volume ratio, which is defined as;
Vi= internal volume when suction port covered
Internal volume when the discharge port uncovered

The discharge to suction pressure ratio is given by

Pdis k
Vi K ~ ratio of specific heats

Psuc The equation is only valid when the

compression ratio is not isentropic.

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3. Screw (Fundamental characteristics)

Efficiency comparison for twin screw compressor

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3 Screw (Fundamental characteristics)

Efficiency comparison for Single-Screw compressors

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3. Screw (Accessories and subcomponents)
Oil injection
Capacity control
Oil separator
Economizer port

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3. Screw (Variable Vi)

Slide valves

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 3. Screw

Twin screw compressor and slide valve

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4. Rotary Vane Compressor

4
2
Vd H DA D B
2

Single-vane or rolling
piston compressor
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4. Rotary Vane Compressor

Multiple vane rotary compressor

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5. Scroll Compressor
This is the newest positive displacement
compressor
Two identically shaped spiral plates (scrolls),
one rotated 180o from the other are positioned to
fit together
The scrolls are open on one side and fastened
to a base plate on the other side.
One scroll is stationary while the other rotates in
an orbital fashion.

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5. Scroll (Orientation of scrolls and the
compression process)

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5. Scroll (Performance of scroll compressor
using R22)

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 6. Centrifugal Compressors

The principal of centrifugal compressor involves imparting of a high

velocity to the refrigerant vapor and then the conversion of this velocity
to a pressure
In the centrifugal compressor, the vapor is never trapped during the
compression process.
A common application is in the central air conditioning systems.
Multistage centrifugal compressors can support evaporating
temperatures down to 150o F
Further more multi stage centrifugal compressor provides removal of
flash vapor between the stages in which, in turn improves the
refrigeration cycle efficiency
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6. Centrifugal Compressor (Two stage)

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6. Centrifugal Compressor (Impeller)

The action of the impeller on the vapor increases the pressure and
the kinetic energy. After leaving the impeller the vapor enters the
diffuser where some of the kinetic energy is converted into pressure.

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6. Centrifugal (Performance characteristics)

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