AIR COMPRESSOR TEST RIG

Aim:
To conduct a performance test on a two stage reciprocating air compressor

Theory:
During the down load motion of the piston the pressure inside the cylinder falls below the
atmospheric pressure and the inlet valve is opened due to its pressure difference. The air is
sucked into the cylinder until the piston reaches BDC (Bottom dead centre).As the piston starts
moving upwards the inlet valve closes and pressure starts building up continuously until the
pressure inside the cylinder is above the pressure of the receiver. Then the delivery valve opens
and air is delivered during the remaining upward motion of the piston to the receiver. At the end
of the delivery stroke, small volume of high pressure air is left in the clearance space. The high
pressure air is left in the clearance space expands as the piston moves downwards and the
pressure of the air falls, until the pressure is just below atmosphere and then the inlet valve opens
and fresh air is sucked in and the whole process repeats.

The suction, compression and delivery of air takes place within two strokes of the piston
or one revolution of the crank shaft. The compression of air from initial pressure to the final
pressure in more than one cylinder is known as multistage compression.

Apparatus

Two stage air compressor, manometer, digital temperature indicator and starter.
Description
The apparatus basically consists of an electric motor (prime mover), two cylinder viz.HP
cylinder and LP cylinder. The system is intercooler. Pressure gauges are provided at the both of
the HP cylinder and LP cylinder outlets to read the pressures. The foot motor gives the input
power to the compressor.

Procedure
1. The water present, if any in the receiver is drained out using the drainage cock
2. The outlet valve of the receiver is kept open to facilitate starting and then the motor is
switched on

3. When the compressor reaches its normal speed, the outlet valve of the receiver is closed
and the compressor is allowed to build the required pressure.

4. When the pressure reaches the desired valve, the outlet valve is adjusted so that the
delivery pressure remains constant at that pressure. At this point manometer reading,
speeds of the motor and energy meter readings are noted down.

5. The experiment is repeated for different values of pressures and the above sets of
readings are noted down.

6. After completing the experiment, switch of the motor and release the air from the
receiver.

Observation

Slno Receiver pressure Energy meter Difference in Manometer

Kg/cm2 rev/sec reading
cms
1
2
3
4
Calculations
No of Rev x 3600
1. Input to compressor = -------------------------- = kw
Time x Ec

Ec = Energy meter constant in rev/kwhr

w
2.. Total head Hntp m = h x --------
a

w = Density of water = 1000 kg/m

a = Density of air = 1.283 kg/m
h = Manometer reading in mm

3. DENSITY OF AIR AT R.T.P.

a x 273
Air density at R.T.P. = -- ---------------------- Kg/m
273 + room temp.

4. ACTUAL VOLUME OF AIR DRAWN AT RTP CONDITION

w
Va = Cd x A x 2gh ------- m/sec
a

Where Cd = co-efficient of discharge = 0.62

(d)
Area of correction of orifice = ----------- in mtrs
4
d = Dia of orifice = 20 mm (0.02 mtrs.)
5. SWEPT VOLUME = Vs

Nc
Vs = -------- (d)2 x L x ------ in m / sec
4 60

D is dia of piston = 0.070 in mtr

L is stroke length = 0.085 in mts.

Nc is speed of the motor in rpm

6. VOLUMETRIC EFFICIENCY IN %

Va
Vol = -------- x 100
Vs

7. ISOTHERMAL HP :

Pa x Va
= --------------- loge
75

Pa = Atmospheric pressure in kg/cm (1 kg/cm = 1 x 10 3kg/cm)

Va = Actual volume of air in take in m/sec

8. ISOTHERMAL EFFICIENCY IN %

ISOTHERMAL HP
Iso = ---------------------------- x 100
BHP

TECHNICAL TEACHING (D) EQUIPMENTS BANGALORE - 91