Chapter 6: Fans, Blowers, and Compressors

Rules of Thumb for Chemical Engineers, 5th Edition

by Stephen Hall

This Excel workbook includes Visual Basic for Application function subroutines.
Macros must be enabled for them to work.

The following Text Boxes contain the syntax for the functions.
Copy them to the worksheet where you want to use the functions for ready reference.

Function ZSI(P, T, Pc, Tc) Function ZUS(P, T, Pc, Tc)

' calculates compressibility factor, Z, using SI units
' P = gas pressure, kPa
' T = gas temperature, C
' Pc = gas pseudo-critical pressure, atm
' Tc = gas pseudo-critical temperature, C
' calculates compressibility factor, Z, using US units
' P = gas pressure, psia
' T = gas temperature, F
' Pc = gas pseudo-critical pressure, psia
' Tc = gas pseudo-critical temperature, F
 Problem Statement:
Calculate the shaft (brake) power of a reciprocating compressor

Inputs
Fluid Air
flow rate m3/h at inlet conditions 500.0
Inlet pressure kPa-absolute 101.3
Inlet temperature C 25.0
Discharge pressure kPa-absolute 900.0
Number of stages 2

Intermediate Lookup Values and Calculations

Overall compression ratio 8.88

Compression ratio per stage 2.98
Gas constant R 8,314.47
MW 29.0
heat capacity ratio k 1.4
density at inlet kg/m3 1.19
mass flow rate kg/s 0.16

Outputs
Reciprocating Compressor - GPSA Shortcut Formula

C 0.013
F See Text for values 1.08
R 2.98
N 2
Q m3/h at 100 kPa 506.5
Adjustment for high speed compressor (see text) 0.1

Brake Power (shaft power) kW 46.6

 Air Air
cfm at inlet conditions 294.0 422
psia 14.7 14.7
F 77.0 77
psia 130.5 140
2 2

8.88 9.52
2.98 3.09
10.73 10.73
29.0 29.0
1.4 1.4
lb/ft3 0.074 0.074 density = (P M) / (R T)
lb/s 0.36 0.52

0.030 0.030
1.08 1.08
2.98 3.09
2 2
cfm at 14.5 psia 298.1 427.8
0.1 0.2

hp 63 103
kw 47.22 76.59

motor efficiency 0.949

80.70
 Problem Statement:
Calculate the hydraulic and shaft (brake) power of a compressor

Inputs
Fluid Air
flow rate m3/h at inlet conditions 500.0 500.0
Inlet pressure kPa-absolute 101.3 206.8
Inlet temperature C 25.0 40.2
Discharge pressure kPa-absolute 900.0 900.0
Number of stages 2 3
Intercooler temperature approa C 5 5
Polytropic Efficiency 0.70 0.70

Intermediate Lookup Values and Calculations

Overall compression ratio 8.88 4.35

Compression ratio per stage 2.98 1.63
Gas constant R 8,314.47 8,314.47
MW 29.0 45.5
Critical pressure atm 39.0 41.5
Critical temperature C (140.0) 101.9
heat capacity ratio k 1.4 1.4
density at inlet kg/m3 1.19 3.61
mass flow rate kg/s 0.16 0.50

Outputs

Stage 1
Compressibility factor using Redlich-Kwong EOS
Inlet compressibility Z #VALUE! #VALUE!
Discharge compressibility #VALUE! #VALUE!
Average compressibility #VALUE! #VALUE!

Polytropic compression
Polytropic exponent n 1.69 1.69
Stage discharge pressure kPa-absolute 301.94 337.64
Discharge temperature C 192 110
Polytropic head kN-m/kg #VALUE! 31.07
Polytropic gas power kW #VALUE! 22.27

Stage 2
Compressibility factor using Redlich-Kwong EOS
Inlet compressibility Z #VALUE! #VALUE!
Discharge compressibility #VALUE! #VALUE!
Average compressibility #VALUE! #VALUE!

Polytropic compression
Polytropic exponent n 1.69 1.69
 Stage inlet temperature C 30.00 45.18
Stage inlet density kg/m3 3.47 5.80
Stage discharge pressure kPa-absolute 900.00 551.25
Discharge temperature C 200 116
Polytropic head kN-m/kg #VALUE! 31.57
Polytropic gas power kW #VALUE! 22.62

Stage 3
Compressibility factor using Redlich-Kwong EOS
Inlet compressibility Z #VALUE! #VALUE!
Discharge compressibility #VALUE! #VALUE!
Average compressibility #VALUE! #VALUE!

Polytropic compression
Polytropic exponent n 1.69 1.69
Stage inlet temperature C 30.00 45.18
Stage inlet density kg/m3 10.35 9.48
Stage discharge pressure kPa-absolute 2,682.62 900.00
Discharge temperature C 200 116
Polytropic head kN-m/kg #VALUE! 31.57
Polytropic gas power kW - 22.62

Total gas power kW #VALUE! 67.51

Add for mechanical losses kW #VALUE! 5.39

Brake power (shaft power) kW #VALUE! 72.91

 Air
cfm at inlet conditions 294.0
psia 14.7
F 77.0
psia 130.5
2
F 10
0.70

8.88
2.98
10.73
29.0
psia 573.0
F (220.0)
1.4
lb/ft3 0.074
lb/s 0.36

Z #VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!

n 1.69
psia 43.80
F 379
ft-lbf/lbm #VALUE!
hp #VALUE!

Z #VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!

n 1.69
F 87.00
lb/ft3 0.22
psia 130.50
F 394
ft-lbf/lbm #VALUE!
hp #VALUE!

#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!

n 1.69
F 87.00
lb/ft3 0.64
psia 388.83
F 394
ft-lbf/lbm #VALUE!
hp -

hp #VALUE!
hp #VALUE!

hp #VALUE!
 Problem Statement:
Calculate the shaft (brake) power of a compressor by interpolating the Pressure-Enthalpy data table

Inputs
Fluid Air
flow rate m3/h at inlet conditions 500.0 The data tables give enthalpy and entrop
Inlet pressure kPa-absolute 101.5 the values to change to enter data for a
Inlet temperature C 25.0
Discharge pressure kPa-absolute 900.0 Beginning with the compressor inlet pres
Number of stages 2 a) follow a constant entropy path from in
b) increase the temperature, at constant
Intercooler temperatu C 5
(a)
Isentropic Efficiency 0.80 c) capture the enthalpy change for the s
d) cool the gas to a temperature near the
Intermediate Calculation e) look up the new enthalpy
Overall compression ratio 8.87 f) repeat for stages 2 and 3
Compression ratio per stage 2.98
Density kg/m3 1.19 The x and y scales on the chart adjust a
expanded to encompass the full range o
Results
Enthalpy of CompressikJ/kg 291.52
Work kJ/h 173,083
kW 48.08

Mechanical losses in the compressor 4.71

Shaft power kW 52.79 Result

Stage-by-Stage Calculations by Interpolating the P-E Data

Point Pressure Enthalpy TemperaturEntropy Comment
1 1.02 298.43 25.00 6.86 Inlet conditions
Stage 1 2 3.02 417.78 143.32 6.88 Compress with constant entropy
3 3.02 447.61 177.25 Apply isentropic compression efficiency
4 3.02 302.87 30.00 6.56 Cool with intercooler
Stage 2 5 9.00 416.74 142.87 6.56 Compress with constant entropy
6 9.00 445.20 174.83 Apply isentropic compression efficiency
7 9.00 301.67 30.00 6.24 Cool with intercooler
Stage 3 8 26.80 393.44 121.09 6.20 Compress with constant entropy
9 26.80 416.38 144.84 Apply isentropic compression efficiency
10 26.80 297.47 30.00 5.92 Cool with aftercooler

Data Source: Perry's Chemical Engineers' Handbook, 6th Edition, Table 3-212

Fluid: Air

Temperature deg K 200 220 240 260 280 300 350

Pressure Enthalpy Enthalpy Enthalpy Enthalpy Enthalpy Enthalpy Enthalpy
bar kJ/kg kJ/kg kJ/kg kJ/kg kJ/kg kJ/kg kJ/kg
 1 199.7 219.8 239.9 260.0 280.2 300.3 350.7
5 197.7 218.1 238.5 258.8 279.1 299.4 350.0
10 195.2 216.1 236.7 257.3 277.8 298.3 349.2
20 190.1 211.9 233.2 254.3 275.2 296.0 347.7
40 179.7 203.5 226.3 248.5 270.2 291.7 344.6
60 163.9 191.1 216.1 240.0 263.1 285.6 340.4
80 158.7 187.1 212.9 237.3 260.8 283.7 339.0
100 148.8 179.4 206.7 232.2 256.4 279.9 336.5
150 129.2 163.2 193.4 221.0 247.0 271.8 330.9
200 117.6 152.2 183.6 212.5 239.6 265.5 326.5
250 111.7 145.6 177.1 206.6 234.3 260.8 323.2
300 109.0 142.0 173.2 202.7 230.8 257.7 320.9
400 108.5 140.1 170.5 199.7 227.8 254.8 319.1
500 111.4 142.0 171.7 200.5 228.4 255.4 319.9
600 116.0 146.1 175.3 203.6 231.2 258.1 322.6
800 157.4 185.9 213.7 240.3 267.3 331.6
1000 226.4 253.2 279.5 343.4

Interpolated Enthalpy at stage discharge pressures

Stage 1 3.022416 198.3255 218.6317 238.9379 259.1753 279.444 299.68149 350.2189
Stage 2 9 195.58 216.404 236.9736 257.528 277.9976 298.4672 349.3216
Stage 3 26.79975 191.6445 213.2556 234.14 255.1667 275.9511 296.73556 348.0622

Pressure Entropy Entropy Entropy Entropy Entropy Entropy Entropy

bar kJ/(kg-C) kJ/(kg-C) kJ/(kg-C) kJ/(kg-C) kJ/(kg-C) kJ/(kg-C) kJ/(kg-C)
1 6.463 6.559 6.647 6.727 6.802 6.871 7.026
5 5.994 6.092 6.18 6.262 6.337 6.406 6.563
10 5.786 5.885 5.975 6.058 6.134 6.204 6.361
20 5.568 5.672 5.765 5.849 5.927 5.998 6.158
40 5.33 5.444 5.543 5.632 5.712 5.786 5.95
60 5.174 5.298 5.404 5.497 5.581 5.657 5.824
80 5.051 5.186 5.299 5.396 5.484 5.562 5.733
100 4.949 5.095 5.214 5.315 5.406 5.486 5.661
150 4.757 4.919 5.051 5.161 5.257 5.343 5.525
200 4.631 4.796 4.932 5.048 5.149 5.238 5.426
250 4.544 4.706 4.843 4.961 5.064 5.155 5.348
300 4.48 4.637 4.773 4.891 4.995 5.088 5.283
400 4.386 4.537 4.669 4.786 4.89 4.983 5.181
500 4.317 4.463 4.593 4.708 4.811 4.905 5.103
600 2.263 4.406 4.533 4.646 4.749 4.842 5.041
800 4.318 4.442 4.553 4.653 4.745 4.943
1000 4.482 4.582 4.672 4.869
Enthalpy data table

ables give enthalpy and entropy at pressure and temperature combinations. Values are in RED text; these are
to change to enter data for a different ccompound.

with the compressor inlet pressure and temperature, the P-E tables are interpolated to:
constant entropy path from inlet conditions to the stage discharge pressure
e the temperature, at constant pressure, by applying the isentropic efficiency to the amount of enthalpy gain in

the enthalpy change for the stage

gas to a temperature near the inlet temperature; this is performed at constant pressure
the new enthalpy
r stages 2 and 3

y scales on the chart adjust automatically to fit the pressure range entered in the Input section. To see the chart
to encompass the full range of enthalpy data, click the "Reset Chart Area" button.

Entry Point into Table and Interpolation Ratio Interpolation of the Enthalpy Data Table
Pressure Interpolatio TemperaturInterpolation Compression enthalpy
1 0.009251
with constant entropy 1 0.687232
opic compression efficiency 8 0.503986 149.18
1 0.687232 Add these values together
with constant entropy 2 0.847997 for total enthalpy of
opic compression efficiency 8 0.479819 142.34 compression
2 0.847997
with constant entropy 2 2.42222
opic compression efficiency 8 0.179888 -
4 0.42222

400 500 600 800 1000 1200 1400 1600 1800

Enthalpy Enthalpy Enthalpy Enthalpy Enthalpy Enthalpy Enthalpy Enthalpy Enthalpy
kJ/kg kJ/kg kJ/kg kJ/kg kJ/kg kJ/kg kJ/kg kJ/kg kJ/kg
 401.2 503.4 607.5 822.5 1,046.8 1,278.0 1,515.0 1,764.0 2,017.0
400.8 503.2 607.4 822.6 1,046.9 1,279.0 1,516.0 1,764.0 2,017.0
400.2 502.9 607.3 822.7 1,047.2 1,279.0 1,516.0 1,765.0 2,018.0
399.1 502.4 607.2 823.0 1,047.7 1,280.0 1,517.0 1,766.0 2,019.0
397.0 501.5 606.9 823.7 1,048.8 1,281.0 1,519.0 1,768.0 2,021.0
394.0 500.6 606.8 824.3 1,050.0 1,283.0 1,521.0 1,770.0 2,023.0
393.1 499.8 606.7 825.1 1,051.1 1,284.0 1,522.0 1,772.0 2,025.0
391.3 499.0 606.6 825.8 1,052.4 1,286.0 1,524.0 1,774.0 2,027.0
387.5 497.5 606.6 827.8 1,055.5 1,290.0 1,529.0 1,779.0 2,033.0
384.5 496.6 607.0 829.9 1,058.7 1,294.0 1,533.0 1,783.0 2,038.0
382.3 496.0 607.6 832.2 1,062.0 1,298.0 1,538.0 1,789.0 2,043.0
380.9 495.9 608.5 834.5 1,065.3 1,302.0 1,542.0 1,794.0 2,049.0
380.0 496.8 611.0 839.4 1,072.0 1,310.0 1,552.0 1,804.0 2,059.0
381.3 499.1 614.3 844.6 1,078.8 1,318.0 1,561.0 1,814.0 2,070.0
384.2 502.6 618.5 850.1 1,085.5 1,326.0 1,570.0 1,824.0 2,080.0
393.8 512.3 625.8 862.0 1,099.3 1,341.0 1,588.0 1,844.0 2,101.0
405.1 524.4 641.2 875.1 1,113.3 1,356.0 1,606.0 1,863.0 2,121.0

400.9251 503.2626 607.4313 822.5687 1046.869 1278.68723 1515.687 1764 2017

400.2912 502.9456 607.3152 822.6848 1047.154 1279 1516 1764.848 2017.848
399.3467 502.4733 607.1578 822.8422 1047.627 1279 1516 1766.422 2019.422

Entropy Entropy Entropy Entropy Entropy Entropy Entropy Entropy Entropy

kJ/(kg-C) kJ/(kg-C) kJ/(kg-C) kJ/(kg-C) kJ/(kg-C) kJ/(kg-C) kJ/(kg-C) kJ/(kg-C) kJ/(kg-C)
7.161 7.389 7.579 7.888 8.138 8.349 8.531 8.695 8.695
6.698 6.927 7.116 7.426 7.676 7.887 8.069 8.233 8.233
6.497 6.727 6.917 7.226 7.477 7.688 7.87 8.034 8.034
6.295 6.52 6.716 7.027 7.277 7.489 7.671 7.835 7.835
6.09 6.323 6.515 6.826 7.077 7.289 7.473 7.636 7.636
5.967 6.202 6.396 6.708 6.96 7.172 7.355 7.52 7.52
5.878 6.116 6.311 6.624 6.877 7.089 7.273 7.437 7.437
5.807 6.048 6.244 6.559 6.812 7.024 7.208 7.373 7.373
5.677 5.922 6.121 6.439 6.693 6.906 7.092 7.256 7.256
5.581 5.831 6.033 6.353 6.608 6.822 7.009 7.173 7.173
5.506 5.76 5.963 6.286 6.542 6.757 6.944 7.108 7.108
5.443 5.7 5.906 6.23 6.488 6.703 6.891 7.056 7.206
5.344 5.605 5.813 6.142 6.401 6.618 6.808 6.972 7.123
5.267 5.531 5.741 6.072 6.333 6.55 6.743 6.907 7.058
5.205 5.47 5.681 6.014 6.277 6.495 6.69 6.854 7.005
5.108 5.374 5.586 5.922 6.136 6.407 6.605 6.769 6.921
5.034 5.3 5.513 5.85 6.115 6.337 6.539 6.703 6.856
 Pressure, bar, absolute Enthalpy-Pressure Diagram for Air

10

nthalpy Data Table

1
0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350 400
Enthalpy, kJ/kg

hese values together

al enthalpy of
ression

Interpolation

Constant Temperature
2000 2500 298.15 416.4657 303.15 416.02 303.15 394.24
Enthalpy Enthalpy Enthalpy Enthalpy Enthalpy Enthalpy Enthalpy Enthalpy
kJ/kg kJ/kg kJ/kg kJ/kg kJ/kg kJ/kg kJ/kg kJ/kg
 2,279.0 3,011.0 298.4 418.0 303.5 417.6 303.5 395.4
2,278.0 2,981.0 297.5 417.7 302.6 417.2 302.6 394.9
2,279.0 2,974.0 296.4 417.1 301.5 416.7 301.5 394.3
2,279.0 2,970.0 294.1 416.1 299.3 415.6 299.3 393.2
2,281.0 2,969.0 289.7 414.2 295.0 413.7 295.0 391.0
2,284.0 2,969.0 283.5 411.6 289.1 411.1 289.1 387.8
2,285.0 2,971.0 281.6 410.7 287.2 410.2 287.2 386.9
2,288.0 2,972.0 277.7 409.0 283.5 408.6 283.5 385.0
2,294.0 2,977.0 269.5 405.6 275.5 405.1 275.5 381.0
2,299.0 2,982.0 263.1 403.0 269.3 402.5 269.3 377.8
2,304.0 2,988.0 258.3 401.0 264.7 400.5 264.7 375.5
2,310.0 2,993.0 255.2 399.8 261.7 399.3 261.7 374.0
2,321.0 3,004.0 252.3 399.2 258.9 398.7 258.9 373.0
2,332.0 3,015.0 252.9 400.7 259.5 400.2 259.5 374.2
2,343.0 3,026.0 255.6 403.7 262.2 403.2 262.2 377.1
2,365.0 3,049.0 264.8 413.3 271.4 412.8 271.4 386.6
2,386.0 3,071.0 277.1 424.7 283.5 424.2 283.5 398.0

2278.313 2990.383
2278.848 2975.064
2280.422 2964.044

Entropy Entropy Entropy Entropy Entropy Entropy Entropy Entropy

kJ/(kg-C) kJ/(kg-C) kJ/(kg-C) kJ/(kg-C) kJ/(kg-C) kJ/(kg-C) kJ/(kg-C) kJ/(kg-C)
8.983 9.308 6.865 7.199 6.881 7.198 6.881 7.145
8.52 8.832 6.400 6.736 6.416 6.735 6.416 6.682
8.321 8.63 6.198 6.535 6.214 6.534 6.214 6.481
8.121 8.428 5.991 6.332 6.008 6.331 6.008 6.279
7.922 8.229 5.779 6.128 5.796 6.127 5.796 6.074
7.806 8.112 5.650 6.006 5.668 6.005 5.668 5.951
7.723 8.029 5.555 5.917 5.573 5.916 5.573 5.861
7.659 7.964 5.479 5.847 5.497 5.846 5.497 5.790
7.543 7.848 5.335 5.717 5.354 5.716 5.354 5.659
7.46 7.765 5.230 5.622 5.250 5.621 5.250 5.563
7.396 7.701 5.147 5.548 5.167 5.547 5.167 5.488
7.344 7.648 5.079 5.485 5.100 5.484 5.100 5.425
7.261 7.566 4.974 5.387 4.995 5.386 4.995 5.325
7.196 7.501 4.896 5.310 4.917 5.309 4.917 5.248
7.144 7.449 4.833 5.249 4.855 5.247 4.855 5.186
7.06 7.366 4.736 5.152 4.757 5.151 4.757 5.089
6.995 7.302 4.664 5.078 4.684 5.077 4.684 5.015

Temperature 5 8 6 8 6 7
Interpolation 0.9075 0.164657 0.063 0.1602 0.063 0.884837
or Air

300 350 400 450

Interpolation

Constant Entropy
303.15 6.860 6.880 6.561 6.564 6.245 6.20
Enthalpy Enthalpy Enthalpy Enthalpy Enthalpy Enthalpy Enthalpy
kJ/kg kJ/kg kJ/kg kJ/kg kJ/kg kJ/kg kJ/kg
 303.5 297.2 303.4 220.3 221.0 #N/A #N/A
302.6 473.4 482.4 349.4 350.5 254.5 242.3
301.5 576.2 587.2 428.9 430.3 311.5 295.8
299.3 707.3 721.3 524.5 526.1 380.2 361.7
295.0 854.5 872.5 639.2 641.3 466.3 444.2
289.1 960.7 978.8 722.0 724.2 523.9 497.6
287.2 1036.2 1054.9 781.3 783.5 570.3 543.3
283.5 1105.6 1127.8 827.9 830.6 607.0 579.9
275.5 1239.7 1261.9 937.4 940.2 692.6 658.3
269.3 1343.0 1368.7 1016.8 1019.6 754.4 720.1
264.7 1430.6 1456.5 1083.2 1086.6 803.4 769.1
261.7 1502.8 1528.6 1146.0 1149.4 847.6 810.3
258.9 1632.4 1663.4 1247.8 1251.2 931.5 887.3
259.5 1742.0 1773.1 1332.2 1336.1 999.5 955.2
262.2 1834.7 1868.9 1408.9 1412.8 1056.5 1012.4
271.4 1998.4 2032.5 1533.5 1537.3 1196.2 1152.2
283.5 2129.2 2167.6 1640.9 1645.8 1255.0 1201.1

Entropy Temperature
kJ/(kg-C) deg K deg K deg K deg K deg K deg K
6.881 296.90 303.05 220.52 221.22 #N/A #N/A
6.416 470.88 479.68 349.46 350.51 255.76 243.73
6.214 570.17 580.77 427.95 429.29 312.93 297.52
6.008 692.81 705.77 521.07 522.64 381.60 363.62
5.796 827.34 843.40 629.77 631.75 466.35 445.20
5.668 920.89 936.88 705.95 707.93 521.96 497.15
5.573 986.81 1,003.27 759.93 761.90 565.95 540.67
5.497 1,045.58 1,064.59 801.81 804.25 600.38 575.16
5.354 1,157.10 1,176.03 896.29 898.72 677.73 646.73
5.250 1,240.98 1,262.53 963.36 965.78 732.25 701.44
5.167 1,310.50 1,332.05 1,017.94 1,020.81 774.36 743.84
5.100 1,367.36 1,388.79 1,068.18 1,071.05 811.31 778.59
4.995 1,463.80 1,488.37 1,147.73 1,150.58 879.22 841.16
4.917 1,543.07 1,567.64 1,211.70 1,214.90 932.26 894.49
4.855 1,608.37 1,635.06 1,267.99 1,271.15 975.36 937.88
4.757 1,720.15 1,746.67 1,355.85 1,358.96 1,080.14 1,043.77
4.684 1,806.21 1,835.20 1,427.18 1,430.94 1,116.75 1,072.35

6
0.063