Air Compressor

Intekhab Alam
B.Sc (Hons.),ME,BUET
Lecturer, Primesia University
What is compressors?
 Compressor is a mechanical device that increases the
pressure of gas by reducing its volume.
 It uses mechanical work to take an amount of fluid and
deliver it at a required pressure.
 An efficient compressor increases pressure with minimum
work
 The amount of fluid is limited by the volume of the
compressor cylinder which is fixed.
Applications
 In a gas turbine or aircraft/jet engine
 In refrigeration and air-conditioning system

 Filling tires and energy storage system

 For pneumatic system ( Cleaning by compressed air,

Pneumatic drill, Paint spray)
 For medical purposes
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Air Compressor Types
Basic components of reciprocating compressor
Compression cylinder – provide confinement for
the process gas during compression.
Piston – moves through the cylinder in reciprocating
action to compress the gas.
Intake valve – to let the air to drawn into the cylinder.
Outlet valve – to let air out of the cylinder.
Crank shaft – connect to the motor to provide the
rotary motion.
Crank Rod– connect the crank and the piston –
provide the reciprocating ups and down movement.
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Process Diagram
Thermodynamics cycle and P-V diagram
4 - 1 Induction/intake process: Piston travel from TDC
to BDC. Induction valve opens. Air is induced into
the cylinder. Volume and mass increases ↑.
Pressure and temperature is constant during this
process at P1, T1.
1- 2 Compression process:
Piston travel from BDC to TDC. Inlet valve closes.
Piston compresses air. Volume decreases, pressure
rises until P2 at (2).Temperature also increases.
2- 3 Delivery process:
Delivery valve opens at pt (2). High pressure air
is delivered. Pressure and temperature is
constant during this process at P2 ,T2 .
Rotary Compressor
The air is compressed by the rotating action
of a roller inside a cylinder.
The roller rotates off-centre around a shaft
so that part of the roller is always in contact
with the cylinder.
 Volume of the air occupies is reduced and
the air is compressed.
High efficient as sucking and compressing
air occur simultaneously.