POWER PLANT LAB ME-306(L)

DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

UNIVERSITY OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY, PESHAWAR

Lab Report # 7:
Introduction to reciprocating air
compressor.

Objectives:
i. To understand the working and relevant theory of reciprocating compressor.

Theoretical Background:
Compressor:
A Device in which pressure of gas is increased to desired value with the help of some
mechanical input.

Applications:
 For filling air in tube vehicles
 For cleaning purposes
 For spraying paints
 In air conditioning
 In gas Power plant

FRIDAY, MARCH 16, 2018

 POWER PLANT LAB ME-306(L)
DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
UNIVERSITY OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY, PESHAWAR

Types of Compressors:

Compressor

Interminet Continuous flow

Compressor Compressor
(Non-Positive
(Positive Displacment)
Compressor)

Reciprocating Centrifugal

Rotory Axial

Positive Displacement:
It is type of compressor in which air is physically trapped between moving parts, thereby
decreasing its volume and hence increasing the pressure.

NON-Positive displacement Compressor:

In this type of compressor rotary element (impeller) impart kinetic energy to gas by
centrifugal force and then that kinetic energy is converted to high pressure of gas through
volute casings (diffusers).

Comparison:
Positive:
 Low flow rate.
 High delivery pressure.

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 POWER PLANT LAB ME-306(L)
DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
UNIVERSITY OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY, PESHAWAR

NON-Positive:
 High flowrate
 Relatively low delivery pressure

Reciprocatory Compressor:
Compression or pressure increase in this compressor is due to reciprocating poston.

Working Principle:

Types:
 Single Stage
 Multi Stage

Why we prefer Multi Stage:

We prefer Multi stage because of low work input.

 As in graph can be seen, Constant pressure line on TS diagram converges towards

origin.
 So, enthalpy required to achieve desired pressure in single and double stage is

H3 - H1 > (H2 - H1) + (H5 – H4)

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