Air Compressors Summary
# The single-stage reciprocating compressor has a piston that moves downward during the suction stroke, expanding the air in the cylinder. The expanding air causes pressure in the cylinder to drop. When the pressure falls below the pressure on the other side of the inlet valve, the valve opens and allows air in until the pressure equalizes across the inlet valve. The piston bottoms out and then begins a compression stroke. The upward movement of the piston compresses the air in the cylinder, causing the pressure across the inlet valve to equalize and the inlet valve to reseat.
The piston continues to compress air during the remainder of the upward stroke until the cylinder pressure is great enough to open the discharge valve against the valve spring pressure. Once the discharge valve is open, the air compressed in the cylinder is discharged until the piston completes the stroke.
# The centrifugal force utilized by the centrifugal compressors is the same force utilized by the centrifugal pumps. The air particles enter the eye of the impeller. As the impeller rotates, air is thrown against the casing of the compressor. The air becomes compressed as more and more air is thrown out to the casing by the impeller blades. The air is pushed along the path on the inner wall of the casing. The pressure of the air is increased as it is pushed along this path. There could be several stages to a centrifugal air compressor just as in the centrifugal pump, resulting in higher pressure.
To be continued………………….
