Compressor

A compressor is a mechanical device t hat increases t he pressure of a gas by reducing it s volume.

An air compressor is a specific t ype of gas compressor.

A small stationary high pressure breathing

air compressor for filling scuba cylinders

A powerful compressor for street work.

Model XASS from Atlas Copco circa 1985.

Natural gas compressor at a gas well

 High pressure reciprocating compressor
from Belliss and Morcom, used in the
bottling industry

Many compressors can be st aged, t hat is, t he gas is compressed several t imes in st eps or st ages,
t o increase discharge pressure. Oft en, t he second st age is physically smaller t han t he primary st age,
t o accommodat e t he already compressed gas wit hout reducing it s pressure. Each st age furt her
compresses t he gas and increases it s pressure and also t emperat ure (if int er cooling bet ween
st ages is not used).

Types

Compressors are similar t o pumps: bot h increase t he pressure on a fluid (such as a gas) and bot h can
t ransport t he fluid t hrough a pipe. The main dist inct ion is t hat t he focus of a compressor is t o
change t he densit y or volume of t he fluid, which is most ly only achievable on gases. Gases are
compressible, while liquids are relat ively incompressible, so compressors are rarely used for liquids.
The main act ion of a pump is t o pressurize and t ransport liquids.

The main and import ant t ypes of gas compressors are illust rat ed and discussed below:
Positive displacement

A posit ive displacement compressor is a syst em t hat compresses t he air by t he displacement of a

mechanical linkage reducing t he volume (since t he reduct ion in volume due t o a pist on in
t hermodynamics is considered as posit ive displacement of t he pist on).

Put anot her way, a posit ive displacement compressor is one t hat operat es by drawing in a discret e
volume of gas from it s inlet t hen forcing t hat gas t o exit via t he compressor's out let . The increase in
t he pressure of t he gas is due, at least in part , t o t he compressor pumping it at a mass flow rat e
which cannot pass t hrough t he out let at t he lower pressure and densit y of t he inlet .

Reciprocating compressors

A motor-driven six-cylinder reciprocating

compressor that can operate with two, four
or six cylinders.

Reciprocating compressors use pist ons driven by a crankshaft . They can be eit her st at ionary or
port able, can be single or mult i-st aged, and can be driven by elect ric mot ors or int ernal combust ion
engines.[1][2][3] Small reciprocat ing compressors from 5 t o 30 horsepower (hp) are commonly seen in
aut omot ive applicat ions and are t ypically for int ermit t ent dut y. Larger reciprocat ing compressors
well over 1,000 hp (750 kW) are commonly found in large indust rial and pet roleum applicat ions.
Discharge pressures can range from low pressure t o very high pressure (>18000 psi or 124 MPa). In
cert ain applicat ions, such as air compression, mult i-st age double-act ing compressors are said t o be
t he most efficient compressors available, and are t ypically larger, and more cost ly t han comparable
rot ary unit s.[4] Anot her t ype of reciprocat ing compressor, usually employed in aut omot ive cabin air
condit ioning syst ems, is t he swash plat e or wobble plat e compressor, which uses pist ons moved by
a swash plat e mount ed on a shaft (see axial piston pump).

Household, home workshop, and smaller job sit e compressors are t ypically reciprocat ing
compressors 1.5 hp (1.1 kW) or less wit h an at t ached receiver t ank.
A linear compressor is a reciprocat ing compressor wit h t he pist on being t he rot or of a linear mot or.

This t ype of compressor can compress a wide range of gases, including refrigerant , hydrogen, and
nat ural gas. Because of t his, it finds use in a wide range of applicat ions in many different indust ries
and can be designed t o a wide range of capacit ies, by varying size, number of cylinders, and cylinder
unloading. However, it suffers from higher losses due t o clearance volumes, resist ance due t o
discharge and suct ion valves, weighs more, is difficult t o maint ain due t o having a large number of
moving part s, and it has inherent vibrat ion.[5]

Ionic liquid piston compressor

An ionic liquid pist on compressor, ionic compressor or ionic liquid piston pump is a hydrogen
compressor based on an ionic liquid pist on inst ead of a met al pist on as in a pist on-met al diaphragm
compressor.

Rotary screw compressors

a Diagram of a rotary screw compressor

Rotary screw compressors use t wo meshed rot at ing posit ive-displacement helical screws t o
force t he gas int o a smaller space.[1][6][7] These are usually used for cont inuous operat ion in
commercial and indust rial applicat ions and may be eit her st at ionary or port able. Their applicat ion can
be from 3 horsepower (2.2 kW) t o over 1,200 horsepower (890 kW) and from low pressure t o
moderat ely high pressure (>1,200 psi or 8.3 MPa).

The classificat ions of rot ary screw compressors vary based on st ages, cooling met hods, and drive
t ypes among ot hers.[8] Rot ary screw compressors are commercially produced in Oil Flooded, Wat er
Flooded and Dry t ype. The efficiency of rot ary compressors depends on t he air drier, and t he
select ion of air drier is always 1.5 t imes volumet ric delivery of t he compressor.[9]

Designs wit h a single screw[10] or t hree screws[11] inst ead of t wo exist .

Screw compressors have fewer moving component s, larger capacit y, less vibrat ion and surging, can
operat e at variable speeds, and t ypically have higher efficiency. Small sizes or low rot or speeds are
not pract ical due t o inherent leaks caused by clearance bet ween t he compression cavit ies or
screws and compressor housing.[5] They depend on fine machining t olerances t o avoid high leakage
losses and are prone t o damage if operat ed incorrect ly or poorly serviced.

Rotary vane compressors

Eccentric rotary-vane pump

Rotary vane compressors consist of a rot or wit h a number of blades insert ed in radial slot s in t he
rot or. The rot or is mount ed offset in a larger housing t hat is eit her circular or a more complex shape.
As t he rot or t urns, blades slide in and out of t he slot s keeping cont act wit h t he out er wall of t he
housing.[1] Thus, a series of increasing and decreasing volumes is creat ed by t he rot at ing blades.
Rot ary vane compressors are, wit h pist on compressors one of t he oldest of compressor
t echnologies.

Wit h suit able port connect ions, t he devices may be eit her a compressor or a vacuum pump. They
can be eit her st at ionary or port able, can be single or mult i-st aged, and can be driven by elect ric
mot ors or int ernal combust ion engines. Dry vane machines are used at relat ively low pressures (e.g.,
2 bar or 200 kPa or 29 psi) for bulk mat erial movement while oil-inject ed machines have t he
necessary volumet ric efficiency t o achieve pressures up t o about 13 bar (1,300 kPa; 190 psi) in a
single st age. A rot ary vane compressor is well suit ed t o elect ric mot or drive and is significant ly
quiet er in operat ion t han t he equivalent pist on compressor.

Rot ary vane compressors can have mechanical efficiencies of about 90%.[12]
Rolling piston

Rolling piston compressor

The Rolling pist on in a rolling pist on st yle compressor plays t he part of a part it ion bet ween t he vane
and t he rot or.[13] Rolling pist on forces gas against a st at ionary vane.

Two of t hese compressors can be mount ed on t he same shaft t o increase capacit y and reduce
vibrat ion and noise.[14] A design wit hout a spring is known as a swing compressor.[15]

In refrigerat ion and air condit ioning, t his t ype of compressor is also known as a rot ary compressor,
wit h rot ary screw compressors being also known simply as screw compressors.

It offers higher efficiency t han reciprocat ing compressors due t o less losses from t he clearance
volume bet ween t he pist on and t he compressor casing, it 's 40% t o 50% smaller and light er for a
given capacit y (which can impact mat erial and shipping cost s when used in a product ), causes less
vibrat ion, has fewer component s and is more reliable t han a reciprocat ing compressor. But it s
st ruct ure does not allow capacit ies beyond 5 refrigerat ion t ons, is less reliable t han ot her
compressor t ypes, and is less efficient t han ot her compressor t ypes due t o losses from t he
clearance volume.[5]

Scroll compressors

Mechanism of a scroll
pump
A scroll compressor , also known as scroll pump and scroll vacuum pump, uses t wo int erleaved
spiral-like vanes t o pump or compress fluids such as liquids and gases. The vane geomet ry may be
involut e, archimedean spiral, or hybrid curves.[16][17][18] They operat e more smoot hly, quiet ly, and
reliably t han ot her t ypes of compressors in t he lower volume range.

Oft en, one of t he scrolls is fixed, while t he ot her orbit s eccent rically wit hout rot at ing, t hereby
t rapping and pumping or compressing pocket s of fluid bet ween t he scrolls.

Due t o minimum clearance volume bet ween t he fixed scroll and t he orbit ing scroll, t hese
compressors have a very high volumet ric efficiency.

These compressors are ext ensively used in air condit ioning and refrigerat ion because t hey are
light er, smaller and have fewer moving part s t han reciprocat ing compressors and t hey are also more
reliable. They are more expensive t hough, so pelt ier coolers or rot ary and reciprocat ing compressors
may be used in applicat ions where cost is t he most import ant or one of t he most import ant fact ors
t o consider when designing a refrigerat ion or air condit ioning syst em.

This t ype of compressor was used as t he supercharger on Volkswagen G60 and G40 engines in t he
early 1990s.

When compared wit h reciprocat ing and rolling pist on compressors, scroll compressors are more
reliable since t hey have fewer component s and have a simpler st ruct ure, are more efficient since
t hey have no clearance volume nor valves, and possess t he advant ages bot h of surging less and not
vibrat ing so much. But , when compared wit h screw and cent rifugal compressors, scroll compressors
have lower efficiencies and smaller capacit ies.[5]

Diaphragm compressors

A diaphragm compressor (also known as a membrane compressor ) is a variant of t he

convent ional reciprocat ing compressor. The compression of gas occurs by t he movement of a
flexible membrane, inst ead of an int ake element . The back-and-fort h movement of t he membrane is
driven by a rod and a crankshaft mechanism. Only t he membrane and t he compressor box come in
cont act wit h t he gas being compressed.[1]

The degree of flexing and t he mat erial const it ut ing t he diaphragm affect s t he maint enance life of
t he equipment . Generally st iff met al diaphragms may only displace a few cubic cent imet ers of
volume because t he met al cannot endure large degrees of flexing wit hout cracking, but t he
st iffness of a met al diaphragm allows it t o pump at high pressures. Rubber or silicone diaphragms are
capable of enduring deep pumping st rokes of very high flexion, but t heir low st rengt h limit s t heir use
t o low-pressure applicat ions, and t hey need t o be replaced as plast ic embrit t lement occurs.
Diaphragm compressors are used for hydrogen and compressed nat ural gas (CNG) as well as in a
number of ot her applicat ions.

A three-stage diaphragm compressor

The phot ograph on t he right depict s a t hree-st age diaphragm compressor used t o compress
hydrogen gas t o 6,000 psi (41 MPa) for use in a prot ot ype compressed hydrogen and compressed
nat ural gas (CNG) fueling st at ion built in downt own Phoenix, Arizona by t he Arizona Public Service
company (an elect ric ut ilit ies company). Reciprocat ing compressors were used t o compress t he
nat ural gas. The reciprocat ing nat ural gas compressor was developed by Sert co.[19]

The prot ot ype alt ernat ive fueling st at ion was built in compliance wit h all of t he prevailing safet y,
environment al and building codes in Phoenix t o demonst rat e t hat such fueling st at ions could be built
in urban areas.

Dynamic

Air bubble compressor

Also known as a t rompe. A mixt ure of air and wat er generat ed t hrough t urbulence is allowed t o fall
int o a subt erranean chamber where t he air separat es from t he wat er. The weight of falling wat er
compresses t he air in t he t op of t he chamber. A submerged out let from t he chamber allows wat er
t o flow t o t he surface at a lower height t han t he int ake. An out let in t he roof of t he chamber
supplies t he compressed air t o t he surface. A facilit y on t his principle was built on t he Mont real
River at Ragged Shut es near Cobalt , Ont ario in 1910 and supplied 5,000 horsepower t o nearby
mines.[20]
Centrifugal compressors

A single stage centrifugal

compressor

A single stage centrifugal compressor,

early 1900s, G. Schiele & Co., Frankfurt am
Main

Centrifugal compressors use a rot at ing disk or impeller in a shaped housing t o force t he gas t o
t he rim of t he impeller, increasing t he velocit y of t he gas. A diffuser (divergent duct ) sect ion
convert s t he velocit y energy t o pressure energy. They are primarily used for cont inuous, st at ionary
service in indust ries such as oil refineries, chemical and pet rochemical plant s and nat ural gas
processing plant s.[1][21][22] Their applicat ion can be from 100 horsepower (75 kW) t o t housands of
horsepower. Wit h mult iple st aging, t hey can achieve high out put pressures great er t han 1,000 psi
(6.9 MPa).

This t ype of compressor, along wit h screw compressors, are ext ensively used in large refrigerat ion
and air condit ioning syst ems. Magnet ic bearing (magnet ically levit at ed) and air bearing cent rifugal
compressors exist .

Many large snowmaking operat ions (like ski resort s) use t his t ype of compressor. They are also used
in int ernal combust ion engines as superchargers and t urbochargers. Cent rifugal compressors are
used in small gas t urbine engines or as t he final compression st age of medium-sized gas t urbines.

Cent rifugal compressors are t he largest available compressors, offer higher efficiencies under part ial
loads, may be oil-free when using air or magnet ic bearings which increases t he heat t ransfer
coefficient in evaporat ors and condensers, weigh up t o 90% less and occupy 50% less space t han
reciprocat ing compressors, are reliable and cost less t o maint ain since less component s are
exposed t o wear, and only generat e minimal vibrat ion. But , t heir init ial cost is higher, require highly
precise CNC machining, t he impeller needs t o rot at e at high speeds making small compressors
impract ical, and surging becomes more likely.[5] Surging is gas flow reversal, meaning t hat t he gas
goes from t he discharge t o t he suct ion side, which can cause serious damage, specially in t he
compressor bearings and it s drive shaft . It is caused by a pressure on t he discharge side t hat is
higher t han t he out put pressure of t he compressor. This can cause gases t o flow back and fort h
bet ween t he compressor and what ever is connect ed t o it s discharge line, causing oscillat ions.[5]

Diagonal or mixed-flow compressors

Diagonal or mixed-flow compressors are similar t o cent rifugal compressors, but have a radial and
axial velocit y component at t he exit from t he rot or. The diffuser is oft en used t o t urn diagonal flow
t o an axial rat her t han radial direct ion.[23] Comparat ive t o t he convent ional cent rifugal compressor
(of t he same st age pressure rat io), t he value of t he speed of t he mixed flow compressor is 1.5 t imes
larger.[24]

Axial compressors

An animation of an axial compressor.

Axial compressors are dynamic rot at ing compressors t hat use arrays of fan-like airfoils t o
progressively compress a fluid. They are used where high flow rat es or a compact design are
required.

The arrays of airfoils are set in rows, usually as pairs: one rot at ing and one st at ionary. The rot at ing
airfoils, also known as blades or rotors , accelerat e t he fluid. The st at ionary airfoils, also known as
stators or vanes, decelerat e and redirect t he flow direct ion of t he fluid, preparing it for t he rot or
blades of t he next st age.[1] Axial compressors are almost always mult i-st aged, wit h t he cross-
sect ional area of t he gas passage diminishing along t he compressor t o maint ain an opt imum axial
Mach number. Beyond about 5 st ages or a 4:1 design pressure rat io a compressor will not funct ion
unless fit t ed wit h feat ures such as st at ionary vanes wit h variable angles (known as variable inlet
guide vanes and variable st at ors), t he abilit y t o allow some air t o escape part -way along t he
compressor (known as int erst age bleed) and being split int o more t han one rot at ing assembly
(known as t win spools, for example).

Axial compressors can have high efficiencies; around 90% polyt ropic at t heir design condit ions.
However, t hey are relat ively expensive, requiring a large number of component s, t ight t olerances and
high qualit y mat erials. Axial compressors are used in medium t o large gas t urbine engines, nat ural gas
pumping st at ions, and some chemical plant s.

Hermetically sealed, open, or semi-hermetic

A small hermetically sealed compressor in

a common consumer refrigerator or freezer
typically has a rounded steel outer shell
permanently welded shut, which seals
operating gases inside the system, in this
case an R600a refrigerant. There is no
route for gases to leak, such as around
motor shaft seals. On this model, the
plastic top section is part of an auto-
defrost system that uses motor heat to
evaporate the water.

Compressors used in refrigerat ion syst ems must exhibit near-zero leakage t o avoid t he loss of t he
refrigerant if t hey are t o funct ion for years wit hout service. This necessit at es t he use of very
effect ive seals, or even t he eliminat ion of all seals and openings t o form a hermet ic syst em. These
compressors are oft en described as being eit her hermetic , open, or semi-hermetic , t o describe
how t he compressor is enclosed and how t he mot or drive is sit uat ed in relat ion t o t he gas or vapor
being compressed. Some compressors out side of refrigerat ion service may also be hermet ically
sealed t o some ext ent , t ypically when handling t oxic, pollut ing, or expensive gasses, wit h most non-
refrigerat ion applicat ions being in t he pet rochemical indust ry.

In hermet ic and most semi-hermet ic compressors, t he compressor and mot or driving t he

compressor are int egrat ed, and operat e wit hin t he pressurized gas envelope of t he syst em. The
mot or is designed t o operat e in, and be cooled by, t he refrigerant gas being compressed. Open
compressors have an ext ernal mot or driving a shaft t hat passes t hrough t he body of t he
compressor and rely on rot ary seals around t he shaft t o ret ain t he int ernal pressure.

The difference bet ween t he hermet ic and semi-hermet ic, is t hat t he hermet ic uses a one-piece
welded st eel casing t hat cannot be opened for repair; if t he hermet ic fails it is simply replaced wit h
an ent ire new unit . A semi-hermet ic uses a large cast met al shell wit h gasket ed covers wit h screws
t hat can be opened t o replace mot or and compressor component s. The primary advant age of a
hermet ic and semi-hermet ic is t hat t here is no rout e for t he gas t o leak out of t he syst em. The main
advant ages of open compressors is t hat t hey can be driven by any mot ive power source, allowing
t he most appropriat e mot or t o be select ed for t he applicat ion, or even non-elect ric power sources
such as an int ernal combust ion engine or st eam t urbine, and secondly t he mot or of an open
compressor can be serviced wit hout opening any part of t he refrigerant syst em.

An open pressurized syst em such as an aut omobile air condit ioner can be more suscept ible t o leak
it s operat ing gases. Open syst ems rely on lubricant in t he syst em t o splash on pump component s
and seals. If it is not operat ed frequent ly enough, t he lubricant on t he seals slowly evaporat es, and
t hen t he seals begin t o leak unt il t he syst em is no longer funct ional and must be recharged. By
comparison, a hermet ic or semi-hermet ic syst em can sit unused for years, and can usually be st art ed
up again at any t ime wit hout requiring maint enance or experiencing any loss of syst em pressure.
Even well lubricat ed seals will leak a small amount of gas over t ime, part icularly if t he refrigerat ion
gasses are soluble in t he lubricat ing oil, but if t he seals are well manufact ured and maint ained t his
loss is very low.

The disadvant age of hermet ic compressors is t hat t he mot or drive cannot be repaired or maint ained,
and t he ent ire compressor must be replaced if a mot or fails. A furt her disadvant age is t hat burnt -out
windings can cont aminat e t he whole syst ems, t hereby requiring t he syst em t o be ent irely pumped
down and t he gas replaced (This can also happen in semi hermet ic compressors where t he mot or
operat es in t he refrigerant ). Typically, hermet ic compressors are used in low-cost fact ory-
assembled consumer goods where t he cost of repair and labor is high compared t o t he value of t he
device, and it would be more economical t o just purchase a new device or compressor. Semi-
hermet ic compressors are used in mid-sized t o large refrigerat ion and air condit ioning syst ems,
where it is cheaper t o repair and/or refurbish t he compressor compared t o t he price of a new one. A
hermet ic compressor is simpler and cheaper t o build t han a semi-hermet ic or open compressor.
Thermodynamics of gas compression

Isentropic compressor

A compressor can be idealized as int ernally reversible and adiabat ic, t hus an isent ropic st eady st at e
device, meaning t he change in ent ropy is 0.[25]

The ent halpy change for a flow process can be calculat ed.[26]

dH = VdP +TdS

Isent ropic dS is zero.

dH = VdP

Non flow isent ropic processes like some posit ive displacement compressors may use a different
equat ion.[27]

dH = PdV

By defining t he compression cycle as isent ropic, an ideal efficiency for t he process can be at t ained,
and t he ideal compressor performance can be compared t o t he act ual performance of t he machine.
Isot ropic Compression as used in ASME PTC 10 Code refers t o a reversible, adiabat ic compression
process[28]

Isent ropic efficiency of Compressors:

is t he ent halpy at t he init ial st at e

is t he ent halpy at t he final st at e for t he act ual process
is t he ent halpy at t he final st at e for t he isent ropic process

Minimizing work required by a compressor

Comparing reversible to irreversible compressors

Comparison of t he different ial form of t he energy balance for each device.

Let be heat , be work, be kinet ic energy, and be pot ent ial energy.
Act ual Compressor:

Furt hermore, and T is [absolut e t emperat ure] ( ) which produces:

or

Therefore, work-consuming devices such as pumps and compressors (work is negat ive) require less
work when t hey operat e reversibly.[25]

Effect of cooling during the compression process

P-v (Specific volume vs. Pressure) diagram

comparing isentropic, polytropic, and
isothermal processes between the same
pressure limits.

isent ropic process: involves no cooling,

polyt ropic process: involves some cooling
isot hermal process: involves maximum cooling

By making t he following assumpt ions t he required work for t he compressor t o compress a gas from
to is t he following for each process:
 and

Flow processes VdP

All processes are int ernally reversible
The gas behaves like an ideal gas wit h const ant specific heat s

Isent ropic ( , where ):

Polyt ropic ( ):

Isot hermal ( or ):

By comparing t he t hree int ernally reversible processes compressing an ideal gas from to , t he
result s show t hat isent ropic compression ( ) requires t he most work in and t he
isot hermal compression( or ) requires t he least amount of work in.
For t he polyt ropic process ( ) work decreases as t he exponent , n, decreases, by
increasing t he heat reject ion during t he compression process. One common way of cooling t he gas
during compression is t o use cooling jacket s around t he casing of t he compressor.[25]

Compressors in ideal thermodynamic cycles

Ideal Rankine Cycle 1->2 Isent ropic compression in a pump

Ideal Carnot Cycle 4->1 Isent ropic compression
Ideal Ot t o Cycle 1->2 Isent ropic compression
Ideal Diesel Cycle 1->2 Isent ropic compression
Ideal Brayt on Cycle 1->2 Isent ropic compression in a compressor
Ideal Vapor-compression refrigerat ion Cycle 1->2 Isent ropic compression in a compressor
NOTE: The isent ropic assumpt ions are only applicable wit h ideal cycles. Real world cycles have
inherent losses due t o inefficient compressors and t urbines. The real world syst em are not t ruly
isent ropic but are rat her idealized as isent ropic for calculat ion purposes.

Temperature

Compression of a gas increases it s t emperat ure.

For a polyt ropic t ransformat ion of a gas:

The work done for polyt ropic compression (or expansion) of a gas int o a closed cylinder.

so

in which p is pressure, V is volume, n t akes different values for different compression processes
(see below), and 1 & 2 refer t o init ial and final st at es.

Adiabat ic – This model assumes t hat no energy (heat ) is t ransferred t o or from t he gas during t he
compression, and all supplied work is added t o t he int ernal energy of t he gas, result ing in increases
of t emperat ure and pressure. Theoret ical t emperat ure rise is:[29]

wit h T1 and T2 in degrees Rankine or kelvins, p2 and p1 being absolut e pressures and rat io of
specific heat s (approximat ely 1.4 for air). The rise in air and t emperat ure rat io means compression
does not follow a simple pressure t o volume rat io. This is less efficient , but quick. Adiabat ic
compression or expansion more closely model real life when a compressor has good insulat ion, a
large gas volume, or a short t ime scale (i.e., a high power level). In pract ice t here will always be a
cert ain amount of heat flow out of t he compressed gas. Thus, making a perfect adiabat ic
compressor would require perfect heat insulat ion of all part s of t he machine. For example, even a
bicycle t ire pump's met al t ube becomes hot as you compress t he air t o fill a t ire. The relat ion
bet ween t emperat ure and compression rat io described above means t hat t he value of for an
adiabat ic process is (t he rat io of specific heat s).

Isot hermal – This model assumes t hat t he compressed gas remains at a const ant t emperat ure
t hroughout t he compression or expansion process. In t his cycle, int ernal energy is removed from
t he syst em as heat at t he same rat e t hat it is added by t he mechanical work of compression.
Isot hermal compression or expansion more closely models real life when t he compressor has a
large heat exchanging surface, a small gas volume, or a long t ime scale (i.e., a small power level).
Compressors t hat ut ilize int er-st age cooling bet ween compression st ages come closest t o
achieving perfect isot hermal compression. However, wit h pract ical devices perfect isot hermal
compression is not at t ainable. For example, unless you have an infinit e number of compression
st ages wit h corresponding int ercoolers, you will never achieve perfect isot hermal compression.

For an isot hermal process, is 1, so t he value of t he work int egral for an isot hermal process is:

When evaluat ed, t he isot hermal work is found t o be lower t han t he adiabat ic work.

Polyt ropic – This model t akes int o account bot h a rise in t emperat ure in t he gas as well as some
loss of energy (heat ) t o t he compressor's component s. This assumes t hat heat may ent er or
leave t he syst em, and t hat input shaft work can appear as bot h increased pressure (usually useful
work) and increased t emperat ure above adiabat ic (usually losses due t o cycle efficiency).
Compression efficiency is t hen t he rat io of t emperat ure rise at t heoret ical 100 percent (adiabat ic)
vs. act ual (polyt ropic). Polyt ropic compression will use a value of bet ween 0 (a const ant -
pressure process) and infinit y (a const ant volume process). For t he t ypical case where an effort is
made t o cool t he gas compressed by an approximat ely adiabat ic process, t he value of will be
bet ween 1 and .
Staged compression

In t he case of cent rifugal compressors, commercial designs current ly do not exceed a compression
rat io of more t han 3.5 t o 1 in any one st age (for a t ypical gas). Since compression raises t he
t emperat ure, t he compressed gas is t o be cooled bet ween st ages making t he compression less
adiabat ic and more isot hermal. The int er-st age coolers (int ercoolers) t ypically result in some part ial
condensat ion t hat is removed in vapor–liquid separat ors.

In t he case of small reciprocat ing compressors, t he compressor flywheel may drive a cooling fan
t hat direct s ambient air across t he int ercooler of a t wo or more st age compressor.

Because rot ary screw compressors can make use of cooling lubricant t o reduce t he t emperat ure
rise from compression, t hey very oft en exceed a 9 t o 1 compression rat io. For inst ance, in a t ypical
diving compressor t he air is compressed in t hree st ages. If each st age has a compression rat io of 7
t o 1, t he compressor can out put 343 t imes at mospheric pressure (7 × 7 × 7 = 343 at mospheres).
(343 at m or 34.8 MPa or 5.04 ksi)

Drive motors

There are many opt ions for t he mot or t hat powers t he compressor:

Gas t urbines power t he axial and cent rifugal flow compressors t hat are part of jet engines.

St eam t urbines or wat er t urbines are possible for large compressors.

Elect ric mot ors are cheap and quiet for st at ic compressors. Small mot ors suit able for domest ic
elect rical supplies use single-phase alt ernat ing current . Larger mot ors can only be used where an
indust rial elect rical t hree phase alt ernat ing current supply is available.

Diesel engines or pet rol engines are suit able for port able compressors and support compressors.

In aut omobiles and ot her t ypes of vehicles (including pist on-powered airplanes, boat s, t rucks,
et c.), diesel or gasoline engine's power out put can be increased by compressing t he int ake air, so
t hat more fuel can be burned per cycle. These engines can power compressors using t heir own
crankshaft power (t his set up known as a supercharger), or, use t heir exhaust gas t o drive a t urbine
connect ed t o t he compressor (t his set up known as a t urbocharger).
Lubrication

Compressors t hat are driven by an elect ric mot or can be cont rolled using a VFD or power invert er,
however many hermet ic and semi-hermet ic compressors can only work in a range of or at fixed
speeds, since t hey may include built -in oil pumps. The built -in oil pump is connect ed t o t he same
shaft t hat drives t he compressor, and forces oil int o t he compressor and mot or bearings. At low
speeds, insufficient quant it ies of oil reach t he bearings, event ually leading t o bearing failure, while at
high speeds, excessive amount s of oil may be lost from t he bearings and compressor and pot ent ially
int o t he discharge line due t o splashing. Event ually t he oil runs out and t he bearings are left
unlubricat ed, leading t o failure, and t he oil may cont aminat e t he refrigerant , air or ot her working
gas.[30]

Applications

Gas compressors are used in various applicat ions where eit her higher pressures or lower volumes of
gas are needed:

In pipeline t ransport of purified nat ural gas from t he product ion sit e t o t he consumer, a
compressor is driven by a mot or fueled by gas bled from t he pipeline. Thus, no ext ernal power
source is necessary.

In marit ime cargo t ransport and cargo operat ions by gas carriers.

Pet roleum refineries, nat ural gas processing plant s, pet rochemical and chemical plant s, and similar
large indust rial plant s require compressing for int ermediat e and end-product gases.

Refrigerat ion and air condit ioner equipment use compressors t o move heat in refrigerant cycles
(see vapor-compression refrigeration).

Gas t urbine syst ems compress t he int ake combust ion air.

Small-volume purified or manufact ured gases require compression t o fill high pressure cylinders
for medical, welding, and ot her uses.

Various indust rial, manufact uring, and building processes require compressed air t o power
pneumat ic t ools.

In t he manufact uring and blow moulding of PET plast ic bot t les and cont ainers.

Some aircraft require compressors t o maint ain cabin pressurizat ion at alt it ude.
 Some t ypes of jet engines—such as t urbojet s and t urbofans—compress t he air required for fuel
combust ion. The jet engine's t urbines power t he combust ion air compressor.

In underwat er diving, self-cont ained breat hing apparat us, hyperbaric oxygen t herapy, and ot her life
support equipment , compressors provide pressurised breat hing gas eit her direct ly or via high
pressure gas st orage cont ainers, such as diving cylinders.[31][32] In surface supplied diving, an air
compressor is generally used t o supply low pressure air (10 t o 20 bar) for breat hing.

Submarines use compressors t o st ore air for lat er use in displacing wat er from buoyancy
chambers t o adjust buoyancy.

Turbochargers and superchargers are compressors t hat increase int ernal combust ion engine
performance by increasing t he mass flow of air inside t he cylinder, so t he engine can burn more
fuel and hence produce more power.

Rail and heavy road t ransport vehicles use compressed air t o operat e rail vehicle or road vehicle
brakes—and various ot her syst ems (doors, windscreen wipers, engine, gearbox cont rol, et c.).

Service st at ions and aut o repair shops use compressed air t o fill pneumat ic t ires and power
pneumat ic t ools.

Fire pist ons and heat pumps exist t o heat air or ot her gasses, and compressing t he gas is only a
means t o t hat end.

Rot ary lobe compressors are oft en used t o provide air in pneumat ic conveying lines for powder or
solids. Pressure reached can range from 0.5 t o 2 bar g.[33]

Diving air compressor

in noise reduction
cabinet

See also

Media relat ed t o Compressors at Wikimedia Commons

Axial compressor – Machine for cont inuous flow gas compression

 Cabin pressurizat ion – Process t o maint ain int ernal air pressure in aircraft or spacecraft

Cent rifugal fan – Mechanical fan t hat forces fluid t o move radially out ward

Compressed air – Air under a pressure great er t han at mospheric

Compressed air dryer – Filt er syst ems t o reduce humidit y of compressed air

Elect rochemical hydrogen compressor

Fire pist on – Tool for kindling a fire

Foil bearing – Type of air bearing

Hot air engine – Ext ernal combust ion engine using air as t he working fluid

Guided-rot or compressor – Type of posit ive-displacement rot ary gas compressor

Hydrogen compressor – Device t o increase pressure of hydrogen gas

Linear compressor – Gas compressor where t he pist on is driven by a linear act uat or

Liquid-ring compressor – Type of rot at ing posit ive-displacement pump.

Hydride compressor – Hydrogen compressor based on absorpt ion and desorpt ion of hydrogen

Nat t erer compressor – Type of manually operat ed air compression machine

Pneumat ic cylinder – Mechanical device wit h compressed gas

Pneumat ic t ube – Compressed air or vacuum t ransport syst em

Reciprocat ing compressor – Device used t o pump gases at high pressure (pist on compressor)

Root s blower – A posit ive displacement lobe pump (a lobe-t ype compressor)

Slip fact or – Measure of t he fluid slip in t he impeller of a compressor or a t urbine

Trompe – Wat er-powered air compressor

Vapor-compression refrigerat ion – Refrigerat ion process

Pet ko Mukelov - Advanced Analog Sound Compressor Circuit Design - MSc. Diplom Work
Technical Universit y Of Sofia, 1984

Variable-speed air compressor – Air compressor using variable-speed drive t echnology

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