Compressors

Compressors and Their Types

To reduce the volume of gas increasing pressure, compressor is a mechanical device, composed of aluminum alloy: is available in different modes and costs according to their efficiency and most commonly use in appliances like refrigerators, air conditioners, air tanks etc. having the ability to compress gases and liquids as well.

Primarily used in oil refineries, natural gas processing, chemical and petrochemical plants Centrifugal compressors boasts up the velocity of gas and changes gas velocity into pressure velocity taking the energy from 100 horsepower to 1000 hp for its applications and giving an output that can have pressure greater than 10,000 psi. Also are used in small gas turbine engines and snow making maneuvers by ski resorts. Similar with centrifugal compressors but having lower diameter diffuser Diagonal compressors are yet another version of compressors used in different machines.

Scott Hix vice president of product engineering at Bristol compressors, Inc. maintains that no one single compression solution is optimal for all types of applications, he recommends reciprocating processors for 305 tons applications but in larger tonnage systems his preference is for scroll compressors. Where reciprocating compressors are operated by electric motors and internal combustion engines and in automotive applications small reciprocating compressors from 5 to 30 hp are used while in large applications of industry large reciprocating compressors were the first priority of the users but now their place has been over took by more advanced compressors.

Rotary screw compressors, according to one manufacturer have become most popular among industrial applications to compress air because of their low horsepower rating and chiefly because of their continuous duty cycle for 24/7/365 making them an incredible mechanical device. Using one or more than one screw, an inlet valve in these compressors allow free air into the screwing housing, forming a vacuum when this screw housing rotates, it compresses the air. Rotary vane compressors are one of the primordial compressor technologies reducing the volume and achieving pressure up to 13 bar in a single stage, this type of compressors is used in electric motor drive. Membrane also known as diaphragm compressors used for Compressed Natural Gas(CNG) and hydrogen is a modification of conventional reciprocating compressors, yet with the dissimilarity that where a reciprocating compressor compress air or gas using an ingestion element Membrane compressors condensed gas with the movement of flexible membrane.

For to work in an efficient way, oil level in a compressor should be checked on and off, every manufacturer’s manual contains the procedure of checking oil level of your compressor, usually the procedure demands to attach a gauge to suction valves, to pump down the system closing the valves making compressor isolated and measuring the oil level by removing oil filter plug. Whenever a compressor knocks, you may have to disassemble it in order to doctor it and to determine the cause which can be a loose connecting rod, piston pin, sometimes the high level of oil in compressors become the knocking cause so for the efficiency of a compressor you also need to check the oil level of your compressors.

Compressors usually do produce noise level harmful for workers but rotary screw compressors boast a lower noise output as compare to other types, now ultra silent compressors have also made it possible to have a quite atmosphere. Oil free compressors have been introduced in the market by various companies making it easy for the user not to check oil level again and again to avoid the compressor to be failed or breakdown.