Compressors

Overview and Classification

Topics

Theory of gas compression

Construction and components
Selection criteria
Troubleshooting and maintenance

Compressor Function

Increase the pressure of a

compressible fluid (gas or vapour).
different types of compressors can
be divided into two groups
Intermittent (positive displacement)
Continuous or dynamic (centrifugal)

Theory

Real cycle

Compressible vs.
Incompressible

Incompressible when the density is

constant regardless of pressure
vaiation
Compressible when the density
varies with pressure variation

RECIPROCATING
COMPRESSOR

Compressor Head
Power frame

Small size

Large size

Construction

Components

Distance piece with sliding

crosshead

Cutaway view of packing

area

Water cooling

Air cooling

Oil-free piston compressor

Diaphragm Compressor

Loob Compressor

Roots blower
Rotary motion
Positive
displacement

Sliding vane

Screw compressor

Screw compressor

screw rotors

Principles of compression in
double helical screw
compressors

Oil injected Screw

Compressor

Oil-Free screw compressor

OIL-FREE VERSUS OIL-FLOODED

TWIN-SCREW COMPRESSORS

oil-free refers to not having oil in

the compression space
With timing gears, the machine is
defined as a dry-screw machine.
Without timing gears, it cannot
function as a dry-screw machine,
because the resulting contact of
mating rotors would destroy the
machine

Atlas Copco GA 110-250

Brochure

USER MANUAL

Dynamic Compressors

Axial flow

Axial flow compressors

Centrifugal flow

Impeller types

Centrifugal Compressors

Vane inlet angle

Multi stage centrifugal

compressor

Multistage compression

Combined axial-centrifugal
turbocompressor

blower

High volume flow rate

DP > atm

Blower

Fan

Low pressure ratio

Increased air velocity

Fan

Nomenclature

Compressor
Fan
Blower

Performance curve

Application ranges of
compressor types

Flow rate restrictions

Positive-displacement machines do
not have a surge limitation, which is to
say, there is no minimum throughput
requirement for these compressors.
In this, they differ from centrifugal
compressors that cannot be operated
below a certain minimum throughput
volume