TUTORIAL EXAMPLES in RECIPROCATING COMPRESSORS (SSL conditions: 15C ; 101.325 kPa) 1. A reciprocating air compressor induces 5.

65 x 10-3 m of air per cycle at SSL conditions. If the delivery pressure is 620 kPa, calculate the work transfer per cycle if the compression and expansion processes are:(a) reversible polytropic, n = 1.2. (b) reversible adiabatic. [1.210, 1.359 kJ] Solution: Recips/recip comp 1.PDF 2. Air is to be compressed through a pressure ratio of 10:1 from SSL conditions. Find the power required for a free air delivery (FAD) of 0.05 m /s. Also find the rotational speed if the swept volume is 14.5 x 10-3 m . The clearance volume is 6 per cent of the swept volume, and n = 1.3 for compression and expansion. [15.2 kW, 293 RPM] Solution: Recips/recip comp 2.PDF 3. Air is compressed in a reciprocating compressor from SSL conditions to a pressure of 0.9 MPa in one stage. The polytropic index of compression and expansion is 1.3, and the clearance volume is 4 per cent of the swept volume. Calculate the work transfer per kg of air delivered and the heat transfer during compression and expansion per kg of air delivered. [ 234.7 kJ/kg, -58.7 kJ/kg del., 12.1 kJ/kg del.] Solution: Recips/recip comp 3.PDF 4. A single acting reciprocating compressor running at 240 RPM delivers 0.1 m/s FAD. Inlet conditions are SSL and the delivery pressure is 482 kPa. The clearance volume is 5 per cent of the swept volume and the compression and re-expansion processes are considered reversible and governed by the law pV1.2 = const. Calculate: (a) the swept volume; (b) the power required to drive the compressor if its mechanical efficiency is 85%; (c) the maximum pressure against which the compressor could theoretically operate. [0.0288 m , 21.2 kW, 3.86 MPa] Solution: Recips/recip comp 4.PDF

5. A single stage reciprocating air compressor is required to deliver 7 m /min FAD. The induction conditions are 95 kPa and 32 C. Delivery is at 0.7 MPa and the law for the compression and expansion processes is: pV1.3 = constant. If the clearance volume is 5% of the swept volume, calculate the indicated power and the volumetric efficiency based on SSL conditions. [31.8 kW; 72.4 %] Solution: Recips/recip comp 5.PDF 6. A three stage reciprocating air compressor has a free air delivery of 2.83 m/min based on SSL conditions. The induction pressure and temperature are 98 kPa and 32 C respectively. Calculate the ideal minimum indicated power (stating the assumptions required) for a delivery pressure of 7 MPa and an index of compression n = 1.3. What are the interstage pressures? [25.6 kW, 407 & 1687 kPa] Solution: Recips/recip comp 6.PDF 7. A four stage reciprocating compressor takes in air at 1 bar & 32 C and delivers it at 112 bar. The index of compression for each stage is 1.28 and intercooling is used so that the inlet temperature is the same for each stage. The pressure ratios are chosen to give equal work per stage. Determine the volume of air delivered (at SSL conditions) per kWh work input, and the air delivery temperature. [6.23 m/kWh, 122 C] Solution: Recips/recip comp 7.PDF