Gas

Compression
Fundamentals

TERMINOLOGY
(Jargon)
Gas Compressor Industry Language

Compression

= The act of pressing or compacting

into a smaller space.
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Terminology
R/Rc =
ratio of compression
Ps/P1 =
suction pressure
Pd/P2 =
discharge pressure
Ts/T1 =
suction temperature
Td/T2 =
discharge temperature
Ta= ambient temperature
Hp
=
horse power
HE
=
head end
CE
=
crank end
VE
=
volumetric efficiency
K = ratio of specific heats of a
gas - a thermal dynamic value

particular natural

Terminology
Ratio of Compression (RC)
RC = Discharge Pressure(Pd)psig + 14.7 = ??? psia
Suction Pressure (Ps)psig + 14.7 = ??? psia

Note: Elevation or Barometric pressure must be taken into

account when figuring Rc.

Terminology
Finding Ratio of Compression (RC)
Example 1: Ps = 200 psig, Pd = 600 psig
Rc =

600 psig + 14.7 = 614.7 psia = 2.863

200 psig + 14.7 = 214.7 psia

Example 2: Ps = 20 psig, Pd = 600 psig

Rc =

600psig + 14.7 = 614.7psia = 17.7

20psig + 14.7 = 34.7psia

Note: If we had not converted to psia the ratio

would have been 30:1.
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Terminology
Finding Approximate HP Requirement:
To find the HP required for a single
stage unit (example 1):
Approximating HP Formula using
Example #1
HP = 21 x Rc x S x Q
Where:
HP
21
Rc
S
Q

= Horse Power
= Standard (Constant)
= Ratio Of Compression
= # of Stages
= Quantity in MMCFD

HP = 21 x 2.86 x 1 x 2 = 120.12 or 121

Terminology
Finding Approximate HP Requirement:
To find the HP required for a two
stage unit (example 2):
Take the square root of the ratio found earlier:
Rc = 17.71 = 4.20
HP = 21 x Rc x S x Q
HP = 21 X 4.2 X 2 X 1
HP = 176.4

Terminology
SA

= Single Acting - The act of

compressing on one end of the
compressor cylinder.

DA

= Double Acting - The act of

compressing on both ends of the
compressor cylinder.

Terminology
Clearance Volume = The volume remaining in the compressor
cylinder at the end of the discharge
stroke. Normally expressed as a % of
piston displacement.
Displacement

than
Normally
minute or

= Area of piston X length of stroke X # of

strokes per minute. For DA compressors,
the displacement on the CE is less
the HE due to the rod area.
expressed in cubic feet per
CFM.
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Terminology
Capacity

(or flow rate) Volume of gas compressed

and delivered at specified conditions of
temperature & pressure measured at the
compressor inlet. Usually expressed as
volume/unit of time - cubic feet per minute
or cubic feet per day.

Approach

30F approach means the cooler will cool

the gas to 130 when ambient
temperature is 100F.
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Terminology
Swept Volume
= The volume swept by the piston during the forward and/or
backward stroke.
= Compressor speed is not a factor.
= Normally expressed in cubic inches and calculated as
follows:
Swept Volume HE = Area of Piston X Stroke in Inches
Swept Volume CE = (Area of Piston - Area of Rod) X Stroke in Inches
Total Swept Volume = (2 X Area of Piston - Area of Rod) X Stroke In Inches

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Terminology
Total Swept Volume Example (DA):
6 Diameter x 7 Stroke
2.5 Piston Rod Diameter
Total Swept Volume = (2 X 28.274 - 4.909) X 7
= (56.548 - 4.909) X 7
= 51.639 X 7
= 361.473 cu. In.

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Terminology
Units of Measure:
PSI
PSIG
PSIA
MMCFD
MMSCFD

= pounds per square inch

= pounds per square inch gauge
= pounds per square inch absolute
= gauge + atmospheric pressure
= million cubic feet per day
= million cubic feet per day @ the
standard conditions of 14.65psia & 60F

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Terminology
In-Hg =
inches of mercury pressure
= can be a manometer or mercury filled
gauge,
used where pressures are low & extreme accuracy is
desired
= 1 Hg = .491 PSI
In-H2O
=
inches of water pressure
= usually a manometer filled with water
= used for measuring very low pressure
= 1/13.6 as heavy as mercury
13.6 of H2O = 1 of Hg = .491 PSI

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Terminology
Temperature:
Temperature =
A measure of molecular energythe higher the temperature
the more molecular energy.
Degrees Fahrenheit (F) =
Temperature scale where, at sea level, the freezing
point of water is 32 & the boiling point is 212. The
distance between these two points is 180.
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Terminology
Temperature:
Degrees Centigrade or Celsius (C) =
A scale used worldwide which relates to the metric
system. At sea level, the freezing point of pure water is
0 & the boiling point is 100. The distance between
these two points is 100.
Temperature range:
Centigrade =
100 =
Fahrenheit =
180 =

5
9
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Terminology
Temperature:

Converting from F to C expressed as follows:

C = 5/9 X ( F - 32)
Example:

Convert 100 F to C
C
= 5/9 X (100 - 32)
= 5/9 X 68
= 37.8 C

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Terminology

Inline
Configuration

Horizontal Opposed
Configuration

Configuration

Separable Engine

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Terminology

Click
Here

Separable
Compressor Frame

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Terminology

Compressor

Engine
Separables Coupled

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Left Bank

1L

Right Bank

Sheave

1R

LH

3
2L

2R
2

3L

3R
1

4L

RH

4R
Flywheel

5L

5R

Flywheel

INTEGRAL ENGINECOMPRESSORS
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Rod Load Definitions

External Rod Load

The external rod load of a reciprocating compressor is a calculation considering

the unit in a static state. The calculation for deriving the ERL is:

ERL = PD(HA) - PS(CA) where:

Internal Rod Load

PD = Discharge Pressure at the cylinder flange

PS = Suction Pressure at the cylinder flange
HA = Head End surface area of the piston
CA = Crank End surface area of the piston

The internal rod load is often noted as the internal gas rod load of a reciprocating
compressor and the terms are synonymous. The IRL is a dynamic rod load
calculation based upon the internal gas pressures within the cylinder bore. These
gas pressures take into account the dynamic pressure drop characteristics found
across the valves and gas passages. The IRL is calculated through 360 rotation
of the crankshaft with the highest values being used.

Net Rod Load

The net rod load is considered a dynamic rod load rating. The NRL is the sum of
the IRL calculation and the inertia loads of the reciprocating weights. The NRL is
calculated through 360 rotation of the crankshaft with the highest values being
used.

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ERL Compression
Area of piston in square inches times discharge
pressure, minus area of piston, minus area of rod
times suction pressure.

Pd=814.7 PSIA

=
=
=
=

2.5

Ps=214.7 PSIA

28.274
23,035
23.035
18,019

x 814.7 - (28.274 - 4.909) x 214.7

- (23.365 x 214.7)
- 5016
#

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ERL Tension
Area of piston in square inches, minus area of rod
times discharge pressure, minus area of the piston
times suction pressure.

Ps=214.7 PSIA

=
=
=
=

2.5

Pd=814.7 PSIA

(28.274 - 4.909) x 814.7 - (28.274 x 214.7)

23.365 x 814.7 - (28.274 x 214.7)
19,035 - 6070
12,965 #

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Piston Rods Exceeding Rod Load

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Oil

Crank Pin

Crosshead Pin

Piston Rod
Crosshead

Connecting Rod

Oil

Rod Reversal

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 Data needed for Compressor

Sizing:
Operating Conditions
Gas properties
Approximate HP per
application:
Suction Pressure (PS)
Discharge Pressure (Pd)
Quantity of gas in MMCFD
Conditions Assumed:
Suction Temp (TS) = 80F
Ambient Temp (Ta) = 100F
Discharge Temp (Td) required
approach = 20F
Altitude = < 1500
Atmospheric Pressure = 14psi
Specific Gravity = 0.64
N value = 1.26
Sweet Gas

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Any
Questions?

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