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Principles of Compression

COMPRESSION

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129 views

Principles of Compression

COMPRESSION

Uploaded by

madivala nagaraja
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Principles of Compression

Purpose 1
Scope 1
Compression 2
Adiabatic Compression 2
Isothermal Compression 3
Polytropic Compression 4
Compressor Pressure Ratio 5
Document Information 5
About this Document 5
Change History 6
Learning and Assessment Guide 6

Purpose
Purpose
This chapter explains the fundamental principles of compression and describes the different types of compression.

Scope
Scope
This chapter applies across Linde Gas worldwide.

Author: Karen Medema Quality Reviewer: John Blyth Approver: John Blyth
EQF-07-01-LG Principles of Compression 1.3 October 2014
Copyright © The Linde Group – Distributed by a locally registered Linde company Page 1 of 6
Uncontrolled Copy - do not use after date of printing
Compression
Compression
Compression is simply increasing gas pressure. In molecular terms, increased pressure is caused by molecules
hitting the sides of an enclosed space more frequently. This can be achieved by forcing a given volume of
molecules to occupy a smaller volume, or by increasing the temperature so that molecular motion is increased.
For information on different types of compression machinery, see: EQF-07-03 : About Compression Machinery.

Adiabatic Compression
Definition
If no heat is added or taken away during compression, the process is called adiabatic compression.

Adiabatic compression in practice


In practice, no compressor is truly adiabatic because some heat is always lost to the surroundings.
An adiabatic compression process is an approximation of what happens in a single stage of a centrifugal
compressor and is generally used to assess the performance of these machines. There is slight heat loss to the air
surrounding the compressor, but the compression may be treated as adiabatic.

Graph of adiabatic compression


The graph shows how pressure and volume change for an adiabatic compression process.
The shaded area to the left of the pressure against volume line represents the energy required for compression.

EQF-07-01-LG Principles of Compression 1.3 October 2014


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Isothermal Compression
Definition
If heat is added or taken away to maintain the gas at a constant temperature, the process is called isothermal
compression.

Isothermal compression in practice


In practice, no compressor is truly isothermal, because the temperature of a gas rises when it is compressed.

Graph of isothermal compression


The additional line on the graph below shows how pressure and volume change for an isothermal compression
process.
The shaded area to the left of this line represents the energy required for isothermal compression.

Efficiency of isothermal compression


Isothermal compression is more efficient than adiabatic compression because no energy goes into raising the
temperature of the gas, hence all of the energy input goes into raising the gas pressure.
The shaded area on the above graph is smaller than that for adiabatic compression, because less energy is
required for isothermal compression.
See: Adiabatic Compression (page 2).

EQF-07-01-LG Principles of Compression 1.3 October 2014


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Polytropic Compression
Definition
If gas is compressed, then cooled (in an intercooler), then compressed again, the process is called polytropic
compression (polytropic means 'many stages').

Purpose of polytropic compression


In order to make compression more efficient it needs to be as close as possible to isothermal. In practice, this is
achieved by cooling the compressed gas several times during compression.

Graph of polytropic compression


The additional line on the graph shows how pressure and volume change for a four-stage polytropic compression
process.
The shaded area to the left of the line represents the required energy input for polytropic compression.

Efficiency of polytropic compression


A polytropic process is less efficient than isothermal compression but more efficient than adiabatic.
To compare the energy requirements shown on the above graph with those for adiabatic and isothermal
compression, see the graphs in Adiabatic Compression (page 2) and Isothermal Compression (page 3).

EQF-07-01-LG Principles of Compression 1.3 October 2014


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Number of stages
As shown on the above graph, if there were only one stage the compression would be adiabatic and inefficient.
If there were a large number of stages, the polytropic compression would follow the isothermal line and be very
efficient.
When determining how many stages to use, the following factors are balanced:
• the high cost of building a compressor with many stages, and
• the efficiency of using multiple stages.
In practice, compressors typically have three to five stages, depending on the overall pressure ratio.

Compressor Pressure Ratio


Pressure ratio
The pressure ratio of a compressor is the outlet pressure divided by the inlet pressure:
Pressure Ratio = Pressure Out / Pressure In
Or
(POUT / PIN)
The pressure must be in absolute units and not gauge units (e.g., use bar(a) and not bar(g)).
For instance, on an air compressor where the pressure at the inlet is 1.03 bar(a) and the pressure at the outlet is
6.43 bar(a), the pressure ratio is:
( 6.43 / 1.03 ) = 6.24

Terms for pressure


The inlet pressure of a compressor is also known as the suction or feed pressure.
The outlet pressure of a compressor is also known as the discharge or delivery pressure.

Document Information
About this Document
Version Date Author Quality Reviewer Approver
1.3 October 2014 Karen Medema John Blyth John Blyth
LiMSS Technical Writer Global Team Leader – Global Team Leader –
People Capability People Capability
1.2 August 2003 Jas Lake John Blyth Tim Hobson
ASU ToE Team Leader
1.1 February 1999 TH & CM
1.0 April 1998 TH & CM

EQF-07-01-LG Principles of Compression 1.3 October 2014


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Uncontrolled Copy - do not use after date of printing
Change History
Version Description of Change
1.3 Document updated to LiMSS template v14. Updated chapter scope to LG. Where appropriate minor
typographical authorized corrections have been made.
1.2 Updated by the ASU Team of Experts.
1.1 Added introductory topic on compression.
1.0 Initial issue.

Learning and Assessment Guide

EQF-07-01-LG : Principles of Compression

Prerequisites

As a result of training in the content of this Learning Assessment Reference:


document you will be able to: method: method:
Explain the different types of compression - Self Study Multi-choice Test Compression (page 2)
adiabatic, isothermal and polytropic.

Assessment Complete Sign Date

Learner:

Assessor:

EQF-07-01-LG Principles of Compression 1.3 October 2014


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