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Introduction
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1. Compressors
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Classification of compressors
Compressors used in refrigeration systems can be classified in several ways:
a) Based on the working principle:
i. Positive displacement type
ii. Roto-dynamic type
Depending upon the construction, positive displacement type compressors
used in refrigeration and air conditioning can be classified into:
i. Reciprocating type
ii. Rotary type with sliding vanes (rolling piston type or multiple vane type)
iii. Rotary screw type (single screw or twin-screw type)
iv. Orbital compressors, and
v. Acoustic compressors
Depending upon the construction, roto-dynamic type compressors can be
classified into:
i. Radial flow type, or
ii. Axial flow type
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b) Based on arrangement of compressor motor or external drive:
i. Open type
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1.1 Reciprocating compressors
Reciprocating compressor is the most widely used compressor with cooling
capacities ranging from a few Watts to hundreds of kilowatts.
Reciprocating compressors consist of a piston moving back and forth in a
cylinder, with suction and discharge valves to achieve suction and compression
of the refrigerant vapor.
i. The clearance volume is zero, i.e., at the end of discharge process, the volume of
refrigerant inside the cylinder is zero.
ii. No pressure drops during suction and compression
iii. Suction, compression and discharge are reversible and adiabatic
As shown in the figures, the cycle of operations consists of:
Process D-A:
This is an isobaric suction process, during which the piston moves from the Inner Dead
Centre (IDC) to the Outer Dead Centre (ODC).
The suction valve remains open during this process and refrigerant at a constant pressure
Pe flows into the cylinder.
Process A-B:
This is an isentropic compression process.
During this process, the piston moves from ODC towards IDC.
Both the suction and discharge valves remain closed during the process and the pressure
of refrigerant increases from Pe to Pc.
Process B-C:
This is an isobaric discharge process.
During this process, the suction valve remains closed and the discharge valve opens.
Refrigerant at a constant P is expelled from the compressor as the piston moves to IDC
b) Ideal compressor with clearance:
The spaces between the closed valves and the piston at the inner dead center (IDC) is
called as Clearance volume, Vc.
The ratio of the clearance volume to the swept volume is called as Clearance ratio, ε, i.e.,
Performance Of Reciprocating Compressors
Ideal compressor with clearance
1. Effect of evaporator temperature
a) On Volumetric efficiency and refrigerant mass flow rate:
The volumetric of the compressor with clearance is given
by:
increases
The volume flow rate per unit capacity, V is given by:
compressor inlet reduces rapidly and the refrigerant effect increases marginally.
Due to the combined effect of these two, the volume flow rate of refrigerant per unit
the pressure ratio increases, hence, both the volumetric efficiency and mass flow
rate decrease as shown in the figure.
temperature as both the mass flow rate and refrigeration effect decrease
c) On work of compression and power
requirement:
The work of compression is zero when the
condenser temperature is equal to the evaporator
temperature, on the other hand at a limiting
condensing temperature the mass flow rate of
refrigerant becomes zero as the clearance
volumetric efficiency becomes zero.
The compressor power input increases from Effect of condenser temperature on
work of compression and power input
zero (work of compression is zero), reaches a to compressor
peak and then again becomes zero at a high
value of condensing temperature
d) On COP and volume flow rate per unit
capacity:
As condensing temperature increases the
refrigeration effect reduces marginally and work
of compression increases, as a result the COP
reduces.
The = volume flow rate of refrigerant per unit
capacity increases as condenser temperature
increases
Compressor discharge temperature:
If the compressor discharge temperature is very high then it may result in breakdown of
the lubricating oil, causing excessive wear and reduced life of the compressor valves
(mainly the discharge valve).
When the temperature is high, undesirable chemical reactions may take place inside the
compressor, especially in the presence of water. This may ultimately damage the
compressor.
If the compression process is assumed to be isentropic and the refrigerant vapour is
assumed to be have as a perfect gas, then the following equations apply:
a) Heat transfer between the refrigerant and surroundings during compression and
b) Frictional pressure drops in connecting lines and across suction and discharge
valves
The compressors are normally oil-flooded type, hence, oil separators are
required.
The cooling capacity is normally controlled either by compressor speed
type.
Twin-screw compressor:
The twin-screw type compressor consists
of two mating helically grooved rotors, one
male and the other female.
Generally, the male rotor drives the female
rotor.
The male rotor has lobes, while the female
rotor has flutes or gullies
The frequently used lobe-gully
combinations are [4,6], [5,6] and [5,7].
For [4,6] combination, when the male rotor
rotates at 3600 RPM, the female rotor Twin-screw compressor with 4 male
lobes and 6 female gullies
rotates at 2400 RPM.
Single-screw compressors:
Single screw compressors consist of
a single helical screw and two planet
wheels or gate rotors.
The single screw is normally driven
by an electric motor.
single-screw compressor
1.4 Scroll compressors:
which suction and compression is obtained by using two mating, spiral shaped, scroll
members, one fixed and the other orbiting.
As shown in Fig., the compression process involves three orbits of the orbiting scroll.
In the first orbit, the scrolls ingest and trap two pockets of suction gas.
During the second orbit, the two pockets of gas are compressed to an intermediate
pressure.
In the final orbit, the two pockets reach discharge pressure and are simultaneously
for refrigerant
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