Advantages, Disadvantages ,Types and Application of Compressors
1. Piston or reciprocating compressor: This type of positive displacement compressor uses the piston and cylinder for compressing the gases.
It can consist of single cylinder or multiple cylinders (multi stages).
Advantages:
- High power (more than 500 hp) and high pressure (more than 400 bar) compressed gas can be produced.
- Initial investment requirement is less.
- Oil carryover problem is not present.
Disadvantages:
- Reciprocation of the cylinder causes vibrations.
- Maintenance cost is high due to lots of moving parts.
Applications:
- Used for compressing widest range of gases like: CNG, nitrogen, air, inert gas, breathing air.
- Starting the IC engines.
- High pressure application like air blast.
2. Rotary Screw Compressors: The male and female rotating (in opposite direction) mating screws are used in this types of positive displacement compressor.
Image source: Wiki
Advantages:
- Vibrations are very less.
- Small size compressor can produced high flow rate.
Disadvantages:
- Not suitable for dirty environments.
- Life expectancy is short.
- Oil carryover problem is present.
Applications:
- Suitable for high power (more than 500 hp) large flow rate but medium pressure (around 15 bars) dust free applications.
- Most popular in industry find application in food processing, brewing, manufacturing, instrument operation, hospital.
3. Rotary Sliding Vane Compressor: This is another positive displacement one, uses sliding vanes surrounding the eccentrically rotating impeller for compressing.
Image source: wiki
Advantages:
- Low maintenance due to lower rotating speed and fewer moving parts.
- Suitable for dirty operating environments.
Disadvantages:
- Not suitable for high pressure application.
- Oil carryover problem is present.
Applications:
- Suitable for low pressure (around 1 bar) applications.
- Can work in dirty environments.
- Used in robotics, pneumatics, labs.
4. Centrifugal Compressor: This is dynamic types of compressor. Velocity of the impeller is used for generating energy of compression in this case.
Image source: Wiki
Advantages:
- Suitable for continuous compressed air supply.
- High power (up to 500 hp) high pressure (up to 85 bar) compression is possible.
- Oil free air output.
Disadvantages:
- The equipment is costly.
- High speed requires quality bearing and sophisticated maintenance programs.
Applications:
- HVAC and air conditioning applications.
- Gas turbines.
- Turbo chargers.
- Natural gas processing and in oil refineries.
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Hi Suvo concerning the vane compressor , your explanation is old and not accuarate anymore. Send me your email adress an I passes you the new developments.
can you send me those developments. i need it for my school works. thankyou. doorknob_clcokwise@yahoo.com.ph