Compressors

Single-phase
1. A single-acting, single-cylinder air compressor has a cylinder diameter of
152,4 m and a stroke of 226,8 mm. Air is drawn into the cylinder at a
pressure of 103,4 kPa, and a temperature of 17℃. It is then compressed
adiabatically to 620,4 kPa.

Calculate:

1.1 The theoretical power, in kW, required to drive the compressor at

100 r/min.

1.2 The mass of air compressed per cycle. Assume R for air is 0,286
kJ/kg.K and gamma= 1,4.

2. A single-cylinder, single-acting air compressor takes in 1 m3 of air per

minute at 103 kPa and 15℃ , and delivers it at 700 kPa. The law of
compression is PV1,35=C and the clearance is neglected. Compressor
speed= 300 r/min. R= 0,287 kJ/kg.K.

Calculate:

2.1 The cylinder diameter required, assuming a stroke to cylinder

diameter ratio of 1,5:1.

2.2 The power required to drive the compressor if the mechanical

efficiency is 88%.

3. A single-stage, double-acting air compressor is required to deliver 14 m3

of air per minute. Intake conditions are 103 kPa and 15℃. The delivery
pressure is 700 kPa and the speed is 300 r/min. Assume the clearance
volume is 5% of the swept volume, with a compression index n= 1,3.

Calculate:

3.1 The swept volume of the cylinder.

3.2 The delivery temperature of the air.

3.3 The power required to drive the compressor. Assume R for air as
0, 286 kJ/kg.K

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4. The clearance volume of a single-cylinder single-acting air compressor
is 6% of the stroke volume (swept volume). Air is sucked in at 97 kPa
and 22℃. Compression and expansion index n= 1,37; pressure after
compression= 778 kPa; gas constant for air= 0,286 kJ/kg.K; air
consumption= 46 kg/min, and the mechanical efficiency is 75%.

Calculate:

4.1 The volumetric efficiency

4.2 The piston diameter and stroke if the speed of the compressor is
300 r/min and the stroke is 1,6 times the piston diameter.

4.3 The power required to drive the compressor.

5. A single-cylinder, single-acting air compressor has to take in 2,83 m3 of

free air per minute. The air is compressed from 103 kPa to 1030 kPa.
n=1,285; clearance volume is 5% of the stroke volume; piston diameter
is 0,75 of the stroke volume; compressor speed= 240 r/min. Consider
suction pressure and temperature to be the same as free air.

Calculate:

5.1 The volumetric efficiency

5.2 The piston diameter in mm

6. A single cylinder, single operating air compressor has a bore of 200 mm

and a stroke length of 300 mm. The crankshaft rotates at 450 RPM. The
free volume is 5% of the stroke volume and assume “n”=1,28 for
compression and expansion. Air is taken in at 97 kPa and 21℃ and the
delivery pressure is 600 kPa.

Calculate:

6.1 The free air delivery in m3/min at N.T.P

6.2 The volumetric efficiency

6.3 The delivery temperature

6.4 The power required to drive the compressor

6.5 The isothermal efficiency if the free volume is ignored.

7. A single-stage, single acting air compressor receives 15,6 m3/min air at

103 kPa and 21℃. The delivery pressure is 780 kPa while the speed of

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 the compressor is 350 RPM. Assume free volume is 5% of the stroke
volume. Compression takes place according to the law PV1,35=C and R=
0,288 kJ/kg.K

Calculate:

7.1 The stroke volume

7.2 The delivery temperature

7.3 The power required for propulsion

The multi-stage reciprocating air compressor

8. In a two-stage single-action air compressor, the suction pressure is 93
kPa. Final pressure is 862 kPa and the temperature at the end of
suction for each stage is 20℃. Compression index for both stages is
1,32. The compressor is required to deliver 6,8 kg air/min. Assume
that intermediate pressure gives maximum efficiency. Cooling is
complete. R= 0,288 kJ/kg.K.

Calculate the indicated power of the compressor.

9. A two-stage air compressor compresses air from 15℃ and 103,4 kPa
to 6205 kPa. The air is cooled in the intercooler to 30℃ and the
intermediate pressure is steady at 758 kPa. The low-pressure cylinder
diameter is 102 mm and the stroke for both cylinders is 115 mm.
Assume a compression law PV1,35=C and that the volume of air
atmospheric conditions drawn in per stroke is equal to the low
pressure swept volume.

9.1 The diameter of the high-pressure cylinder in mm.

9.2 The power required to drive the compressor when running at

250 r/min. Assume R= 0,288 kJ/kg.K

10. A two-stage, single-acting air compressor is designed to take in 6,7

m3 of free air at 103 kPa and 288 k per minute, and to deliver it at
2060 kPa. When the first stage piston is at start of compression, the
air in the cylinder is at 81 kPa and 278 K. Compression for both
stages follows the law PV1,31=C. Intercooling is complete and the
compressor is designed for minimum work done per cycle. R= 0,287
kJ/kg.K

Calculate:

10.1 The volumetric efficiency

10.2 The power required to drive the compressor if the mechanical

efficiency=81%.

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11. A three-stage compressor delivers air to a pressure of 7MPa from
atmospheric pressure of 103 kPa. The temperature at start of
compression is 30℃, and the index of compression in each stage=
1,2. Minimum work conditions prevail.

Determine:

11.1 The intermediate pressures.

11.2 The temperatures at the end of compression in each stage.

11.3 The heat extracted per kg of air in each intercooler.

11.4 The work done per kg of air delivered

11.5 The isothermal work done per kg of air if the compression is

isothermal as well as isothermal efficiency.

12. A three-stage, single-acting reciprocating air compressor has a low

pressure cylinder of 450 mm and a stroke of 300 mm. Clearance
volume of the low pressure cylinder is 5% of the swept volume. Intake
conditions are 100 kPa and 18℃. The final delivery pressure is 1500
kPa. Intermediate pressures are ideal and intercooling is perfect.
Compression and expansion index are 1,3.

Calculate:
12.1 The intermediate pressures.

12.2 The effective swept volume of LP cylinder.

12.3 The temperature and the volume of air delivered per stroke at
1500 kPa

12.4 The work done per kg of air, if R= 0,29 kJ/kg.K

13. A two-stage, single-acting air compressor delivers air at a pressure of

3,5 MPa. During the suction stroke, the air pressure and temperature
are 101 kPa and 27℃ respectively. Compression law is
PV1,3=constant, for minimum work done. The power to drive the
compressor is measured at 25 kW and the mechanical efficiency at
80%; engine speed= 240 r/min. The stroke of the LP cylinder is 1,5
times the cylinder diameter and the free air volumetric efficiency=
85%.

Calculate:

13.1 The free air delivered in m3/min, if the free air conditions are
102 kPa and 16℃.

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 13.2 The diameter and stroke of the LP cylinder

13.3 The heat extracted by the intercooler per minute

14. The suction pressure and temperature of a two-stage air compressor

are 100 kPa and 32℃ respectively. The delivery pressure is 1,725
MPa. Expansion and compression follow the law PVn=C for both
stages, where n= 1,25. The pressure ratios are the sam. Clearance
volume in the LP cylinder is 4% of the swept volume. Free air
conditions are 105 kPa and 18℃ respectively.

Calculate:

14.1 The volumetric efficiency of the LP cylinder for atmospheric

conditions.

14.2 The theoretical power required to compress 1 kg of air/sec.

14.3 The isothermal efficiency of the compressor.

14.4 The heat extracted by the heat exchanger if intercooling.

15. A two-stage, single-acting reciprocating air compressor takes in air at

a tempo of 0,3 m3/s. Inlet pressure and temperature are 103 kPa and
18℃ respectively. The delivery pressure is 780 kPa. Conditions for
maximum efficiency prevail. The compression exponent is 1,27, the
speed at which the compressor operates is 550 RPM. Free volume is
insignificant. Assume a value of 0,287 kJ/kg.K for R.

Calculate:

15.1 The interpressure

[283,4 kPa]

15.2 The volume of each cylinder

[0,0327 m3; 0,01188 m3]

15.3 The diameter of the high pressure cylinder if D=L

[247,34 mm]

15.4 The transmitted power required if the mechanical efficiency is

87%

[80,22 kW]

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16. A single-acting, two stage air compressor is designed to take in 6,8 m 3
free per minute at 102 kPa and 15℃ and to deliver the air at a
pressure of 2080 kPa. The temperature and pressure at the beginning
of compression is 91 kPa and 278 K. The compression for both stages
is according to the law PV1,3=C. Intercooling is complete. Take R for
air as 0,287 kJ/kg.K.

Calculate:

16.1 The high pressure cylinder diameter if the speed of the

compressor is 620 RPM and diameter= 30% of the stroke
length.

[98,27 mm]

16.2 The power required to drive the compressor.

[38,88 kW]

17. A piston air compressor has 2 stages and one cylinder per stages and
compresses air from 90 kPa and 15℃ to a pressure of 7,68 MPa.
Intercooling is not complete and the air enters the second stage at
27℃. The pressure of the intercooler remains constant at 960 kPa.
The low pressure cylinder has a diameter of 160 mm and the stroke
length of both cylinders is 150 mm.

17.1 Make a neat sketch of the approximate P-V diagram. Assume a

volumetric efficiency of 82,5%. (Base on 90 kPa and 15℃) and
calculate the mass of air, compressed per stroke.

[0,002709 kg]

17.2 Calculate the volume of air compressed in the high pressure

cylinder and the diameter. Assume a volumetric efficiency of
82,5%.

[0,00024298 m3; 50 mm]

17.3 Calculate the work done per cycle and the power transmitted if
the compressor runs at 5 r/sec. Assume a compression index of
1,33 for both cylinders.

[6,653 kW]

18. A three-stage, single-acting air compressor delivers air at 7 MPa from

96,73 kPa and 303 K. The free-air delivery is 2,8 m3/min from 101 kPa
and 15,57 C . Intercooling is complete for minimum work. Assume the
polytropic index and gas constant are 1,3 and 0,287 kJ/kg.K,
respectively. The constant-pressure heat capacity is 1,005 kJ/kg.K.
Giving all answers correct to THREE decimal places.

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 18.1 The mass of free-air delivery in kilograms per hour.

[204,879 kg/h]

18.2 The induced volume in cubic metres per second.

[0,0511 m3/s]

18.3 The compressor’s indicated power in kilowatts.

[25,066 kW]

18.4 The heat extracted by the intercoolers in kilojoules per second.

[-4,807 kJ/s]

19. A three-stage reciprocating air compressor compresses 0,3 m3 of air

per second, from an intake pressure of 90 kPa and temperature of 22
C , to a pressure of 2 MPa. Intercooling is complete, and the stage
pressures are in geometric progression for the maximum efficiency. R
= 0,288 kJ/kg.K; Cp = 1,005 kJ/kg.K; compression index n = 1,3.

Determine:

19.1 The power required to drive the compressor if mechanical efficiency of

90 % is assumed.

[105,07 kW]

19.2 The heat transfer in the two intercoolers per second.

[51,12 kW]

19.3 The heat transfer to the water cooling of the three cylinder jackets per
second.

[-18,54 kJ/s]

19.4 The isothermal efficiency.

[79,69 %]