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Basic Compressor Design Calculations

This document summarizes the key calculations for sizing an air compressor. It determines that the inlet air flow is 83.82 kg/hr at a suction pressure of 1.013 bar and temperature of 296K. A compression ratio of 8.5 is calculated, requiring a two-stage compressor to avoid too high a discharge temperature of 485K. The volumetric efficiency is estimated at 70.54%.

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Jia-Yi Chai
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2K views

Basic Compressor Design Calculations

This document summarizes the key calculations for sizing an air compressor. It determines that the inlet air flow is 83.82 kg/hr at a suction pressure of 1.013 bar and temperature of 296K. A compression ratio of 8.5 is calculated, requiring a two-stage compressor to avoid too high a discharge temperature of 485K. The volumetric efficiency is estimated at 70.54%.

Uploaded by

Jia-Yi Chai
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Basic Compressor design Calculations: (need to check assumptions and values)

Gas being handled = clean air


Molecular weight, MW = 29 kg/kmol
Critical Pressure, Pc = 37.36 atm = 37.855 bar (Engineering Toolbox)
Critical Temperature, Tc = 132.03K
n-value (specific heat ratio) = 1.30
Assuming the site is not at significant elevation above sea level:
Suction pressure, Ps = 1.013 bar
Discharge pressure, PD = 125 psi = 8.618 bar (Standard operating pressure for Atlas Copco
compressors)
Power = 40 hp = 29.83 kW (powered by solar power)
Suction temperature, Ts = 23°C = 296 K (slight temperature increase from dehumidifier)
To find capacity, need to find ICFM (Inlet cubic feet per minute). This is the volume the gas
will occupy at the compressor's suction. In order to size the compressor, the ICFM must be
known.
𝑍𝑅𝑢 𝑇𝑠
𝐼𝐶𝐹𝑀 =
𝑀𝑊𝑃𝑠
Where:
Z = compressibility factor = assumed to be equal to 1
𝑅𝑢 = universal gas constant = 0.08319 bar m3/kg mol K
𝑘𝑔 1(0.08319)(296) 𝑘𝑔
𝐼𝐶𝐹𝑀 ( ) = −3
= 83.82
ℎ𝑟 (29 × 10 )(1.013) ℎ𝑟
Capacity = 83.82 kg/hr
Compression Ratio, R:
𝑃𝑑 8.618
𝑅= = = 8.5
𝑃𝑠 1.013
 R value within 7-10: need to use a two-stage compression system!
Discharge temperature, Td is given by:
(𝑛−1)
𝑇𝑑 (𝐾) = 𝑇𝑠 (𝑅) 𝑛

(1.3−1)
𝑇𝑑 (𝐾) = 296(8.5) 1.3 = 485 𝐾
 Way too high discharge temperature, consider water-cooled compressor.
Next, to determine volumetric efficiency (VE), which is the ratio of the amount of gas
compressed versus the physical size of the compressor's cylinder volume:
For 2 stage compressors:
1
𝑉𝐸(%) = 89 − 𝑅 − 7.8(𝑅 2𝑛 − 1)
1
𝑉𝐸(%) = 89 − 8.5 − 7.8 (8.52(1.30) − 1) = 70.54%

 Relatively high efficiency but could be improved

References:
1. Blackmer (1999). ‘Steps to Compressor Selection & Sizing’ [online] Available at:
https://www.gasequipment.com/catalogs/cryogenic/pdf/Blackmer/Compressors/Comp
%20Selection%20and%20Sizing.pdf [Accessed 22nd March 2020]
2. Engineering ToolBox, (2005). Critical Points of some Substances. [online] Available
at: https://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/critical-point-d_997.html [Accessed 22nd
March 2020]
3. Engineering ToolBox, (2005). Critical Points of some Substances. [online] Available
at: https://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/critical-point-d_997.html [Accessed 22nd
March 2020]

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