AIM

Determine the variations of volumetric efficiency with delivery pressure of a

reciprocating air compressor.

PROCEDURE

Make sure the valves of cooling water supply and discharge lines are fully open
Completely unload the motor before it is started
Start the air compressor and allow the unit to function for 10 minutes at 450 RPM
Commence test and take required readings
Make sure the pressure at the air receiver is at the required value while taking the readings and that a
constant speed of 450 RPM is maintained.

INTRODUTION
Virtually every has of modern manufacturing depends upon compressed air. The uses of
compressed air may be broken down into three main categories: power service, process service and
control. Power service includes those applications in which air is used either to produce motion or to
exert a force: or both. Examples are linear actuators, pneumatic tools, clamping devices and air lifts.
Process service is defined as an application in which air or other gas enters in to a process itself.
Examples are combustion, liquefaction of oils and refrigeration. Control applications are those in
which air or gas triggers, starts, stops, modulates or otherwise directs machines or processes.

Compressor air devices which are used for increase the pressure of a gas by decreasing
its volume mechanically. Air is the most frequently compressed gas. Neutral gas, oxygen, nitrogen and
other industrially important gases are also compressed for various applications. Compressor comes in
three varieties: Positive displacement, Centrifugal and Axial.
Positive displacement compressors are usually of the reciprocating piston type. They are
useful for supplying small amounts of a gas at a relatively high pressure. Other type of positive
displacement compressor include: Sliding vane rotary Screw compressors and rotary screw
compressors.
Centrifugal compressors increase the kinetic energy of the gas with high-speed impeller
and then convert this energy into increased pressure in a divergent outlet passage called the diffuser.
Centrifugal compressors are particularly suitable for compressing large volumes of gas to moderate
pressures.
In axial compressors the gas flows parallel to the axis of rotation of the rotor, which has
many rows or aerodynamically shape blades extending radially outward. The rotor is surrounded by a
stationary casing that contains a similar number of rows of blades extending inward and fitting
between the rows of rotor blades. As gas passes through the compressor, its velocity is alternately
increased and decreased. During each increase in velocity the kinetic energy of the gas is increased
and during each decrease in velocity the kinetic energy is converted in to an increase in pressure. This
type of compressor is used for jet aircraft engines and gas turbines.

CALCULATION

Volume of free air delivered per min

Volume swept by the piston per min

Free air delivery = K

T +273
P

H +M
t +273

K=7.5210-2 Nozzle Coefficient

t= Nozzle temperature
H= Observed head in mm of H2O (Upstream)
h
M=P- 13.6

in mm of Hg

P=Barometer reading in mm of Hg
h= Observed head in mm of H2O (downstream)
T=Atmospheric air temperature
Bore = B = 101.6mm
Stroke = S = 101.6mm
No of cylinders = N = 2
Cross sectional area of the piston head = A

Volume swept by the piston per minute=

3

0.7413 m /min

0.1016 2
.10162450
4

DATA SHEET FOR THE GRAPH OF VOLUMETRIC EFFICIENCY VS

DELIVERY PRESSURE

Delivery

M2

Volume of

Efficiency

Pressure

(mm of H2O)

(mm of H2O)

(mm of Hg)

free air

(%)

(psi)

delivered

10

255

19

498.399

0.575753064

77.66456698

20

197

170

1019.812706

0.436548772

58.88700115

30

250

275

1533.064647

0.358764273

48.39448307

40

180

160

2055.360706

0.297841835

40.17652454

50

130

150

2576.186176

0.264320725

35.65479009

GRAPH OF VOLUMETRIC EFFICIENCY vs. DELIVERY PRESSURE

DISCUSSION
1. Comment on the definition of the volumetric efficiency of an air compressor
Volumetric efficiency of an air compressor is defined as the ratio of the actual volume of gas
compressed out from the cylinder, to the theoretical volume that it could have been pumped out from
the cylinder .As an example, if the flow from a 100cc compressor is 90 cc, the volumetric efficiency
for that compressor at that time would be 90 percent. Volumetric efficiency changes with the speed and
pressure which a compressor is being operated. So, when comparing volumetric efficiencies, the speed
and pressure information should also be considered.

2. Factors that affect the volumetric efficiency

Clearance volume of the compressor cylinder
Dimensions and No of valves in the cylinder
Number of stages in the compressor (In this case only 1 stage)

Valve timing
Characteristics of the nozzle

3. Possible reasons for variations of pressure and temperature along the line from the compressor
outlet to the orifice meter
Compressed air is at elevated temperature. So there will be some heat loses between the
compressed air and the surrounding which is at room temperature along the delivery pipes
and the through the tank
The tank and the nozzle is connected through a series of pipes with some bends and other
accessories. So when the air flows through them there may be some local losses in those
components due to the friction and other reasons.
Due to the irregularities of the pipe, there may be some effects on the flow of the air
through the pipes. There may be some throttling effects on the air flow

4. More accurate method of measuring the absolute pressure upstream of the orifice meter
Use of electronic sensors and instruments for the measuring of the pressure. This will give
more accurate reading in lesser time than in manual methods
Use of better pressure gauges available in the field related to this type of operations.
Gauges like bourdon gauge and bellows gauge.
Instead of water here in this orifice meter, we can use some other low density fluid for the
reading as it will more sensitive than water.
5. Comparison of obtained graph and expected graph

This image shows the expected graph for the variation between delivery pressure and the
volumetric efficiency for an air compressor. But when we compared it with the graph we obtained
from the experiment, we can see that the shapes of two graphs are different.
The reasons would be the losses of the pressure and the temperature. Moreover the errors of
reading of the heights would also make the difference. And the maintaining of constant rpm was
very difficult with the varying pressure. So that would also causes the changing of the graphs.