Single Stage Compression
1. A single stage, reciprocating compressor running at 1440 rpm delivers air at 25 bar.
The suction conditions are 1.013 bar and 15C, and the volume handled measured at this
suction conditions is 0.20 m3/min. The clearance volume is 3% of the swept volume and the
stroke/bore ratio is 1.2: 1. The index of compression is 1.3. Calculate the stroke length, the
indicated power, and the isothermal efficiency.
2. Determine the cylinder dimensions of single acting air compressor of 11 kw which
compresses the air from 1 bar to 7 bar according to the law pv 1.2 = C. Average piston speed is
150 m/min. Assume stroke to bore ratio as 1.5. Neglect the clearance volume.
3. A single stage reciprocating compressor takes 2 m 3 of air per minute at 1.013 bar and
15C and delivers it at 7 bar. Calculate the indicated power, and isothermal efficiency. The
index of compression is 1.3.
4. A single acting compressor makes 80 rpm. It takes in air at 1 bar and 15C and
compresses to 5 bar. The piston sweeps through 0.142 m 3 in its stroke and the clearance is 5
% of this swept volume. The index of compression is 1.3. Find the temperature of the air as
admitted to the receiver, the volume of air taken in per cycle and the power required to drive
the compressor.
5. A single stage reciprocating air compressor sucks 14 m 3 of air per minute at the
suction conditions of 1 bar and 15C. the discharge pressure is 7 bar and speed of the
compressor is 300 rpm. The clearance ratio is 0.05. The polytropic index for the compression
is 1.3. Find out the following.
i. The power
ii. Discharge temperature of the air
iii. The stroke volume.
6. A single stage reciprocating air compressor has a bore of 200 mm and stroke of 300
mm and runs at 500 rpm. The clearance volume is 3% of the swept volume and the index of
compression is 1.3. The suction conditions is 97 kPa and 20C and the discharge pressure is
550 kPa. Determine
a) FAD for 1.0132 bar and 15C
b) Volumetric efficiency,
c) Discharge temperature
d) Power,
e) isothermal efficiency considering no clearance.
7. A single stage double-acting compressor has a free air delivery of 14 m 3/min, measured at
1.013 bar and 15C. The pressure and temperature in the cylinder during suction are 0.95 bar
and 32C. The delivery pressure is 7 bar and index of compression and expansion, n= 1.3.
The clearance volume is 5 % of the swept volume. Calculate indicated power required and
volumetric efficiency.
8. What are the two factors that affect volumetric efficiency of a reciprocating
compressor?
Multi-stage compression.
Why multistage?
Derive the condition for the minimum work done for two-stage air compressor with the
perfect inter-cooling. And write the expression for minimum work.
Derive the condition for the minimum work done for two-stage air compressor with
imperfect inter-cooling.
Derive an expression for the optimum intermediate pressure in terms of the inlet and delivery
pressures for a two stage compressor with perfect intercooling.
A two-stage single acting reciprocating compressor takes in air at the rate of 0.2 m 3/sec.
Intake conditions are 0.1 MPa and 16C. The air is compressed to the final pressure of 0.7
MPa. The intermediate pressure is ideal and the intercooling is perfect. The index of
compression is 1.25 and the compressor runs at 10 rev/sec. Neglecting the clearance volume,
determine the following.
i. The intermediate pressure,
ii. Total volume of each cylinder,
iii. The cycle power.
A two-stage compressor with complete inter-cooling delivers 10 kg/min of air at 16 bar. The
suction occurs at 1 bar and 15C. The expansion and compression processes are reversible
polytropic with an index n= 1.25. Calculate the power required and isothermal efficiency.
A three-stage single-acting reciprocating air compressor has a low-pressure cylinder of 450
mm bore and 300mm stroke. The clearance volume of the low-pressure cylinder is 5 % of
swept volume and the polytropic index is 1.3 throughout. Intake conditions are 1 bar and
18C and the compression pressure is 15 bar. The intermediate pressure is ideal and the
intercooling is perfect. Determine,
a) The intermediate pressures,
b) The effective swept volume of the low pressure cylinder,
c) The temperature and the volume of air delivered per stroke at 15 bar’
d) The work done /kg of air.
