Thermodynamics Laboratory

48651 Air compressor

GH, 20/03/2014
1


THERMODYNAMICS 48651
LABORATORY: RECIPROCATING AIR COMPRESSOR

1. Aims
To develop an understanding of the first and second laws of thermodynamics and
their applications to steady-state steady-flow processes:
To understand the physical meaning of the terms in the mathematical models,
such as the energy equation, for thermal processes;
To acquire experience in mathematical models, and how and why to make
assumptions;
To be familiar with instruments, mechanical and electrical devices and machinery
such as compressors;
To develop skills of measurement, computation and analysis for design of thermal
systems.

2. Test apparatus

Figure 1 (page 4) is a schematic diagram of the test apparatus that include the following
components:

Compressors: reciprocating, one single-cylinder, one two-cylinder;
DC motor for driving the compressor;
Heat exchanger for cooling the compressed air by water;
Pipes (all air lines: 25mm ID, water pipes: 16mm ID);
Dynamometer for measuring the shaft torque and power supplied to the compressor;
Water volume flow meter;
Air volume flow meter;
Temperature sensors at positions 1-7;
Pressure gauge for measuring the pressure of the air at the outlet of the compressor;
Electricity current and voltage meters.

3. Test procedures

i) Familiarize yourself with the devices and instruments schematically shown in
Figure 1.
ii) Take the readings of atmospheric pressure and temperature in the laboratory.
iii) The compressors will be started and running at steady state before the readings
listed in the attached form (page 5) are taken.
iv) Take readings of temperatures, pressures, air flow, water flow, force, speed, motor
volts and amps at 5-10 minute intervals.
v) Check the atmospheric pressure and temperature during the intervals.



UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY
FACULTY OF ENGINEERING & IT
Thermodynamics Laboratory
48651 Air compressor
GH, 20/03/2014
2
4. Guidelines for analysis
Applications of the first law of thermodynamics

1) Define the following systems:
A: Compressor;
B: Heat exchanger;
C: A system including the compressor, heat exchanger and electric motor;
D: Electric motor.

The boundary of each system is indicated by a closed dashed line in Figure 1.

2) Apply the first law of thermodynamics to each of the above systems to find the rate
of energy losses in each system. When the first law is applied to an open system
undergoing a process, the energy equation is in a rate form as follows,

( ) ( ) ( )

Q m h V g z
i
dE
dt
m h V g z W
i i i e e e
e CV CV

1
2
1
2
2 2


As the processes in a compressor or a heat exchanger can be assumed as a steady-
state steady-flow (SSSF) process, ( )
dE
dt
CV
=0. Before any further assumption is
made to the energy equation, the experimental results must be used to demonstrate
that the assumption is reasonable.

3) Discuss the significance of the kinetic energy change and potential energy change in
the calculations and analysis in System A (the compressor).

4) The term for energy losses is included in

Q . Discuss the significance of the
energy losses in each of the systems defined, by comparing the quantity of the
energy losses with other terms in the energy equation. Give your opinion on
whether it is reasonable to ignore the energy losses.

5) Discuss the possible causes of energy losses such as convention and radiation heat
loss, pipe friction, etc.

Note: In order to understand why and how some assumptions are made, all the terms
in the SSSF energy equation should be remained until your calculation and analysis
prove the negligibility. Use the data given or recorded in the laboratory for your
calculation. Results of your calculation may then be used to show why the quantity of
that term is small in comparison with other terms in the energy equation and therefore
can be neglected. For example, the velocity of the air, at one measurement position,
can be found from the following equation:

=A V

Thermodynamics Laboratory
48651 Air compressor
GH, 20/03/2014
3
Where

is the volume flow rate (m

3
/s) of the air, V is the velocity (m/s) of the air and
A is the cross-sectional area of the pipe where the volume flow rate is measured.
Alternatively, you may use the following equation to calculate the velocity:

m = A V

Where m is the mass flow rate, m
air
= m
7
=(p
7

7
)/(RT
7
). State 7 is the state of the air
at the outlet, as shown in Fig. 1. The mass flow rate of a steady flow is constant.

5. Formulae you may use:

1) T =F r (N-m)
Where T is the torque, F is the force measured by the dynamometer, r is the arm
length from the measurement point to the center of the shaft, r = 0.31m.

P =
2 35
60 1000

( . ) RPM F r
(kW)
Where P is the Power, RPM is compressors speed in revolutions per minute. The
motor runs at 3.5 RPM of the compressor.

2) Electrical power =V
armature
x I
armature
+V
field
x I
field

Where V voltage (volt), I current (amp).
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48651

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4
Laborato
Air compress
GH, 20/03/20
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Thermodynamics Laboratory
48651 Air compressor
GH, 20/03/2014
5
READINGS

Air compressor: 2 cylinder, 1 cylinder Date ___________ Time _______
Barometric pressure _______________ Ambient temperature ___________


Unit 1 2 3 4 5 Average
Spring balance N
Compressor speed RPM
Water flow rate l/hr
Air flow rate m
3
/hr
Motor armature
voltage
volt
Motor armature
current
amp
Motor field voltage volt
Motor field current amp
p
1
(=p
atmosphere
) kPa
p
2
(gauge) kPa
T
1
(temperature)
0
C
T
2

0
C
T
3

0
C
T
4

0
C
T
5

0
C
T
6

0
C
T
7

0
C