Reciprocating

Compressor
Basics
Reciprocating
compressors are
often some of
the most critical
and expensive
systems at a
production
facility, and
deserve special
attention. Gas
transmission
pipelines,
petrochemical
plants, refineries
and many other
industries all
depend on this
type of

equipment. Due
to many factors,
including but
not limited to
the quality of
the initial
specification/des
ign, adequacy of
maintenance
practices and
operational
factors,
industrial
facilities can
expect widely
varying lifecycle
costs and
reliability from
their own
installations.

for chemical
processing

Various
compressors are
found in almost
every industrial
facility. Types of
gases
compressed
include the
following:
Air for
compressed
tool and
instrument
air systems
Hydrogen,
oxygen, etc.

Light
hydrocarbo
n fractions
in refining
Various
gases for
storage or
transmissio
n

Types of
Reciprocating
air compressor
Single
Acting
Double
Acting

 In line
Compress
ors
V-shaped
compresso
rs

Single acting
They are
the
reciprocatin
g
compressor
which has

piston
working
only in one
direction.
The other
end of the
piston is
often free
or open
from which
no work is
performed.
There is
only one
side
compressio
n or the
upper part
of the
piston is
used to

compress
the air. The
bottom part
is open to
crankcase
and is not
utilized for
the
compressio
n of air.

Double acting

As from its
name it
uses its
both sides
to compress
the air.
These type
of
compressor
s have two
sets of
suction/inta
ke and
delivery/exh
aust valve
on both
sides of the
piston. As
the piston
moves up
and down,

both sides
of the
piston is
utilized in
compressin
g the air.
The intake
and exhaust
valve
operates
correspondi
ng to the
movement
of the
piston or
with the
stroke of
the
compressor.
The air is
compressed

accordingly
and
delivered
continuousl
y as
compared
to singleacting air
compressor.

In line
Compressors
Its name
clarify the
design of
the
compressor.
The
cylinders of
various
stages are
found in a
straight line
when seen

from the
top thats
why they
are called in
line
compressor
s. These are
most
commonly
used
compressor
s in the
area where
there is a
need of
varying
pressure.
They have
simple
design and
commonly

driven by
electric
motors or
diesel
engines.
V-shaped
compressors
They are
come under
air cooled
compressor
s with
concentric
valves
mounted on
each
cylinder
head unit
which are
placed in V-

shaped i.e.
at the angle
of 90
degrees
from each
other and
may or may
not be
connected
to same
crank pin
on the
crank shaft.
They are
compressor
s of higher
capacity so
the cooling
is required.
The vshaped is

given to
such
compressor
for
achieving
better
torque and
balancing
by
displacing
different
units at
some angle.