PRACTICAL NO.

DATE

TITLE: TRIAL ON RECIPROCATING AIR COMPRESSOR

Aim: Determination of volumetric, mechanical and isothermal efficiency of two stage
reciprocating air compressor.

Test setup: It comprises of the following:

1. Air compressor with motor and accessories
2. Air box for air measurement
3. Electrical panel
4. Mountings like pressure gauges, flow control valve, automatic pressure switch etc.

Specifications of test set up:

Make JP Techno
Displacement 180 lits / min
Maximum working pressure 10 kg/cm2
Unit RPM 720
Tank capacity 160 lits
No. of cylinders 2
No. of stages 2
Bore (LP) 65 mm
Bore (HP) 50 mm
Stroke 55 mm
Power transmission Through V belt
Cylinder cooling Air cooling
Compressor mountings Pressure relief valve, Automatic cut off switch
Drain cock, Non return valve, Pressure gauge
Compressor accessory Intercooler
Motor Rating 2 hp, RPM 1440
Air measurement setup Air tank made up of MS sheet, Size 400 mm x 400 mm x
400 mm fitted on strong stand made upon MS sq. tubes.
Orifice: circular 14 mm dia, Cd = 0.67
Manometer: U tube 0 -30 cm, water filled
Air connection: Rubber hose pipe
Electric panel Panel: Plywood
Starter: DOL
Energy meter: 3 phase
Equipped with temperature indicator with selector switch
Procedure:
1. Check connection and ensure direction of rotation of compressor.
2. Close shut off valve.
3. Fill manometer with water.
4. Start the motor and observe pressure on gauge located on the tank.
5. Adjust constant pressure P3 = 2 bar on the pressure gauge by controlling the position of
delivery valve.
6. Note down the reading of manometer.
7. Note down the time required for 5 blinks on energy meter.
8. Repeat the steps 6 and 7 for different values of P3 as 4,6,8… bar
9. Tabulate all the readings and perform the calculations of isothermal, volumetric and
mechanical efficiency.

Nomenclature:

Sr. No. Parameter Description Symbol Unit

1 Delivery pressure P3 bar
2 Intermediate pressure P2 bar
3 Inlet pressure P1 bar
0
3 Inlet temperature T1 C
0
4 Temperature of air at the exit of first cylinder T2 C
5 Temperature of air at the entry of second cylinder T2’ 0
C
0
6 Temperature of air at the exit of second cylinder T3 C
7 Diameter of orifice do mm
8 Area of orifice Ao m2
9 Coefficient of discharge Cd --
10 Density of air a Kg/m3
11 Density of water w Kg/m3
12 Pressure difference measured in terms of air column ha mm
13 Pressure difference measured in terms of water column hw mm
14 Motor efficiency m --
15 Transmission efficiency t --

Observations:
1. Diameter of orifice = d o = 14 mm
2. Coefficient of discharge = C d =0.67
3. Density of water =  w = 1000 Kg/m3
4. Energy meter constant = k = 1280 imp / kW hr
5. Barometric pressure = Atmospheric pressure = Pa = 95.3 kPa
6. Atmospheric temperature = Ta = 30 0C
7. Ideal gas constant for air = 0.287 kJ/kg K
Observation table:

Gauge
pressure Time required Manometer
Temperature in (0C)
Sr. (bar) for 5 blinks on reading h in
No. Energy meter Speed (mm) of water
in (sec) N (rpm) column
P3 P2
T1 T2 T2 ’ T3
1
2
3
4
5
Calculations:

1. Area of the orifice (m2)


Ao 
2
dO
4

2. Pressure head in terms of air column (m)

 *h P
h a  w w where  a  a
a RaTa

3. Volume flow rate of air (m3/s)

.
Va = Cd * Ao * 2 * g * ha

4. Volumetric efficiency (%)

.
Va .

 vol  .
where V s  D2 L * n
Vs 4
n  no. of working strokes/sec = N/60 for single acting and n  2N/60 for double acting
compressor

5. Isothermal power (kW)

. P 
Piso  P1 *Va * ln  3  Where P1 in k Pa
 P1 
6. BP (kW)
n * 3600
BP = * m *t
t *k

7. IP(kW)

IP = IP first  IPsec ond

  n1 1
 n 1
n1 P  n1 1

P1V1  2    n
IP first    1 where n1 is found out by 2   2 
T P 1

n1  1  P1   T1  P1 
 
 n2 1
 n2 1
n2  P  n2
T  P  n2
IP sec ond  P2 V2'  3   1 where n2 is found out by 3   3 
n2  1  P2   T2'  P2 
 

. .
P V P2 V2'
V2' is found out by 1 1 
T1 T2'

8. Isothermal efficiency (%)

Piso
iso  *100
IP

9. Mechanical efficiency (%)

IP
 mech 
BP

Result table:

P3 IP BP Piso
Sr. No.  m ech v  iso
P1 (kW) (kW) (kW)
1
2
3
4
5
Note: Students should draw the graphs of volumetric efficiency, Isothermal efficiency and
Mechanical efficiency vs P3/ P1

Conclusion:

1. As P3/ P1 ratio increases, volumetric efficiency decreases.

2. As P3/ P1 ratio increases, isothermal efficiency slightly decreases.
3. As P3/ P1 ratio increases, mechanical efficiency increases.

*****