Compressor House

Air Compressor:-
An air compressor is such a device which is used to compress the air and to
raise its pressure. It sucks the air from atmosphere and delivers it at same
temperature but at high pressure.
There are two types of air needed in power plant. One is instrument air and
other is service air. Al control valves, pneumatic dampers, gates, guide vanes
do operate by the use of instrument air which is a dry compressed air. While
in service air a drier is not used. It is a compressed air directly coming out of
the compressor. It is used for other purposes like transmitter, purging or
cleaning.

Fig. Typical air compressor

Why compressor is used?

We require service air and instrument air in power plant.
Service air as name indicates it used for cleaning, purging and other basic
purpose. Instrument air used for operation of valves.
Basic difference between the service and instrument air is air dryer is used for
instrument air so that moisture can be removed.
Air compressor has multiple stages based on requirement of plant, in general
instrument air pressure will be 7-8kg/cm2. Main purpose is to provide service
air and instrument air.
Working Principle:
When piston moves downward, air is sucked by suction valves at low pressure
and room temperature. When piston moves upward, air is pressurized and
the temperature becomes high. Then this pressurized air should be passes to
HP cylinder for more pressure. But it is not possible to get pressurized air at
high temperature. So to be cool intercooler is used before going to HP
cylinder. Here the temperature is maintained about 66oC. In HP cylinder
temperature raises at 185oC and maximum pressure is 9.2 bar. But we need
high pressurized air, not high tempered air. So to cool the air of 185oC after
cooler is used. Here the temperature is maintained at 90oC. Finally high
pressurized air is obtained and passed to reservoir.
Types of Compressor:
There are mainly two types of compressor.
1. Rotary air compressor.
2. Reciprocating air compressor.
 Rotary Air Compressor:
It is such type of air compressor where air is entrapped between two sets of
engaging surface and the pressure of air is increased by squeezing action or
back flow of air. It is used for large discharge at low pressure.
Types of Rotary Air Compressor:
a. Roots blower compressor.
b. Vane blower compressor.
c. Centrifugal blower compressor.
 Reciprocating air compressor:
It is such type of air compressor in which the pressure of the air is increased in
its cylinder with the help of a moving piston. It is suitable for low discharge of
air at very high speed.
There are many types reciprocating air compressor. It may be single action or
double actions compressors.
 V-type reciprocating air compressor:
V-type reciprocating air compressor has a spring loaded body and base to
resist the vibration. It consist of a low pressure cylinder (LPC) and a high
pressure cylinder (HPC). There is an intercooler and after besides o these two
cylinders. It decreases the temperature but not pressure. Every cylinder has
four suctions and four discharge valves. For safety operations there are some
valves such as:
a. Lube-oil valve.
b. Air valve.
c. Manual valve.
d. Motor valve etc.