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Types of
Positive-Displacement Compressors
There are two kinds of
positive-displacement compressors. They are reciprocating and rotary.
The reciprocating compressors work in the same manner as bicycle pumps.
The volume of air or gas in the cylinder is compressed to a higher
pressure by a piston which is pushed through a crankshaft and connecting
rod by an electric motor. The reciprocating compressors range in sizes
of 1 hp to over 600 hp.
There are single-acting compressors and double-acting compressors. A
single acting compressor contains a compression stroke that functions in
just one direction; whereas the double-acting systems have a compression
stroke with a piston that travels in both directions. The large
reciprocating air compressors that are used for industrial purposes are
double-acting and water-cooled. The most efficient types for this
purpose are multi-stage, double acting compressors. These systems are
usually bigger, noisier and more expensive than the equivalent rotary
components.
Rotary compressors are now quite popular for use in American industry.
The most common sizes utilized are from 30 to 200 hp. The rotary screw,
also known as the helical-lobe, rotary compressor is the most often used
system. This system operates by the meshing of male and female
screw-rotors, while reducing the volume of air among the rotors to the
discharge point of the air.
Some advantages of the rotary screw compressors, are that there is a low
start-up cost, low weight, compact in size, and they are simple to
maintain. The rotary screw compressors can be either air-cooled or
water-cooled. There are also rotary compressors that include a sliding
vane, scroll-type or liquid-ring, but these types are not as common.
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