What is Compressor?

A compressor is a device used to compress air or other gases to pressures higher than atmosphere pressure. It compresses the air taken from the atmosphere and increases its pressure. Compressors are used in many different industries such as the automotive, chemical and petrochemical, textile, food, energy, healthcare and glass.

 Types and Specifications of the Compressor

Compressor types are divided into two in regard to the method to be used: Positive displacement compressors and turbo compressors. Positive displacement compressors are based on the principle of increasing the pressure by compressing the air in a certain volume. This type of compressors are divided into types according to their piston, cylinder, rotor and body shapes or numbers. And, the others work on the principle of increasing the speed of the air with the help of turbines and then obtaining pressure by reducing its speed.

Compressor types are divided into 6 separate groups according to their working principle.

• Piston compressors
• Screw compressors
• Centrifugal compressors
• Axial flow compressors
• Rotary positive displacement compressors
• Jet compressors

Piston Compressors

Compressed air in piston compressors is obtained as a result of the piston’s compressing the air or gas with its forward-backward movement. Compression process takes place between the piston and the cylinder, the intake and the discharge valves.

Screw Compressors

The compression movement of screw compressors takes place in the screw block formed by the coupling of two rotors placed in a body. Air is taken from the suction port to the compression chamber. The tooth spaces of the rotors are filled with air. The rotors rotating in the reverse direction close the suction opening for the sucked air and create a compression area between the body and the rotor tooth spaces. With the reverse rotation of the rotors, the air moves in the direction of the tooth gaps in the gradually decreasing volume. Compressed air is expelled from the screw block outlet.

Centrifugal Compressors

According to the working principle of the centrifugal compressors, the air is taken into the annular chamber centrally and the air accelerates under the centrifugal force as a result of the rotational motion inside the circular centre. But, when it reaches to the outer side, it slows down. A decrease in speed also provides an increase in pressure. The air is taken into the collection ring and is expelled.

Axial Flow Compressors

EIn the operating system of axial flow compressors, the air puts into operation parallel to the rotational axis and proceeds helically. Thus, the pressure increases continuously. The working principle of such a compressor is suitable for the reverse of the turbine.

Parts of the axial flow compressors:

• The part that has the impeller or turbine blades and generates the inner wall of the compressor
• The bearing part that forms the outlet section and supports the rotating sections
• The part that is at a standstill and generates the outer walls of the compressor. It is produced by the compressor firms in the shape of a half-round. There are ducts inside that are helical and compatible with the impeller parts.
• During production, the entering air is accelerated and then this speed is reduced. Thus, the pressure rises.

Rotary Positive Displacement Compressors

The working principle of the rotary positive displacement compressors is as follows; the air is converted into small successive volumes by the external central pumps. As the volume decreases, it is ensured that the pressure increases. The rotating part of the engine draws the fluid from its inlet, rotates the fluid circularly around it and transfers it to the high pressure part at its outlet.

Jet Compressors

There are two types of jet compressors. Hydraulic compressors, gas and vapour compressors.

Hydraulic Compressors are compressors that use falling water or water under pressure by applying pressure to air, without using any industrial moving parts. The simplest high-level water body exerts pressure on the air as it descends to the low level. Subsequently, the water is immediately separated from the compressed air.

Gas and Vapour Compressors have orifices from which the compressed air or vapour come out. High pressure air expands while it comes out of this orifice and takes the air with it thanks to its rapid movement. Then, the decreasing kinetic energy causes the pressure to increase as well. Such pumps are used as air blowing elements especially in places where the vapour does not have a harmful effect and as thermo compressors in heat pumps and ventilation machines.

 What are the Usage Areas of Compressors?

Compressors are vital in many sectors, from small businesses to large industrial plants. Compressed air (compressor) is used in many fields such as inflating car tires, mold and press boards, gas compression process in petroleum industry and control and operating mechanisms in the crude metal sector as well as die cutting, press boards and dyeing processes in automotive sector, and yarn production in the textile sector. Compressor is a secret hero in the production of many products that we use in our daily lives.

In this article, we touched upon the issues such as ‘’What is a compressor’’, ‘’What are the types of compressors’’, ‘’Which sectors are the compressors used in’’.

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