Text 2. Gas Compressor Units

A gas compressor unit is a mechanical device that increases the pressure of a gas by reducing its volume. Compression of a gas naturally increases its temperature.

Compressors are similar to pumps: both increase the pressure on a fluid and both can transport the fluid through a pipe. As gases are compressible, the compressor also reduces the volume of a gas.

Centrifugal compressors are used throughout industry because they have fewer rubbing parts. Centrifugal fan/blowers are more suited to continuous - duty applications such as ventilation fans, air movers, cooling units, and other uses that require high volume with little or no pressure increase. Centrifugal compressors use a vaned rotating disk or impeller in a shaped housing to force the gas to the rim of the impeller, increasing the velocity of the gas. A diffuser (divergent duct) section converts the velocity energy to pressure energy.

Axial-flow compressors use a series of fan-like rotor blades to progressively compress the gasflow. Stationary stator vanes, located downstream of each rotor, redirect the flow onto the next set of rotor blades. The area of the gas passage diminishes through the compressor to maintain a roughly constant axial Mach number. Axial-flow compressors are normally used in high flow applications, as a medium to large gas turbine engines. They are almost always multi-staged. Beyond about 4:1 design pressure ratio, variable geometry is often used to improve operation.

Reciprocating compressors use pistons driven by a crankshaft. They can be either stationary or portable, can be single or multi-staged, and can be driven by electric motors or internal combustion engines. Small reciprocating compressors from 5 to 30 horsepower (hp) are commonly seen in automotive applications and are typically for intermittent duty. Larger reciprocating compressors up to 1000 hp are still commonly found in large industrial applications, but their numbers are declining as they are replaced by various other types of compressors. Discharge pressures can range from low pressure to very high pressure (>5000 psi or 35 MPa). In certain applications, such as air compression, multi-stage double-acting compressors are said to be the most efficient compressors and are typically larger, noisier and more costly than comparable rotary units.

A diaphragm compressor (also known as a membrane compressor) is a variant of the conventional reciprocating compressor. The compression of gas occurs by the movement of a flexible membrane instead of an intake element. The back and forth movement of the membrane is driven by a rod and a crankshaft mechanism. Only the membrane and the compressor box come in touch with the gas being compressed. Diaphragm compressors are used for hydrogen and compressed natural gas (CNG) as well as in a number of other applications.

Rotary screw compressors use two meshed rotating helical screws to force the gas into a smaller space. These are usually used for continuous operation in commercial and industrial applications and may be either stationary or portable. Their application can be from 3 hp (2,24 kW) to over 500 hp (375 kW) and from low pressure to very high pressure (>1200 psi or 8.3 MPa). They are commonly seen with roadside repair crews powering air-tools. This type is also used for many automobile engine superchargers because it is easily matched to the induction capacity of a piston engine.

Rotary vane compressors consist of a rotor with a number of blades inserted in radial slots in the rotor. The rotor blades slide in and out of slots, keeping contact with the outer wall of the housing. Rotary vane compressors and piston compressors are one of the oldest of compressor technologies. A rotary vane compressor is well suited to electric motor drive and is significantly quieter in operation than the equivalent piston compressor.

Exercise 14. Answer the questions on text 2.

1. What mechanical device is called a gas compressor?

2. What are the main applications of centrifugal compressors?

3. What are the main types of gas compressors?

4. Why are centrifugal compressors more suited to continuous-duty applications?

5. What do axial-flow compressors use to progressively compress the gasflow?

6. How are axial-flow compressors used?

7. What are the main features of reciprocating compressors?

8. What applications may reciprocating compressors be seen?

9. What is the difference between a diaphragm (membrane) and reciprocating compressor?

10. How do diaphragm compressors operate?

11. What is the purpose of rotary screw compressors?

12. Why are rotary vane compressors used rather than equivalent piston compressors?

Exercise 15. Say whether the given statements are true or false. If a statement is wrong, correct. If true, enrich it with details.

1. Compressors are similar to pumps. 2. Centrifugal compressors use a vaned rotating disk or impeller. 3. Axial-flow compressors are almost always multistaged. 4. Rotary screw compressors are multi-stage double-acting compressors. 5. A rotary vane compressor is significantly noisier in operation than the equivalent piston compressor.

Exercise 16. Memorize the following words and word combinations to text 3.

Jet – реактивний

steam – пара (водяна)

alternating current (АС) – змінний струм

petrol – бензин

exhaust – вихлоп; випускати

turbocharger – турбонагнітач

refinery - очисний завод

intermediate product - проміжний продукт

petroleum – нафтопродукт

refrigeration – охолодження

vapour – пара

pneumatic – пневматичний

Exercise 17. Read and entitle text 3.