An Overview of Reciprocating Air Compressor
A reciprocating air compressor is a type of compressor that helps in compressing and supplying air or gas under pressure. Reciprocating compressors are considered the oldest and most common type. The compression effect is created by reducing the volume of gas during the movement of the piston in the cylinder. The suction and discharge valves are spring-loaded and operate automatically under the action of the differential pressure that arises between the compressor cylinder and the pressure in the pipeline when the piston moves.
The reciprocating compression unit is a volumetric compressor equipped with a piston compression system. This type of compressor was one of the first to be used in production. Now the units are actively used both in industrial production and in semi-industrial and domestic purposes.
A reciprocating compressor compresses and delivers air or liquids, such as oils under pressure. Reciprocating compressors can most often be seen where applications are associated with high pressure.
The main structural elements of a reciprocating compressor are represented by a working cylinder, piston, valves (discharge and suction), which are located in the cylinder cover. The translational movements of the piston create the required medium pressure in this type of compressor. The crank mechanism, in conjunction with the crankshaft, forces the piston to reciprocate.
Compressors of this type can be equipped with one or more cylinders, which are located horizontally / vertically. These units can be single-acting or double-acting (if the piston works on both sides), and also differ in the type of compression: multi-stage or single-stage.
In equipment, automatic performance control is provided in order to ensure a constant level of pressure. The easiest way to adjust this is to change the speed of the compressor shaft.
Reciprocating compressor units are diverse in variety, and the market offers a wide variety of options for any industrial needs. There are many situations in which reciprocating compressors are the optimal solution:
- large differences in the volume of compressed air produced (reciprocating compressors successfully cope with such situations);
- used in difficult conditions, such as high humidity, temperature changes (when packing cement, in mills, coal warehouses);
- compression of gases;
Benefits:
- relatively inexpensive
- simple maintenance
- Suitable for high pressure.
How a reciprocating air compressor works
A reciprocating air compressor is a device whose operation is based on compressing air and supplying it under a certain pressure. When choosing compressor equipment to perform various types of work, it is necessary to take into account the compressor device, its design features, as well as technical and operating characteristics of the installation.
The principle of operation of the air compressor depends on the type of installation. Modern compressors have several classifications, the main of which is the difference between compressors according to the principle of operation.
During the operation, the air that passes through the filtration system, where the air is mixed with oil. The use of oil is necessary to eliminate air bubbles and seal the space.
Next, the air-oil mixture is pumped by a screw block into the pneumatic system. At the next stage, the mixture enters the separator, where the air is separated from the oils and, through the radiator system, is supplied to the receiver.