What is Compressor: Definition and 199 Discussions

A compressor is a mechanical device that increases the pressure of a gas by reducing its volume. An air compressor is a specific type of gas compressor.
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. Liquids are relatively incompressible; while some can be compressed, the main action of a pump is to pressurize and transport liquids.
Many compressors can be staged, that is, the fluid is compressed several times in steps or stages, to increase discharge pressure. Often, the second stage is physically smaller than the primary stage, to accommodate the already compressed gas without reducing its pressure. Each stage further compresses the gas and increases its pressure and also temperature (if intercooling between stages is not used).

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  1. F

    Compressor Power: Proportionality to Fluid Specific Heat

    Why is the compressor work (steady-flow) proportional to the specific heat of the fluid?
  2. J

    Use cheap portable compressor to generate cycling high pressure burst

    There was a somewhat similar post regarding raising the PSI of a compressor but it doesn't provide an answer to this problem. For various reasons I need to use a very portable cheap tire inflator type compressor. It's ~1 CFM and can inflate to 150 psi maximum pressure (very slowly!). I need...
  3. T

    Thermodynamics Efficiency Of Adiabatic Compressor

    1. 100kg of methane is compressed from 0.5MPa and 300K to 3.0Mpa and 500K in a closed chamber by a compressor. The compression process is assumed to be adiabatic, calculate the efficiency of this compressor. Specific heat capacity of methane under constant pressure is 35.58 kJ/k.mol.K and ideal...
  4. S

    Reciprocating Compressor Experiment.

    So, I've recently carried out an experiment to find the volumetric efficiency of a singular reciprocating compressor. During the experiment, there are sub questions asking you to find the value of n and then whether the process is isothermal, poly tropic or adiabatic. Well, n is found to be very...
  5. S

    Calculating mass of air displaced in compressor.

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  6. N

    How can i calculate pressure drop in air compressor?

    hi friends, I am confused with incompressible and compressible flow.Can i use moody diagram for air compressor.How can i calculate pressure drop in pipe.
  7. J

    Turbochargers, what's the diffrence between the turbine and compressor

    Hello everyone. I'm new to the forum. I'm an engineer...admittedly perhaps not a great one. I wanted to know about a typical automotive fixed geometry turbocharger. Generally it seems that the compressor is larger than the turbine. Despite being more mass flow on the turbine side. :confused...
  8. R

    Air Compressor: What would twin-cylinder mean?

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  9. M

    Gas Turbine Engine Compressor Discharge Air Temperature Calculation

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  10. N

    Find the Exit Temperature of the Air in the Compressor

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  11. S

    Torque estimation of an AC compressor

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  12. C

    Compressor - one-stage versus two-stage?

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  13. J

    Sub Nitrogen Phase Change Compressor unit

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  14. C

    Efficiencies of compressor in industrial chiller system.

    Homework Statement Data: http://postimage.org/image/4bb6y6jrd/ Variables: http://postimage.org/image/sk8xnrru5/ Question asks to find mechanical, volumetric and isentropic efficiencies. The test facility is based around a chiller of nominal cooling capacity of 25 kW. The chiller is...
  15. J

    Power required by air compressor with intercooling feature

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  16. J

    Portable compressor power calculation

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  17. S

    Calculating ideal gas compressor work and final temperature

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  18. G

    Scaling an Axial Compressor

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  19. A

    What Is the Optimal CFM for Lifting a 100 kg Weight with an Air Compressor?

    Respected Gentelmens please advice regarding to my queries. What would be required range of cfm of air compressor to lift a weight about 100 kg. and advice regarding small but effective air compressor available.
  20. W

    Automotive 2001 chevy 3500 pickup cant keep the compressor on

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  21. M

    Compressing He for Weather Balloon Engine

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  22. H

    Need Help Designing an Axial Compressor for My Graduation Project?

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  23. T

    Compressor maps for mathematical model of a gas turbine

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  24. C

    Dyson bladeless fan/turbine compressor building air cooling?

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  25. C

    Are all centrifugal compressor big ?

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  26. D

    Need help working out flow rate of gas from a compressor down a pipe please.

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  27. F

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  28. G

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  29. A

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  30. dpeff

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  31. S

    How Much Heat Must Be Removed in an Adiabatic Compressor Process?

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  32. C

    What factors affect the efficiency of compressors?

    given the same volume and rate of air flow, which would be more efficient compressor between a rotary vane compressor and a bellow?
  33. C

    Compressor section of gas turbine engine duct shaoes

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  34. D

    Air Compressor Capacity in CFM

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  35. L

    Understanding Centrifugal Compressor Flow Rates

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  36. L

    Understanding Air Compressor Power Equations

    Could someone help me with getting an understanding of the equations for the power required to compress air please. I found this Calculator on the internet: http://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/horsepower-compressed-air-d_1363.html I am unsure if it is suitable or accurate enough etc. I see...
  37. T

    Air Compressor + CTIS (Fluids)

    Hi, I have a fluid dynamic question. I need to know the volume airflow rate (cfm) for head loss calculations in my CTIS (central tire inflation system). My goal is to use this info to come up with an analytical model of the system. Our facility has an air compressor that is set to 72 psi...
  38. B

    Working of Water Compressor

    Hi all, I am involve in a group assignment where a water compressor will be used to produce high pressured water. I would like to know if there a formula to calculate the amount of power needed to operate the water compressor. Thanks bluemoon2188
  39. J

    High Pressure Compressor Configuration: Achieving 1000 Pound Pressure in Minutes

    hello, i want the configuration of a compressor having capability of producing 1000 pound pressure in a min. is it possible to store that high pressure of compressed air in a cylinder having 2"(inches) diameter and 12"(inches) height? thank you.
  40. Ranger Mike

    Is there a way to increase air compressor output at the race track?

    OK race fans, I bought a pancake air cylinder from Mcmaster carr. Rated at 670 lbs at 100 psi and it fits under the rear wing mount and when compressed air is applied , the cylinder lifts the rear half of the race car. Problem is at the garage at the race course. The air compressor in the...
  41. M

    Could a Voitenko Compressor be Used in a Missile for Armor-Piercing Attacks?

    Hello, this is my first post, and it's not for any kind of homework, but rather for a work of fiction. From what I understand the Voitenko Compressor is a shaped charge which rapidly deforms a metal plate to accelerate the test gas. From reading a bit, it seems that this lead to a...
  42. S

    Calculate Work, Isentropic Head & Efficiency of a Centrifugal Gas Compressor

    Hi everyone! I have a question and I would be so thankful if you could help me! For a Centrifugal Gas Compressor, if I have the flow rate, the input and output temperatures and pressures in specified rpm, then could I calculate its needed work, isentropic head and efficiency? how? Thanks! Sara
  43. R

    Static pressure in Compressor, Burner, Turbine

    I posted a question about this a couple days ago but I have since solved for the total temperatures in the compressor, burner, and turbine. My question is this. How do I calculate the static pressure in the compressor, burner, and turbine when i know the following data at each station...
  44. F

    Air compressor calculations for engine super charger

    I am an engineer but have a rather dumb question regarding superchargers for engines and probably compressors in general. Most specifications are give as XXcfm at XX psi. I am trying to understand if this truly means we are moving that amount of air at the rated psi or if that means that...
  45. V

    Calculate compressor efficiency

    Hello I am struggling with how a compressor's efficiency is calculated. This is the set up: I have a Garrett T3 compressor housing being spun by an electric motor. I can measure the airflow in, the airflow out, the pressure and temperature on both sides of the compressor, the power...
  46. M

    Compressor with a displacement of 10 meter cube hour

    ]Hi Guys Can you help me with this : If a compressor with a displacement of 10 meter cube hour is displacing gas with a pressure of 10 bar, it is displacing 100 meter cube hour ?? (10 meter cube x 10 bar) rgds Marco
  47. R

    Solar Air Compressor intake problem

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  48. E

    How to plot actual compressor performance on manufacturer performance chart?

    How to plot actual compressor performance on manufacturer" performance chart? Hi all, I have problem on plotting the actual compressor performance on manufacturer" performance chart. Can someone guide me? Please see the attached figure for detailed information. Thanks, EP
  49. H

    What size channel to use to support AC compressor

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  50. C

    Reciprocating compressor help

    I have a 2 stage reciprocating compressor that is set at a suction pressure of 120 psi and discharging at the second stage of 1160 psi. currently I have gas going in at intermediate pressure at 400 psi compressing about 15 mmscfd. My questions are this: 1. Will the compressor handle it if...
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