A piston compressor, also known as a piston compressor, reciprocating piston compressor, or reciprocating compressor, is a type of compressor that relies on the reciprocating motion of the piston to pressurize and transport gas. The following is a detailed introduction about piston compressors:
1. Basic Structure
A piston compressor is mainly composed of a working chamber, transmission components, a body, and auxiliary components. Among them, the working chamber is directly used to compress gas and consists of a cylinder, cylinder liner, air valve, packing, piston, and piston rod. The transmission components are used to achieve reciprocating motion, including crankshaft connecting rod, eccentric slider, inclined plate, etc. Among them, the crankshaft connecting rod mechanism is the most commonly used, which consists of a crosshead, connecting rod, and crankshaft.
2. Working principle
The working principle of a piston compressor is to use the reciprocating motion of the piston in the cylinder to change the volume of the working chamber, thereby achieving gas compression and delivery. When the crankshaft rotates, the piston undergoes reciprocating motion through the transmission of the connecting rod. When the piston starts moving from the cylinder head, the working volume inside the cylinder gradually increases, and gas enters the cylinder by pushing open the intake valve along the intake pipe. When the piston moves in reverse, the working volume inside the cylinder decreases and the gas pressure increases. When the pressure inside the cylinder reaches and is slightly higher than the exhaust pressure, the exhaust valve opens and gas is discharged from the cylinder. This process is constantly repeated to achieve continuous compression and transportation of gas.
3. Characteristics
Wide applicable pressure range: Piston compressors can be designed for low pressure, medium pressure, high pressure, and ultra-high pressure to meet different pressure requirements.
High compression efficiency: The process of compressing gas with a piston compressor belongs to a closed system, and its compression efficiency is relatively high.
Strong adaptability: Piston compressors have a wide range of displacement, and the impact of gas density on compressor performance is not as significant as that of speed compressors. A piston compressor of the same specification can often be adapted to compress other gas media with minor modifications.
Convenient management and maintenance: As the entire machine is within the operator's line of sight, management and maintenance are relatively convenient.
4. Application Fields
Piston compressors are highly favored by various industries due to their simple structure, high reliability, and wide range of applications. Its application areas include but are not limited to:
Industrial manufacturing: used for compressing process gases such as air, oxygen, nitrogen, etc. to meet the needs of various equipment and processes. Meanwhile, it is also commonly used in control systems, hydraulic systems, and cooling systems in the manufacturing industry.
Commercial freezing and refrigeration: Used in cold storage and refrigeration equipment in supermarkets, hotels, restaurants, and other places, it maintains a low-temperature environment by compressing refrigerants.
Petroleum and natural gas industry: used in the process of transporting gases and liquids, such as pressurized injection of liquids during oil well extraction to improve oil recovery efficiency, and natural gas compression in natural gas compression stations.
Transportation: Especially in the air conditioning systems of cars and trains, it is used to compress refrigerant and deliver it to the condenser and evaporator to regulate the air temperature inside the car.
Medical field: Used to supply gases such as compressed air and oxygen, which are used for the operation of various medical equipment and operating tables.
5. Performance parameters
The main performance parameters of piston compressors include:
Displacement: refers to the output capacity of the compressor, which represents the volume of gas discharged by the compressor per unit time. The size of the displacement depends on the model and specifications of the compressor, as well as the working conditions (such as intake pressure, exhaust pressure, temperature, etc.).
Compression ratio: refers to the ratio of the inlet pressure to the outlet pressure of a compressor. The compression ratio reflects the degree to which the compressor compresses the gas.
Power: Refers to the energy input required by the compressor during operation. The power depends on the displacement, compression ratio, and working conditions of the compressor.
6. Advantages and disadvantages
advantage:
The structure of piston compressors is relatively simple, and the manufacturing and maintenance costs are low.
Strong adaptability, can be used to compress various gas media.
The range of exhaust volume is wide and can be selected according to actual needs.
High compression efficiency can achieve effective utilization of energy.
Disadvantages:
The low speed results in a large volume and heavy weight of the machine.
The structure is complex, with many vulnerable parts and a large amount of maintenance work.
Discontinuous exhaust may cause airflow pulsation and vibration.
7. Maintenance and upkeep
In order to ensure the normal operation and prolong the service life of the piston compressor, regular maintenance and upkeep work is required. This includes:
Cleaning and Inspection: Clean the compressor daily to maintain the cleanliness of the equipment surface and surrounding environment. At the same time, check the fastening of each component to ensure that there is no looseness.
Lubrication management: According to the equipment lubrication management system, regularly replenish lubricating oil and check whether the oil quality meets the requirements. If the oil quality does not meet the requirements, it should be replaced in a timely manner.
Operation monitoring: Monitor the operating parameters of the compressor at any time, such as temperature, pressure, vibration, etc., and record relevant data. Any abnormal situation should be dealt with promptly.
Replace lubricating oil: Regularly replace the lubricating oil of the compressor to ensure the normal operation of the lubrication system. When changing oil, thoroughly clean the oil circuit and oil tank to avoid oil contamination.
Cleaning and inspection of internal components: Regularly clean and inspect the interior of the compressor, including components such as cylinders, pistons, and air valves. Thoroughly remove carbon deposits and dirt during cleaning, and pay attention to the wear of components during inspection.
8. Development Trends
With the continuous advancement of industrial technology and changes in market demand, piston compressors are also constantly developing. Future development trends may include:
Efficient and energy-saving: By optimizing design and adopting advanced energy-saving technologies, the energy consumption of compressors is reduced, and energy utilization efficiency is improved.
Intelligent control: Advanced sensors and control systems are used to achieve intelligent control and remote monitoring of compressors, improving equipment reliability and stability.
Environmental protection and emission reduction: Strengthen the environmental performance of equipment, reduce the generation and emission of pollutants, and lower environmental pollution.
In summary, piston compressors are important mechanical equipment with wide applications in various fields. By understanding its performance parameters, advantages and disadvantages, as well as maintenance and upkeep methods, one can better use and maintain this equipment, and pay attention to its development trends to adapt to changes in market demand.
