Compressor Design

General Equations
If the suction pressure and the discharge pressures of the compressor are
then the specific work done by the compressor can be found using:
k
P ( )
k
w=Ps v s (
)(( d ) k1 1)
k1 Ps

Ps and

Pd respectively,

Here k is the index of compression. For the refrigerant R134a, it can be approximated to 1.15 under
normal operating conditions. However, if more accuracy is required, k can be found from the
equation:
P
ln( s )
Pd
k=
v
ln( d )
vs
Based on the mass flow rate of the refrigerant, the compressor power consumption and the volumetric
flow rate of refrigerant through the compressor can be found out sing:
P=mw

V r =mv

S
Once we find the value of V r , the actual swept volume of the compressor can be found, if we know
the volumetric efficiency of the compressor. The actual swept volume of the compressor is:
V
V s= vr
Assume a suitable stroke to bore ratio, based on the following guidelines:
Vacuum pumps and high speed compressors: <0.5
Fluorocarbon compressors: =0.8
Ammonia compressors: =1.0
High pressure compressors: =4.6
Once these values have been assumed, the bore of the cylinder can be found out using the equation:
3 240V s
D=
N

Here N is the rotational speed of the compressor in rad / s . The general speed ranges for
compressors are 1000 rpm to 1500 rpm .
Once the bore of the cylinder is found, the length of stroke can be found using:
L=D
The values of volumetric efficiencies for various compression ratios can be found using the following
table (taken from Principles of Refrigeration, Dossat, R.J.)

Calculations and Results

The pressure drops at the suction and discharge valves have been assumed to be 0.2 bar and 0.4 bar
respectively. Based on the properties of refrigerant at the exit of evaporator ( T e=8o C ) and at the
entry of condenser ( T c =40o C ), the following following pressures have been found:
P1=349.9 kPa and P2=1017 kPa
Hence the suction and the discharge pressures are:
Ps=P120 kPa=329.9 kPa and

Pd =P 2+ 40 kPa=1057 kPa

Further, the specific volumes at these states are:

v s=0.06327 m3 /kg and v d =0.02032 m 3 / kg
Based on these properties of refrigerant, the index of compression can be found out to be:
P
329.9
ln ( s )
ln(
)
Pd
1057
k=
=
=1.025
vd
0.02032
ln
(
)
ln( )
0.06327
vs
The specific work of the compressor is:

k
1.025
)
P d ( k1
k
1.025
1057 ( 1.0251 )
w=Ps v s (
)(( )
1)=329.9 kPa0.02032 m3 /kg(
)((
)
1)=24.65 kJ /kg
k1 Ps
1.0251 329.9

The actual power consumed by the compressor and the volumetric flow rate of the refrigerant are:
P=mw=0.02361
kg/ s24.65 kJ /kg=0.5821 kW

3
3

V r =mv

s=0.02361 kg /s0.06327 m /kg=0.001494 m /s

The compression ratio of the compressor is:

Pd 1057
=
=3.204
P s 329.9
For the above compression ration, the volumetric efficiency is estimated to be v =0.795 . Hence the
swept volumetric flow rate of the refrigerant is:
V 0.001494
V s= vr =
=0.001879 m3 /s
0.795
r C=

The refrigerant chosen here is R134a, which is a fluorocarbon refrigerant. Hence the stroke-to-bore
ratio, is assumed to be 0.8. The rotational speed of the compressor, N is taken to be
1000 rpm which equals 104.7 rad /s .
Hence the bore diameter of the compressor is:
3
3 240V s
3 2400.001879 m / s
D=
=
=0.1109 m
N
0.8104.7

Hence the length of stroke is:

L=D=0.80.1109=0.08868 m

From the cycle analysis, the ideal work done by the compressor is:
Pideal =m(h

3h2 )=0.02361 kg /s (281.5256.6)kJ /kg=0.5863 kW

Hence the efficiency of the compressor is:
=

P
Pideal

Critical parameters of the compressor:

Bore diameter

110 mm

Length of stroke

90 mm

Power consumed

0.6 kW

0.5821
=0.9832
0.5863