Compressor Types

Christos Chourpouliadis
Sales Engineer
Key Accounts & Vertical Markets

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 Presentation Contents
Section 1 Introduction – Fundamentals and Definitions
Section 2 Compressor Categories
Open Compressors
Hermetic Compressors
Section 3 Compressor Types
Rotary Compressors
Scroll Compressors
Screw Compressors
Centrifugal Compressors
Reciprocating Compressors
Section 4 Compressor Applications
Section 5 Summary

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 Section 1

Compressor Types

Fundamentals & Definitions

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 Definitions

▪ Air Conditioning is defined as the process of

regulating the temperature, humidity, movement
and purity of the air in a room.

▪ Air conditioned air can be used for human

comfort (comfort cooling) or for industrial
processes (process cooling).

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 Definitions
▪ Cooling is the process of removing heat from the air of
a room in order to drop the temperature or keep it
within certain limits.

▪ Mechanical Cooling or Refrigeration is defined as the

process of using a volatile liquid to absorb heat from a
lower temperature room, so that, when we increase its
pressure and temperature, it can be discharged into a
higher temperature room.

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 Definitions
▪ Compression is the process of increasing the pressure
of a gas by reducing its volume.

▪ Compressor is the mechanical device that performs the

specific process.

▪ Positive Displacement Compressors suck a distinct

volume of gas at their inlet (suction) which is forced
out of their outlet (discharge) by the displacement of
a mechanical device.

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 Basic Positive Displacement Cycle
Metering
Device

Compressor

Filter Evaporator
Drier (Indoor Coil)

Condenser
(Outdoor Coil)
Liquid
Line

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 The Compressor in the Refrigerant Cycle

The Heart of
Refrigeration

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 Basic Positive Displacement Cycle

High-Pressure
Side
3. Heat rejecting section

4. Pressure/
flow control 2. Vapor
valve pump

Low-Pressure
Side
1. Heat absorbing section

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 Basic System on the Ph Diagram

Subcooled
Liquid

Superheated
Vapor
Pressure

Mixed
Phase

Enthalpy

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 Direct Expansion (DX) System
Exhaust Return
Damper Air Fan Solar

Return Duct
RA
Supply Duct Grille

Supply
Return Air Fan HEAT
Damper
35° C

Outdoor Air
Damper
Evaporator
Coil Condenser
Expansion
Device

Compressor

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 Indirect Refrigeration System
Exhaust Return
Damper Air Fan Solar

Return Duct
RA
Supply Duct Grille

Supply
Return Air Fan HEAT
Damper
35° C
Cooling
Tower

Outdoor Air
Damper
Chilled-Water
Coil Condenser
Evaporator

Expansion
Device Condenser Water
Chilled-Water
Pump Pump

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 Section 2

Compressor Types

Compressor Categories

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 Compressor Designations
• Open Compressor

• Hermetic Compressor
▪ Semi-hermetic compressor

▪ Welded hermetic

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 Open Compressors

▪ Open Type Compressors

• External drive motor
• Connection with straps, pulleys or
flexible couplings
• Mainly for cars and ships air-
conditioning applications
• Disassembly ability
• Large volume and weight,
difficulty of sealing, increased
noise and cost.

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 Hermetic Compressors

▪ Hermetic Type Compressors

• Drive motor inside the shell
• Shaft sealing is not required
• Motor cooling is provided by the
refrigerant
• Classified further as semi-
hermetic or welded hermetic
compressors

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 Semi-Hermetic Compressors
▪ Semi-Hermetic Type Compressors
• Drive motor inside the shell
• The shell can be disassembled with
screws
• Air-cooled with cooling fins outside
the shell
• Lubrication with oil pump (high
capacity) or lubricant injection system
(low capacity)
• Relatively small size and cost
compared to open type compressors.

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 Welded Hermetic Compressors
▪ Welded Hermetic Type Compressors
• Hermetically sealed casing
• No possibility of disassembly
• Cooling with refrigerant suction
• Lubrication with oil pump
• Low cost, small size and weight, small
chances of leaks, quiet operation with
minimal vibrations

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 Section 3

Compressor Types

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 Compressor Types

Rotary
Positive
Scroll
Displacement
Screw
Reciprocating

Dynamics Centrifugal

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 Rotary Compressors
A “Rolling Piston” A “Sliding Vane”
Rotary Compressor Rotary Compressor
Discharge

Discharge

Sliding Vane

Suction Suction

Section 5 – Compressor Types

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 Rotary Compressor Operation Principle
Suction

Accumulator

Sliding Vane Rolling Piston

(Not Visible)

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 Rotary Compressors Suction Stroke

Discharge Rolling
Valve Piston

Sliding
Vane Housing

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 Rotary Compressors Discharge Stroke

Discharge Rolling
Valve Piston

Sliding
Vane Housing

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 Rotary Compressor Construction
Discharge Tube

Suction Tube Electrical Power Connection

with Pressure Relief
High-Side Shell
Motor Stator
Lower Shell
Housing Eccentric Shaft
Accumulator Motor Rotor

Upper Pump Bearing

Discharge Valve Muffler
Vane Cylinder
Rolling Piston
Lower Pump Bearing
Sliding Vane
(Not Visible) Oil Pump

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 Rotary Compressor Capacity Control

▪ Inverter driven rotary

compressors
▪ Dual piston - Twin rotary
inverter compressors
▪ Triple piston –Triple rotary
inverter compressors with
capacity up to 56 kW

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 Rotary Compressor Advantages
▪ Low noise operation with low
vibration levels

▪ High energy efficiency, especially in

part load operation

▪ Immediate response to load changes

▪ Compact dimensions and weight

▪ Few moving components

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 Scroll Compressors

Copyright©
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 Scroll Compressor Operation

SUCTION COMPRESSION DISHARGE

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 Scroll Compressor Construction
1. Discharge Tube
2. Discharge Plenum
(Hidden) 3. Check Valve
4. Fixed Scroll
5. Orbiting Scroll
6. Crankcase
7. Counterweight
8. Electric Terminal
9. Eccentric Shaft
10. Shell
11. Rotor
12. Stator
13. Thrust Washer
14. Internal Pressure Relief Valve
15. Suction Baffle
16. Suction Tube
17. Lower Bearing
18. Oil Tube

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 Scroll Compressor Performance

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 Scroll Compressor Advantages

▪ There is no need for valves

▪ Continuous gas flow
▪ Low noise and vibration
levels
▪ Few moving components
▪ Less susceptible in liquid
refrigerant suction
▪ Wear don’t affect their
performance

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 Scroll Compressor Capacity Control

Multiple scroll compressors on

independent circuits or piped in
tandem

Control by inverter driven motors

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 Screw Compressors

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 Screw Compressor Operation
Discharge
Compression Suction
Suction Suction
Suction

Discharge

Discharge Discharge

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 Screw Compressor Operation
Legend
Check Valve

Backseating Service Valve

with Refrigerant Port

TXV (Thermal Expansion Valve)

EXV (Electronic Expansion Valve)

Muffler

Oil Pump (External)

Service Valve

Solenoid Valve

Strainer Filter Drier

Section 5 – Compressor Types

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 Screw Compressor Construction
Internal
Motor Terminal Box Oil Solenoid Oil Filter

Discharge
Male Rotor
Female Rotor

Oil Pressure
Transducer High
Pressure
Switch
Unloader
Transmission Suction Solenoids

Suction Condenser
Subcooler
Port
Discharge

Oil Pressure
Volume Control Solenoid
Transducer
Liquid Injection Port

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 Screw Capacity Control Methods
SLIDE VALVE METHOD PORT VALVE METHOD
Infinite Capacity Control Stepped Capacity Control

Slide Valve Step Valves

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 Screw Compressor Advantages

▪ Continuous gas flow

▪ Few moving components
▪ No problem from liquid
refrigerant drops
▪ Capacity control with sliding
valve
▪ High discharge pressures
▪ No danger from inflow or return
of liquid refrigerant

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 Centrifugal Compressor
Motor Compressor

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 Centrifugal Compressor Operation

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 Centrifugal Compressor Construction
Refrigerant Cooling Transmission High Speed
Shaft

Impeller

Inlet
Hermetic Guide
Housing Vanes
Low Speed
Shaft
Electric Motor
Rotor

Oil Filter
Oil Pump

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 Centrifugal Compressor Map

100%
75%
50%
25%
Head Factor

Stone Wall
Load line
plotted on
compressor map

Flow Factor

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 Centrifugal Compressor Efficiency Characteristics
Constant Speed Centrifugal
90%
Efficiency 80%

70%

60%
Lift
Open Vanes
50% Vanes

25% Vanes

10% Vanes

Capacity (Tons)

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 Centrifugal Compressor Capacity Control

Guide Inlet
Vane Guide
Motor Vanes

Inlet
Shroud

Impeller

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 Centrifugal Compressor Capacity Control

Inlet
Guide
Vanes
Closed

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 Centrifugal Compressor Capacity Control

Variable Speed
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 Centrifugal Compressor Advantages

▪ Very high energy efficiencies

▪ Combined ideally with the new

low GWP environmentally friendly
refrigerants

▪ High capacity up to 4.000 RT

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 Reciprocating Compressors
06D Semi-Hermetic Compressor

Motor

Reciprocating
Piston

Motor

Reciprocating
Piston

Section 5 – Compressor Types

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 Reciprocating Compressor Operation

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 Reciprocating Compressors Construction
06D Semi-Hermetic Compressor
Head
Head Gasket
Discharge
Port Crankcase Pressure
Piston Valve Plate Equalizing Tube
Gasket
Valve Plate
Connecting Rod Spinner Tube
Rings Assembly
Oil Pressure
Tap Crankshaft
Suction
Port
Bearing Head
Oil Pump Main Suction
Assembly Oil Pressure Bearings Rotor
Regulator Inlet Screen
Oil Galley
Oil Drain Oil Return Stator
Check Valve
Oil Pickup Tube Crankcase Oil Sump
and Screen Heater Port

Section 5 – Compressor Types

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 Section 4

Compressor Types

Compressors Applications

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 Rotary Compressor Applications

Residential Split Units Residential Multi Split Units

Portable Units Dehumidifiers

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 Rotary Compressor Applications

Light-Commercial Units Residential Air-to-water

Heat Pumps

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 Scroll Compressor Applications
Air-Cooled Chillers and Heat Pumps

Small Capacity Applications

Medium Capacity Applications

Large Capacity Applications

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 Scroll Compressor Applications

Packaged Air-to-Air Rooftop Units

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 Scroll Compressor Applications
Water-Cooled Chillers and Heat Pumps

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 Scroll Compressor Applications
Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) Systems

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 Screw Compressor Applications

Air-cooled Chillers with capacity up

to 500 kW

Air-cooled Chillers with capacity up

to 1.700 kW

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 Screw Compressor Applications

Water-cooled Chillers from

270 up to 1,750 kW

Water-cooled Heat Machines from

200 to 2,500 kW

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 Centrifugal Compressor Applications

Water-cooled Chillers with Single-

stage Centrifugal Compressors

Water-cooled Chillers with Dual-stage

Centrifugal Compressors

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 Reciprocating Compressor Applications

Refrigeration Applications

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 Section 5

Compressor Types

Summary

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 Summary
▪ Introduction with fundamentals and definitions
▪ Positive displacement cycle and compressor
▪ Refrigerant cycle and pressure-enthalpy diagram
▪ Compressor categories: open, semi-hermetic and hermetic
▪ Compressor types, operation principles, construction and
capacity control
Rotary Compressors
Scroll Compressors
Screw Compressors
Centrifugal Compressors
Reciprocating Compressors
▪ HVAC compressor applications

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 Compressor Types

Thank You Very Much!

Christos Chourpouliadis
[Link]@[Link]

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