Thermodynamics Practice Test: Gas Compressors — Flashcards

Gas Compressors topics include: Work and rotary compression, volumetric and multi-stage expressions.

A gas compressor is a mechanical device that increases the pressure of a gas by reducing its volume. Compressors are similar to pumps in that both increase the pressure on a fluid and both can move the fluid through a pipe. 

Here are some types of gas compressors:

CNG compressors: Used in the natural gas industry for transportation purposes. They compress the total volume of the gas, thereby increasing its pressure.
Refrigeration compressors: Used in refrigeration systems to compress refrigerants, such as chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) or hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), to a high pressure and release them as a gas.
Centrifugal compressors: Operate similarly to centrifugal pumps. Gas enters the eye of an impeller and is accelerated outwardly toward a stationary diffuser that decelerates the gas stream and creates pressure.
Reciprocating compressors: Use a piston to compress a gas and deliver it to a storage tank or system. They work by drawing in gas and compressing it with the help of a piston or a diaphragm, which reciprocates back and forth in a cylinder.