Compressors Used in Air Conditioner and Refrigeration Systems

July 12, 2016 6:30 am Published by

The proper functioning of a refrigeration cycle depends on the compression of the refrigerant to a pressure higher than the pressure of natural water or air. The compressor of a refrigeration system or an air conditioning system performs this function. The air or water that gets compressed is termed as a refrigerant, and after the compressor compresses it, the substance flows to the condenser, where it gets cooled. Then the refrigerant reaches the expansion valve and later, to the evaporator. From the evaporator, it reaches the compressor again, thereby completing the refrigeration or air-conditioning cycle. Compressor decides the capacity of an air conditioner or a refrigeration system.

The air conditioner and the refrigeration systems use a wide range of compressors. You can know more about them to make a well-informed purchase decision. Some of the most common refrigerators include the screw, rotary, centrifugal and scroll air conditioners.

Reciprocating Compressor

This is the most common type of compressor used in air conditioning systems. It consists of a piston-and-cylinder arrangement, which resembles an automotive system. The piston moves in a reciprocated manner and uses external power for compressing the refrigerant within the cylinder. The reciprocating compressors are further classified into 3 types viz. open type, semi-hermetically sealed and hermetically sealed compressors.

Screw Compressors

The screw compressors consist of a pair of inbuilt meshing-screws. The refrigerant gets compressed within these meshes. The screw compressors can produce quite large pressure with only a small amount of refrigerant gas,which gets inputted within them. They are also more energy efficient and hence are also quite popular.

Rotary Compressors

The rotary compressors consist of 2 rotating elements that resemble gears. The refrigerant is compressed within these gears. The compressors are used for compressing the system’s refrigerant to moderate or lower pressure. They are used in less number of applications, as they produce quite low pressure and can also handle smaller gas amounts.

Centrifugal Compressor

This compressor can handle humongous gas amounts, but only at low condensing pressure. They are also used but are not highly popular due to their usability restrictions.

While choosing a compressor for your HVAC, air conditioning and/or refrigeration units, you should consider the capacity, energy efficiency and other aspects of the compressor units before making a purchase.

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This post was written by Bin Dasmal General Trading

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