Effect of Operating Environment on Volumetric Efficiency and Characteristic Parameters of Heavy Vehicle Piston Compressors

Abstract

Pneumatically operated hand tools, factories and especially in the automotive sector, compressed air is widely preferred as a drive mechanism or a necessity. Pressurized air has a critical role in the operation of the brake mechanism in vehicles such as trucks, lorries and buses. The compressed air supply inside vehicle is commonly provided by reciprocating compressors. Depending on the working conditions and environment of the compressor in the vehicle, the efficiency level decreases according to the negativities it encounters. In this study, the volumetric efficiencies of two companies producing reciprocating compressors in two different sectors were compared by considering various parameters. Compressors were operated for a total of 3 hours at 3 different pressure values and a repeated experimental study was performed considering 6 different speed values during the study. One flow sensor was used to determine the volumetric efficiency and the results of the flow meter were evaluated by adjusting the sensor settings according to international standards and laboratory conditions. As a result of the experimental studies, the effect of compressor operating characteristics on compressor performance and volumetric efficiency was investigated. It was also determined how changing the sensor settings differentiated the results. At the end of the study, the points where the reverse engineered compressor differs from the original product were identified.