Energy saving in sliding vane rotary compressors using pressure swirl oil atomizers

Abstract

In industrial contexts, electrical energy for compressed air represents an important share of the global electricity consumption: this figure accounts for 4–5% of the total. Among the existing compressor technologies, rotary volumetric machines proved to be more suitable than other types (dynamic, reciprocating, etc.) in terms of pressure and flow rate delivered. Even though not as widespread as screw machines, but thanks to the technological improvements made in the last two decades, sliding vane rotary compressors are characterized by premium specific energy consumptions and demonstrate an unforeseen potential in terms of energy saving due to some intrinsic features specifically related to these machines. The current research focuses on an innovative oil injection technology that is not only able to fulfill the sealing and lubrication requirements but also to cool the air during the compression phase. A comparison between the mathematical model of the new oil injection technology and the experimental p-V diagrams measured through a set of piezoelectric transducers is shown. The compression work reduction, predicted in the model and further measured at the shaft and observed in the indicator diagrams, gives a strong consistency to the injection technology.