Thermal and Structural Analysis of Reciprocating Air Compressor Cylinder

Abstract

Reciprocating compressor cylinder has complex heat transfer as well as structure for the satisfying API-618 requirements. In this work, unsteady state analysis of compression cycle of air compressor process cylinder was carried out. The mass and energy balances were applied to the air inside the cylinder to determine the mass, pressure and temperature behavior and the heat and work transfer through the compression process. In cylinder heat transfer was modeled with well-known available model. These unsteady state results of complex heat transfer are transferred to do thermal analysis of cylinder. This thermal analysis decides the density of heat flux at different location and it will be useful to understand the cooling water effect on the surface of the cylinder. Finally, thermal loads are transferred to the structural analysis to check the strength of the cylinder. This all works will be useful tool for the analysis, the design and the development of reciprocating compressors for Industrial application.