What is a Diaphragm Compressor?
by Admin
Posted on 08-08-2023 02:31 PM
Variant of the reciprocating compressor
a
diaphragm compressor
is a variant of the classic reciprocating compressor with backup and piston rings and rod seal. The compression of gas occurs by means of a flexible membrane, instead of an intake element. The back and forth moving membrane is driven by a rod and a crankshaft mechanism. Only the membrane and the compressor box come in touch with pumped gas.
For this reason this construction is the best suited for pumping toxic and explosive gases. The membrane has to be reliable enough to take the strain of pumped gas. It must also have adequate chemical properties and sufficient temperature resistance.
A compressor is a device that uses to compress gas or air so that it can transfer from one place to another. Compressors most widely use all over the world in different industries. Most compressors are used in pneumatic systems. There are multiple types of compressors , and a diaphragm compressor is one of them. In the previous article, we discussed different types of compressors ; therefore, in this article, we will mainly discuss the diaphragm compressor.
Diaphragm Compressor Working Principle
The working principle of the diaphragm pump is almost similar to that of an injection. A syringe is almost the same as like diaphragm pump. When the piston in the pump is pulled back, the liquid will be pulled into the pump and the same when the piston is pushed forward, the liquid will be pulled out.
The below picture depicts how a diaphragm pump diagram will be.
A diaphragm compressor is a type of air compressor that uses a diaphragm to compress the gas. It has a compression capacity of about 1 cfm per psi. Since the diaphragm compressor is made of the diaphragm, it can stop the intake of low-pressure gas. This means that the diaphragm air compressor will be working best for low-pressure air conditions. It also needs very little maintenance because the diaphragm does not have any mechanical parts.
Schematic Diagram of Diaphragm Compressor
A schematic diagram of a typical double acting reciprocating air compressor is shown below. These are usually categorized under multi-stage reciprocating air compressors, but let us restrict the study to double acting/stage compressors concerned with the ae/je mechanical engineering exams. Fig 5: double acting reciprocating air compressor schematic this is a well-known type of positive displacement compressor. Here, unlike single acting, both sides of the piston are used to intake and compress the air. The piston moves downward and draws the air. It then moves upward by compressing the air and pushing it towards the delivery (exhaust) valve. Here, both sides of the piston are used in the compressor chamber for the total work of air compression.
5. Diaphragm compressors: - suitable for handling toxic or hazardous gases. - leak-tight design. - can achieve high compression ratios. Disadvantages: - limited capacity and flow rates. - higher initial cost compared to other types. - requires periodic replacement of diaphragms.
Of the advantages of lobe compressors, one could consider their simpler design compared to screw compressors. Their power demand in partial loads is also lower. They also quickly reach to their full number of revolutions. They also operate efficiently at low rpms. For their disadvantages, the most important one is the wear on the air conveyor pipe, which leads to a higher chance of conveying material breakage.