Centrifugal Compressor Principle of Operation and Areas of Application

Centrifugal compressors are a common type of compressor used for pressurizing, powering and transporting gases or vapors. The following section describes the principle of operation and application areas of centrifugal compressors.

Principle of operation: Centrifugal gas compressor by virtue of the high speed rotation of the impeller, so that the gas by the centrifugal force and produce speed and pressure, and then through the diffuser pressure flow, the gas speed is gradually slowed down, the dynamic pressure is converted into static pressure, the gas pressure and get higher. For higher pressure process requirements, can be realized through a number of stages of successive compression.

Application areas: centrifugal compressors are widely used in the following areas:

(1) Refrigeration and air conditioning: centrifugal compressors are used in refrigeration cycle systems to compress low-temperature, low-pressure gases into high-temperature, high-pressure gases to achieve refrigeration effects.

(2) Petroleum and chemical industry: centrifugal compressors are used to provide power and transportation of gases, such as air separation plant, ammonia plant, ethylene plant and so on.

(3) Power and energy: centrifugal compressors are used to pressurize and transport natural gas, gas turbine intake and exhaust.

(4) Metallurgy and mining: centrifugal compressors are used for oxygen supply, ore leaching and tail gas treatment.