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ROCHEM Fyrewash Ltd
5-6 Sun Valley Business Park
Winnall Close, Winchester
Hampshire
SO23 0LB
ROCHEM Fyrewash Inc
23707 West Hardy Road
Spring
Texas
77373
06.17.25
If all process compressors have the same general function, is any style suitable for every application? …No.
If you’re choosing a for your refinery, medical facility, factory or any other industry, it’s essential to choose the most relevant design for your needs. There are a few to choose from, so let’s take a closer look…
In a nutshell, a process compressor is a machine used to compress gases or vapors for industrial use. The goal is to make the gas or vapor more efficient to store, transport, or to enable/speed up chemical reactions.
Although the basic goal of all process compressors is the same, three main designs compress gas in different ways: centrifugal compressors, reciprocating compressors, and rotary screw compressors.
These types of compressors deploy Bernoulli’s principle, which states the total energy of a fluid or gas always stays the same: the sum of potential energy + kinetic energy + pressure energy.
After the gas enters the system via the inlet, the high-speed rotating blades of a centrifugal compressor increase the kinetic energy of the gas by accelerating it outwards. Once the gas leaves the impellor and enters the diffuser, it is slowed and the volume is reduced. In this way, the kinetic energy is transferred to pressure energy and the pressurized gas exits to be used as desired.
Centrifugal compressors are efficient and able to compress large volumes of gas. They are used at sites and in scenarios such as:
The second type of compressor makes use of Boyles law: the pressure of a gas is inversely proportional to its volume, assuming the temperature and amount of gas are constant.
Reciprocating compressors are also referred to as piston compressors because they use pistons to compress the gas and increase its pressure. The piston moves down, drawing gas into the cylinder through an open valve. As the piston moves back up, the valve closes, the cylinder’s volume is reduced, and the gas is compressed.
This style of process compressor is favoured in situations where highly pressurized gas is required, e.g.:
The final main type of process compressor is rotary screw, so-called because it works by a pair of screws rotating in opposite directions. Gas is drawn in and compressed as the space between the rotors and casing gets smaller.
This type of process compressor is favored where a continuous supply of compressed gas is needed, e.g.:
While the goal of all process compressors is similar, it’s interesting to compare the methods deployed by different models. Understanding how they function helps determine the correct style for your application, and we hope this guide has helped if you’re considering your options.
At Rochem we specialize in and for centrifugal, and axial process compressors. The efficiency and reliability of your equipment is vital to your business, and we’d be delighted to discuss how we can help. Please get in touch to find out more.
Post written by Martin Howarth
An extensive knowledge of mechanical and electrical engineering together with hands on experience with gas turbines provides a bedrock for his work at Rochem.
