High-Pressure Compressors Key Terms

Understand the ABCs of the compressor industry to make smarter business choices

As the name indicates, high-pressure compressors operate at a higher pressure than the normal pressure conditions. High-pressure compressors are useful in various applications, such as automotive repairs, woodworking, painting and packaging.

While searching for basic information about high-pressure compressors, you will come across various technical terms that indicate types of compressors, various compression techniques and specifications of the compressor products.  

This guide intends to explain the compressor terms that will help you make smarter business choices. Some of the compressor terms covered in this guide are reciprocating compressors, centrifugal compressors, adiabatic compression, isentropic compression, gauge pressure, brake horsepower and compression efficiency.

Adiabatic compression

In an adiabatic compression process, there is no heat transfer. The compressed fluid is neither heated nor cooled during the compression process.

Isentropic compression

As the name indicates, an isentropic compression process is an adiabatic process with an increase in entropy.

Isothermal compression

The compression process, in which the temperature of the compressed fluid remains constant, is called the isothermal compression process.

Reciprocating compressors

In a reciprocating compressor (also called a piston drive compressor), the fluid is compressed with a piston-cylinder mechanism.

Centrifugal compressors

A centrifugal compressor compresses the fluid by using rotating vanes or impellers. For achieving high discharge pressures, you can also employ a multi-stage centrifugal compressor.

Gauge pressure

Gauge pressure (also referred to as overpressure) is the pressure of a system measured by a gauge or any other pressure-measuring instruments.

Brake horsepower

Compressor manufacturers use this measurement unit to specify the power of a high-pressure compressor. Brake horsepower of a compressor is the horsepower required at the compressor shaft for its efficient functioning.

Compression efficiency

Compression efficiency is the ratio of the theoretical work requirement to the actual work required to be done on the fluid for its compression and delivery.

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