Labyrinth piston compressor
In a labyrinth piston compressor , the compression chambers are not sealed with piston rings (as is the case with a gasoline engine piston, for example ), but similar to the principle of the labyrinth seal , which is known for shaft seals.
Mode of action
The medium (gases) is displaced by the movement of the piston within the cylinder. Since the compression chamber is closed by the suction and pressure valves (similar to non-return valves), the internal pressure increases (similar principle to a bicycle pump). Since this piston does not have any rubbing rings that seal, the gas flows between the cylinder wall and the outer surface of the piston. In order to minimize this so-called leakage, the piston has fine grooves on the outer surface and the clearance is as small as possible. As a result, the gas has to “squeeze” its way through the narrow gap in order to change shortly afterwards in the grooves from a laminar to a turbulent and thus resistive flow. In order to be able to compress the gas to a certain pressure, the piston has to move quickly. If the movement is too slow, too large a proportion of the gas will flow past the piston due to the long compression time and the required pressure will not be achieved.
Web links
The companies listed here are important manufacturers of labyrinth piston compressors:
- Burckhardt Compression AG (BCA)
- Japan Steel Works (JSW) = former licensee of Burckhardt Compression