Sliding Vane Compressors

A sliding vane compressor is a rotary type compressor. What that means is that it is a rotating device that is used to compress gas.

In other words, a rotary vane compressor is a machine that forces air or explosive gas (flammable gas or combustive gas) through spinning blades to create compressed gas. This dense air/gas machine is normally used to produce continuous mechanical energy.

These compressors are industry preferred because these compressor types are both quiet and cost-effective for daily use.

The sliding vane compressor consists of an external casing called a cylinder, the rotating element inside called the rotor, and sliding vanes. The rotor is eccentrically located in the cylinder.

The rotor typically has longitudinal slots that hold the vanes. As the rotor turns the vanes slide outward, due to centrifugal force, to reach the inner walls of the cylinder. The vanes will trap a pocket of gas as they pass by the compressor inlet. As the rotor continues to rotate, the volume of that pocket of gas is decreased due to the eccentricity of the rotor.

The volume continues to be compressed until the leading vane reaches the discharge port, where the compressed gas is released. As this rotation and resulting compression is happening, small amounts of oil are being injected into the compression chamber, lubricating and protecting the compressor internals.

TMC Fluid Systems offers Sliding Vane Compressors that are gas-tight machines, with the following construction features:

• Casing (stator and heads) are made from cast iron, rotor is in carbon steel, and blades are made from light stratified spark-free material.
• Sealing between stator, heads and covers are ensured by suing appropriate gaskets and/or O-rings.
• Simple or double mechanical seals are offered, depending on the operating discharge pressure; for the double mechanical seal, the compressors own oil lubricating system is used as a barrier fluid.
• Flexible coupling is also used ensuring no metal-to-metal contact between driving and driven parts in case of failure of the coupling pins; safety drive guards are made from non-sparking or spark-proof metal.
• Compressors are then powered Electric Motors with required type of protection, i.e. “d” flame-proof electric motors, with specific markings Ex II 2 G, and additional marking Ex-d IIB T3. For use in the United States, Explosion-Proof motors can be substituted that comply with Class I, Division 1, Groups C&D, Class I, Zone 1 IIB, T3C, as well as Class II, Division 1, Groups F&G, Class I, Zone 1 IIB, T3C

The compressor body itself could either be air-cooled or water-cooled.

In the air-cooled sliding vane compressors, ambient air is blown by an axial fan, fitted on the flexible coupling between the machine and the motor, around the finned cylinder and heads to provide cooling. The air is forced between the outer finned surface of the stator and an air conveying guard surrounding the compressor itself.

In water-cooled compressors, an integral water jacket surrounds the cylinder and heads. Heat transfers through the metal to the water more effectively than through metal to air. Thus, water-cooled compressors reduce the internal temperature of the compressed gas more efficiently than air-cooled units. They can therefore compress the gas to higher pressures than air-cooled units. Moreover, the water-cooled compressors are capable of handling flow rates that cover a wider range than the air-cooled compressors.

 To discuss the suitability of your application, we encourage you to contact us.