Editing Reciprocating compressor

{{Short description|Device used to pump gases at high pressure}}
[[File:Kompresors.svg|thumb|Reciprocating compressor function]]
[[File:ReciprocatingCompressor.jpg|thumb|A motor-driven six-cylinder reciprocating compressor that can operate with two, four or six cylinders]]
[[File:Daw Catalogue Patent Compressor Tracts vol 9 p166.jpg|thumb|An A & Z Daw Class E Single Straight Line Compressor as available in 1902]]

A ''' reciprocating compressor''' or '''piston compressor''' is a [[Gas compressor|positive-displacement compressor]] that uses [[piston]]s driven by a [[crankshaft]] to deliver gases at high pressure.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Bloch |first1=H.P. |last2=Hoefner |first2=J.J. |name-list-style=amp |title=Reciprocating Compressors, Operation and Maintenance|publisher=Gulf Professional Publishing|year=1996|isbn=0-88415-525-0
}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title = Reciprocating Compressor Basics|url = http://www.machinerylubrication.com/Read/775/reciprocating-compressor|website = www.machinerylubrication.com|accessdate = 2015-12-02}}</ref> Pressures of up to 5,000 [[Pound per square inch|psig]] are commonly produced by multistage reciprocating compressors.

The intake gas enters the suction manifold, then flows into the compression cylinder where it gets compressed by a piston driven in a reciprocating motion via a crankshaft, and is then discharged. Applications include railway and road vehicle [[Air brake (rail)|air brake]] systems [[Oil refinery|oil refineries]], [[pipeline transport|gas pipelines]], oil and gas production drilling and well services, air and nitrogen injection, offshore platforms, [[chemical plant]]s, [[natural gas processing]] plants, [[air conditioning]], and [[refrigeration]] plants. One specialty application is the blowing of [[plastic bottle]]s made of [[Polyethylene Terephthalate|polyethylene terephthalate]] (PET).

==See also==
* [[Centrifugal compressor]]
* [[Diving air compressor]]
* [[Vapor-compression refrigeration]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.globmaritime.com/200907034744/marine-engineering/calculation-of-required-cylinder-compression-for-a-multistage-reciprocating-compressor.html Calculation of required cylinder compression for a multistage reciprocating compressor]

[[Category:Gas compressors]]