Volume 6 Issue 4 (2018) 349-351 ISSN 2347-3258 International Journal of Advance Research and Innovation 349 IJARI Design, Modification and Analysis of Industrial Air Compressor (Type: Vt4): A Review Shashank Gurnule, Ritesh Banpurkar Mechanical Engineering Department,Abha Gaikwad-Patil College of Engineering,Rashtrasant Tukdoji Maharaj Nagpur University, Nagpur, Maharastra, India Abstract This paper presents a review on how important the intercooling of air compressor is necessary for an efficient process. Basically the meaning of air compression is to reduce a specified volume, resulting in an increase in pressure. For improving efficiency of the system compression is done in more than one stage and between each stage intercooler is provided. Intercooler improves the quality of air and reduces inlet air temperature. The function of the intercooler is to cool the air as it leaves the Low Pressure cylinder and before it enters the High Pressure cylinder. This improves the efficiency of the compressor and ensures that the temperature of the air receiver outlet valves is just right for optimum operation of the tools connected to the compressor. The cooler is composed of sheet metal plate elements or tabular core. Type VT4 compressor is a Two Stage Reciprocating Air Compressors which is most widely used for Industrial Purpose. This paper highlights the various efforts of the various researchers. On the basis of various researches it is proposed that the change in size of intercooler will avoid heating in High Pressure Cylinder during long run. 1. Introduction A VT4 type Two Stage Reciprocating Air Compressor is a device that converts power (usually from an electric motor, a diesel engine or a gasoline engine) into potential energy by forcing air into a smaller volume and thus increasing its pressure. The energy in the compressed air can be stored in the tank while the air remains pressurized. The energy can be used for a variety of applications such as utilizing the kinetic energy of the air as it is depressurized[8]. Till date, heat transfer in reciprocating compressors had assumed a back burner role. Energy consciousness recently has rekindled interest and generated considerable debate and contradictory opinions about the extent of influence of heat transfer on compressor performance. The performance of compressor is affected by not only heat transfer but also the design, operation and reliability. Compressed air units ranging from power values of 5 hp to over 50,000 hp is used in industrial plants throughout production and maintenance operations. Cost of a compressor, is much lower than comparison with its running cost which is worth nothing. For improving efficiency, compression is done in more than one stage (in this case 2 Stage) and between each stage intercooler is provided. Intercooler improves the quality of air and reduces inlet air temperature to an extent. The main limitation in the design of Industrial Air Compressor (Type VT4) is the temperature of air goes higher at the inlet port of the High Pressure Cylinder which results in large discharge temperature. Due to large discharge temperature, the hose between the discharge pipe and air receiver tank get damaged regularly. Whenever temperature becomes defining parameter in the operation of Air Compressor, multi staging is required and the intercooler plays a vital role in increasing efficiency of the system. In many cases, the operational pressure ratio needs to be limited depending upon the inlet temperature, in order to keep the discharge temperature within the limits of working environment and handling air temperature. The material properties are affected by temperature, in addition to dimensional stability and integrity of the component itself. It is the matter of concern that the outlet valves which are located above the High Pressure Cylinder becomes faulty. The faulty valve must be attended immediately. Serious damage can result if a compressor is operated with a broken valves or valve plate. In the AIR Compressor (Type VT4), Low Pressure Cylinder has two inlet or suction valves and two outlet or delivery valves. Each High Pressure Cylinder has one input or suction valve and one output or delivery valve. All valves are located in the respective Low Pressure and High Pressure Cylinder Heads. *Corresponding Author, E-mail address: shashankgurnule001@gmail.com; hod.mechanical@agpce.com All rights reserved: http://www.ijari.org Fig.1: Front View of Compressor Element Designers have started searching for energy savings at whatever cost, since the efficiency of compressor is approaching their limits and energy deficiencies have started looming on the horizon[2]. This is driving researchers to take another look at the effect of heat transfer on the performance and efficiency of compressors. The early stages of such effort were clouded with conflicts of opinion between different groups and it is only since the 80's, that the importance of the influence of heat transfer on compressor performance has been recognized[2]. Larger Two Stage Reciprocating Compressors up to 1,000 hp are commonly found in large industrial and underground mining operation applications. Discharge pressures such as air compression can range from low pressure i.e. 1 kg/cm2 to very high pressure i.e. 10 kg/cm2 is used for various applications, multi stage double-acting compressors are said to be the most efficient compressors available, and are typically larger, and more costly than co rotary units. Another famous type of Reciprocating Compressor is the swash plate compressor, which uses swash plate on which pistons are mounted on a shaft. Most multi-stage compressors use intercoolers in between each stage, which are heat exchangers that remove the heat of Article Info: Article history Received 7 October 2018 Received in revised form: 28 October 2018 Accepted 2 November 2018 Available online 15 December 2018 Keywords: Air Compressor, reciprocating, intercooler, etc.