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Refrigeration Compressor = Air Compressor

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Zira

12-07-2001 17:14:57




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I recently picked up an OLD refrig. compressor. Bore is 1", stroke is about 3". There is a reed valve on the exhaust side, but the intake does not have a valve. Instead, it is located at the bottom of the piston travel so it is uncovered only very briefly, when the piston is at the bottom of the stroke. This probably worked okay in a pressurized system like refridgeration, but it does not work at all as an air compressor. Has anyone converted a similar compressor to use as an air compressor? I don't plan on using this for work, just as something to run with an antique engine (it is a really cool looking compressor).

Thanks

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david

12-11-2001 17:41:25




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 Re: Refrigeration Compressor = Air Compressor in reply to Zira, 12-07-2001 17:14:57  
Zira,

I built one last year from and old (1940's???) Carrier air conditioning compressor. The compressor is a 2 cyl, single stage unit. I'm not certain of the bore & stroke as I have never opened it up. It works great.

I'm turing it with an old (1950's???) 3 hp, 240v motor which starts and turns it with ease. I used a propane tank (vertical, about 5' tall and 30" in diameter)donated to me from a friend.

All three; tank, compressor and motor are very heavy. Definitely not a portable unit.

Good luck.

David

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Nolan

12-10-2001 11:41:17




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 Re: Refrigeration Compressor = Air Compressor in reply to Zira, 12-07-2001 17:14:57  
There's no reason that design wouldn't work with air. With the piston going down, a vacuum is created in the chamber. When the piston finally uncovers the intake port, ambient air would rush in to fill the vacuum. The piston goes up, covering the intake port, and pushes the air out the exhaust port reed valve. If you are getting nothing, I'd suspect your exhaust reed valve is not sealing, drawing air in as the piston goes down.

As for how well refrigeration compressors work as a handy dandy compressor, not well. I've had them, and the cheapie portable units work better, and are a lot lighter and handier. But it could make a nifty old engine display unit, as you mention.

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Zira

12-10-2001 14:45:23




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 Re: Re: Refrigeration Compressor = Air Compressor in reply to Nolan, 12-10-2001 11:41:17  
Well, I know the outlet valve is bad. I just don't see how the intake would work. The intake port is only partially uncovered, and only for the very bottom of the stroke. Maybe it would work well enough for my purposes. If I get the outlet to work, I may try it again.



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John in MA

12-11-2001 19:33:43




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 Re: Re: Re: Refrigeration Compressor = Air Compressor in reply to Zira, 12-10-2001 14:45:23  
When the outlet valve is good, there's no way it can't work. The air is pushed out the valve and the piston goes back down. That creates a vacuum that draws air in through the intake port at the bottom.

GTO(John)



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Jerry B

12-10-2001 07:26:34




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 Re: Refrigeration Compressor = Air Compressor in reply to Zira, 12-07-2001 17:14:57  
I am using a 4 cylinder York compressor in my shop as my only compressor and it works fine.
You say that yours doesn't work as an air compressor. Why not? It may have dirty, worn, or stuck open outlet valves. That lets air enter back into the cylinder as the piston comes down rather than air entering at the bottom of the stroke.



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James

12-08-2001 17:30:15




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 Re: Refrigeration Compressor = Air Compressor in reply to Zira, 12-07-2001 17:14:57  
My dad converted the ac compressor on my truck to an air compressor. I even have a holding tank under the hood. It's great to have around the farm.



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Walter Mott

12-08-2001 11:20:27




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 Re: Refrigeration Compressor = Air Compressor in reply to Zira, 12-07-2001 17:14:57  
you are missing part of the valve plate. Don't think about using a compressor to pump a liquid. Compressors are designed to pump vapor only. Damage to equipment and personal injury can occur if mis-used. To use as an air compressor you will need to add oil occasionaly.



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Zira

12-09-2001 15:11:46




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 Re: Re: Refrigeration Compressor = Air Compressor in reply to Walter Mott, 12-08-2001 11:20:27  
I am pretty sure the valve plate is complete, there is no sign of anything missing, and no room for a second valve on it. My thought was to replace the valve plate with a new one with 2 valves, 1 in & 1 out. I would need tiny valves though (<3/8" in diameter).



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jerry

12-08-2001 10:12:08




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 Re: Refrigeration Compressor = Air Compressor in reply to Zira, 12-07-2001 17:14:57  
my Dad converted one about 50 years ago. It lasted for many years connected to an electric moter, but only served as a tire pump. He didnt have a tank on it,but just a small diameter hose with a tire valve conector. It could pump up any tire we had on the place and I found out the hard way it could make enough pressure to cause my bike tire to pop!!



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Dusty MI

12-08-2001 05:13:29




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 Re: Refrigeration Compressor = Air Compressor in reply to Zira, 12-07-2001 17:14:57  
I have two belt driven refrigeration compressors, one is a single cylinder ( has been used for an air compressor) the other one is a two cylinder. I would to get rid of both of them.
Thanks,
Dusty



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Ken

12-07-2001 18:59:12




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 Re: Refrigeration Compressor = Air Compressor in reply to Zira, 12-07-2001 17:14:57  
I cannot think of an easy way to get that thing to compress air, but it would convert to pumping water rather easily. Just have the water gravity feed to the bottom hole, keep your RPM's down and watch your fire pump fly!



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Ken

12-08-2001 18:47:25




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 Re: Re: Refrigeration Compressor = Air Compressor in reply to Ken, 12-07-2001 18:59:12  
After reading other messages, I reread your post.
The bore is too small for what I described on your motor. I have however seen large bore commercial refrigeration pumps pumping water. As I said in the first post, low RPM's are the key, and by that I mean 100-150 RPM at the pump and a large diameter output hose, not a garden hose!



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