Capacity Control and the Pressure-Volume Diagram: A Mini Short Course by CCPGE

At the conference, Mr. Phillippi presented a mini short course on behalf of CCPGE titled “Capacity Control and the Pressure-volume Diagram.” This course provides an in-depth exploration of reciprocating compressor capacity control, detailing how various devices and schemes directly manipulate the pressure-volume (PV) diagram. It examines mechanisms like variable speed, fixed and variable clearance pockets, valve unloaders, cylinder deactivation, and recycle. Each method is broken down to reveal its fundamental impact on the PV curve, illustrating the critical relationship between mechanical adjustment and thermodynamic performance.