Expansion Engine

This is a vertical single acting reciprocating type Engine. It is available in two models single stage and double stage as per user requirement. This produces the cold required for operating the plant. The high-pressure air enters through inlet valve at the start of the downward stroke of the piston and expands.During upward stroke outlet valve opens and the expanded air pushed outside. The Electric Motor is used to start the engine initially, thereafter the engine is moved by the air pressure itself and during which time, the engine motor retains the speed by acting as a brake. Since work is done by air in rotating the Flywheel, it loses its heat content (enthalpy). Thus the air gets cooled. This cooling is more than the expansion valves. The temperature drop in this engine in -50°C to -70°C depending on air pressure, temperature and inlet cam position.
The Expansion Engine can be considered as three major units:expansion1

  • The drive unit.
  • The Cylinder Unit for air expansion
  • The Hydraulic Systems for operating the Valves.

Technical Data

Specifications 80/100/130M3/Hr Oxygen Plant 170/200 M3/Hr Oxygen Plant
Type of Expansion Engine Vertical Single Acting Vertical Single Acting
Diameter of cylinder bore 90 mm 80 mm
No. Of Cylinders 1 2
Piston stroke 150 mm 125 mm
Speed of Engine 200 RPM 200 RPM
Inlet valve opening time came setting 8 positions 8 positions
Piston head clearance 1.2 +/- 0.2 mm 1.2 +/- 0.2 mm
Inlet valve pastel clearance 0.4 to 0.5 mm 0.4 to 0.5 mm
Inlet air pressure 60 kgs/cm2g 60 kgs/cm2g
Outlet air pressure 5 kgs/cm2g 5 kgs/cm2g
Throughput volume at 40 kgs/cm2 400 Nm3 / hr. 700-800 Nm3 /hr