TH

CLASS

OPERATING
ENGINEER
4B-4013

AIR
COMPRESSION
Handbook of Formulae and Physical Constants,
Steam Tables, Refrigeration Tables,
Provincial Operating ( Stationary, Power ) Engineer Act,
Provincial Boiler Act,
B-51 Boiler, Pressure Vessel & Pressure Piping Code,
B-52 Mechanical Refrigeration Code,
Extract from ASME Code Section 1 ( Rules for Construction of Power Boilers,
Calculator & a Protractor Set can be used for all tests

2
1.

An aneroid barometer:
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.

2.

Is the most reliable type of barometer

Is the most portable type of barometer
Has a perfect vacuum in the metallic cell
Is made of glass measures the relative humidity
Finely constructed mercurial barometers capable of giving very accurate readings
Sliding vane compressors:

A.
B.
C.
D.
E.

Are double acting compressors

Use cylinder valves
Fall into the positive displacement category
Are 100% efficient
Are not economical
The category of compressor that operates by drawing in a charge of air, trapping it and then reducing
its volume, is called a:

3.

A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
4.

Positive displacement compressor

Rotary compressor
Dynamic compressor
Lobed blower
Axial compressor
Single stage reciprocating air compressors consist of:

A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
5.

One or more cylinders all operating at the same discharge pressure

One set of rotating blades
One or more cylinders of different sizes
At least one impeller
Single cylinder compressors operating less than 1200 kPa
Positive displacement air compressor types are:

A.
B.
C.
D.
E.

Centrifugal compressors
Gear compressors
Axial compressors
Multistage centrifugal compressors
None of the above

3
6.

A reciprocating air compressor works on the principle of:

A.
B.
C.
D.
E.

7.

Pressure reduction
Velocity increase
Centrifugal force
Volume reduction
Volume expansion
When crank is set at dead centre, the piston is at:

A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
8.

Extreme end of its travel

Mid-position of its travel
Any position dependent on valve setting
A location determined by the gears
At the centre of its stroke
Piston rings are often made of Teflon to:

A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
9.

Keep them dry

Absorb heat
Absorb the cylinder lube oil
Substitute for cylinder oil
Reduce costs
In a two-stage compressor, the second-stage cylinder:

A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
10.
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
11.
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.

Is the low pressure cylinder

Does most of the work
Is the smaller cylinder
Pumps air to the intercooler
Is the larger cylinder
A three stage compressor is designed to allow:
The large cylinder to do most of the work
The intermediate cylinder to do most of the work
The small cylinder to do most of the work
All cylinders to do an equal amount of work
Are only used on turbine driven compressors
Air compressor cylinder valves:
Are mechanically operated
Are used on all rotary type air compressors only
Are used on all positive displacement compressors
Act like spring loaded check valves
Are only used on turbine driven compressors

4
12.
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
13.

A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
14.
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
15.
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
16.
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.

The valves on a reciprocating compressor are opened by:

A pressure difference
The cam shaft
The eccentric
Hydraulic pressure
The mechanical lift pins
An air compressor may be automatically started and stopped by a pressure switch, which is usually
found connected to the:
Intercooler
Aftercooler
Separator
Receiver
Compression head
Compressor unloaders:
Could close the discharge valve
Must be used on centrifugal compressors
Could keep the suction valve open
Activate the stop and start buttons
Automatically open the relief valve
The start-stop switch of a compressor is actuated by the:
Temperature of the intercooler
Temperature of the aftercooler
Pressure of the air receiver
Pressure of the suction line
The operator
The inlet valve unloaders is used to control compressor output by:
Limiting the amount of air entering through the air filter
Stopping or starting the air compressor
Holding the suction valves open
Opening a bypass between the suction and discharge sides of the compressor
Keeping the discharge valves closed

5
17.

An inlet valve air unloader works to control the compressor output by:

A. Holding the compressor inlet valves in the open position, and air passes freely in and
out of the cylinder without being compressed
B. Holding the by-pass valve open, from the compressor discharge to the inlet line and
allowing air to recycle to the inlet, thereby regulating the compressor capacity
C. Restricting the flow of air to the compressor, based on the receiver pressure, thereby
regulating and controlling the system pressure
D. Slowing the compressor down in response to the receiver pressure, there by regulating
the flow of air to the inlet of the compressor
E. Restricting the air flow from the compressor to the receiver, thereby regulating and
controlling the system pressure
18.

A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
19.
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
20.
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
21.
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.

The methods used to control the output of an air compressor are grouped into three categories, theses
are the:
Start and stop control, surge control and speed control
Start and stop control, variable speed control and constant speed control
Surge control, speed control and pressure control
Speed control, pressure control and flow control
Start and stop control, speed control and flow control
The cooling water for an air compressor should be turned on:
When the compressor reaches operating temperature
Before starting the compressor
While the compressor is idling
When the operating pressure is reached
5 minutes after the compressor is started in order to preheat the system
Where pistons move in a cylinder, it is necessary for the lubricant to provide:
Tension
Sealing
Alignment
Shock reduction
Carburization
Centrifugal compressors:
Are used for high pressure and low flow
Could be of the multi-stage type
Must have inter-cooler when multi-staged
Must have a safety valve on discharge when steam driven
Can be used in small systems only

6
22.
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
23.

A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
24.
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
25.
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
26.

Dynamic air compressors increase the air pressure by:

Accelerating the air
Increasing the volume
Increasing the temperature
Using rotary screws
Using secondary compression cycle
The category of compressor that initially accelerates the air using impellers or blades and then
converts this velocity into pressure in diffusing sections is called:
Positive displacement compressor
Rotary compressor
Internal gear compressor
Lobed blower
Dynamic compressor
Instrument air compressors use:
Oil lubricated compression rings
Oil scrapper rings made from bronze
Carbon or Teflon piston rings
Wrought iron pistons to resist corrosion
Are only centrifugal compressors
Air receivers must have a:
Gauge glass
Thermometer
High pressure alarm
Safety valve
Pressure reducing valve
An air receiver used in an air compression system will perform the following functions:
1.
2.
3.
4.

A.
B.
C.
D.
E.

Act as a storage vessel

Eliminate pulsation in discharge lines
Separate out water from the air
Control the temperature of the air before it enters the system

1&2
1, 2, & 3
1, 2, & 4
1, 2, 3, & 4
1, 3, & 4

7
27.
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
28.
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
29.

When the temperature in an air receiver drops, there is a danger of:

Explosion
Implosion
Rust formation
Gas formation
Vapour lock
In a compressed air system if the air receiver is too small:
The compressor will not operate
More power will be consumed
The receiver will rupture
The safety valve will lift
The air pressure will be set higher
The two main causes of air receiver failure is the:

A. Compressor discharging air above the designated pressure and the lubricating oil
catching fire
B. Safety valve and the fusible plug failing
C. Fusible plug failing and weakened metal due to corrosion
D. Limit control failure and overheating
E. Safely valve failing and weakened metal due to corrosion
30.
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
31.
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.

Intercoolers:
Cool the air in the cylinders
Are used on all compressors
Must have a safety valve when used on positive displacement compressors
Are required to cool compressor lubricating oil
Are used to remove heat from the air at the end of its final compression
Intercoolers:
Are used on a single stage high pressure compressor
Are more efficient when cooled with air than with water
Are used on double acting single stage compressors
Must have a drain
Can not be used with reciprocating type of compressors

8
32.
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
33.
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
34.

A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
35.

A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
36.
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.

To protect the motor when starting, the compressor must be:

Primed
Lubricated
Unloaded
Disengaged
Vented
The output from a constant speed compressor is controlled by:
Speed change
Unloaders
Stop-start switch
Overload valves
Governors
When the barometric height of 758 mm of mercury acts on the cross-section area of 1 m2 the
atmospheric pressure is:
100.0 kPa
101.067 kPa
101.3 kPa
101.6 kPa
103.5 kPa
The piston displacement in m 3/min of a single stage reciprocating compressor with a piston diameter
of 10 cm, a stroke of 10 cm and 1000 working strokes/min is:
0.07854 m3/min
0.7854 m3/min
7.854 m3/min
78.54 m3/min
785.4 m3/min
Volumetric efficiency of an air compressor is defined as:
D2 x n x L x N/4
Free air delivered multiplied by the displacement, divided by two
The ratio of actual free air delivered to the displacement of the compressor
Free air delivered, plus the displacement divided by two
Free air delivered, plus the displacement, divided by four

9
37.

A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
38.
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
39.
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
40.
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
41.
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.

If the displacement of an air compressor equals 2.0 m3 min what is the volumetric efficiency if the
compressor actually delivers 1.6 m3/min of free air :
25 %
78.6 %
75 %
17.6 %
80 %
An instrument used to measure atmospheric air pressure is called a/an:
Aerometer
Barometer
Anemometer
Pyrometer
Pressure gauge
When the height above sea level increases, the atmospheric pressure will:
Increase
Decrease
Remain constant
Be more than 103 kPa
Be more than 150 kPa
To deliver its normal discharge pressure al a higher altitude, the air compressor:
Has a lower discharge temperature
Requires a greater power input
Has a greater volumetric efficiency
Need not compress the air so densely
Requires more air
Absolute pressure is:
The same as atmospheric pressure
Gauge pressure plus atmospheric pressure
Gauge pressure minus atmospheric pressure
The vacuum pressure
The pressure measured at a temperature of absolute zero

10
42.
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
43.
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
44.

A.
B.
C.
D.
E.

Clearance volume:
Has no effect on compressor capacity
Has effect on compressor capacity
Varies depending upon compressor speed
Is the same on all compressors
Measures the air volume produced
The displacement of a compressor is the:
Output in m3 per minute
Length of the piston stroke
Ratio of the average compressor output to the maximum output
Volume swept by the pistons in a given time
Amount of room it displaces in the plant
Which of the following types of compressors is best for high compression ratios and small
compression volumes:
Centrifugal compressor
Rotary compressor
Axial compressor
Reciprocating compressor
Turbine compressor

11
Air Compression
4B-4013
1.

21

41

2.

22

42

3.

23

43

4.

24

44

5.

25

6.

26

7.

27

8.

28

9.

29

10

30

11

31

12

32

13

33

14

34

15

35

16

36

17

37

18

38

19

39

20

40

NAME: