Question

A compressor that works by trapping a certain amount of gas and forcing it into a smaller volume is called a(n) [ ] compressor?

1) Reciprocating
2) Centrifugal
3) Rotary
4) Scroll

Answer 1

A compressor that traps and compresses gas in a smaller volume is a reciprocating compressor, utilized in internal combustion engines and heat pumps.

Step-by-step explanation:

A compressor that works by trapping a certain amount of gas and forcing it into a smaller volume is called a reciprocating compressor.

This type of compressor typically operates with a piston inside a cylinder that compresses the gas through a reciprocating (up-and-down) motion.

This is seen in applications such as internal combustion engines, where heat transfer into work takes place in a cyclical process involving a piston connected to a rotating crankshaft.

Both heat pumps and internal combustion engines can utilize reciprocating compressors to increase the pressure and temperature of gases, effectively enabling heat transfer and various thermodynamic processes. Option 1, reciprocating, is the answer.