1. Piston compressors

1.1 Technologies and compression

Piston compressors belong to the reciprocating positive-displacement compressor family. They can be produced using three different technologies (figure 1 ):

• open compressors (O), directly or indirectly coupled to separate electric or thermal motors. They can handle any refrigerant, including hydrocarbons;

• accessible hermetic (HA) (or semi-hermetic) compressors, directly coupled to an electric motor and enclosed in a common, removable crankcase. They can only handle halogenated refrigerants or hydrocarbons;

• non-accessible hermetic compressors...