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The operation of a piston compressor is accomplished through the continuous change in the working volume, which is formed by the cylinder, the valves, and the piston that moves back and forth within the cylinder. If the volume losses and energy losses that occur during the actual operation of a piston compressor are not taken into account (that is, in an ideal operating process), the work accomplished by the crankshaft of a piston compressor with each rotation can be divided into suction, compression, and exhaust processes. Working principle of piston compressors: Compression process: The piston moves upward from the bottom dead center; the intake and exhaust valves are closed. The gas is compressed within the sealed cylinder. As the volume of the cylinder gradually decreases, the pressure and temperature rise steadily until the pressure of the gas inside the cylinder equals the exhaust pressure. The compression process is generally considered an isentropic process. Exhaust process: The piston continues to move upward, causing the gas pressure inside the cylinder to exceed the exhaust pressure; as a result, the exhaust valve opens. The gas in the cylinder is then pushed out of the cylinder at constant pressure through the exhaust pipe by the piston, until the piston reaches its top dead center. At this point, the exhaust valve closes, ending the exhaust process, due to the force of the exhaust valve spring and the weight of the valve disc itself.