This study was based on the mathematical modelling of the thermodynamical functional parameters of a typical hand-driven reciprocating compressor. The fixed units of the compressor like: height of the cylinder, length of the piston, external diameter of the barrel, thickness of the barrel, diameter of the nozzle, internal diameter of the cylinder and radius of the cylinderwere all measured using a Vernier caliper. Other functional parameters of the device such as the initial volume of the cylinder, final volume of the compressed air, area of the nozzle, area of the barrel and mass of air trapped in the barrel were computed using relevant formulas. The discharge pressure of the compressor was measured using a pressure gauge at various number of piston strokes for step of 5-unit interval. The exit temperature of air leaving the nozzle, compressive work done on the compressor system and heat dissipation quantity were computed using the ideal gas equation, first law of thermodynamics application to open system and steady-state energy equation respectively. Mathematical models were developed using exit air pressure as the response variable and number of piston stroke, exit air temperature, compressive work done and heat loss quantity as the independent variables. Statistical tools such as ANOVA and Pearson’s correlation coefficient were employed in assessing the developed model’s suitability. From the results obtained, each of these independent variables has significant effect on the discharge air pressure of the compressor. As the number of piston strokes increases, the pressure, temperature, compression work requirement and heat loss increase as well during the compression operation. This thus, proves that the compression operation of a reciprocating compressor is non-adiabatic. The models developed are significantly suitable for prediction of exit air pressure as endorsed by ANOVA and Pearson’s correlation coefficient results.
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