The need to know details of the valve motion in a reciprocating compressor has long been recognized. An accurate measurement or calculation of the dynamics is needed to predict the efficiency and reliability of the compressor. For this reason, many researchers over the last five decades have compared measured and calculated results usually with excellent agreement. During development of the new Valve-In-Piston~(TM) (VIP) compressor, valve dynamics were calculated using conventional methods, and it was intended to confirm the accuracy of these by laboratory testing. It turned out that due to complexity of the design, these measurements were difficult to make and less accurate than we expected. The reasons for this are discussed and the measurements made are compared with results of calculations. Based on this, the empirical constants required for a valve dynamics calculation for the two valve types used in this compressor are examined and some observed differences in their behavior discussed.
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