Compressor performance curves can provide service technicians with good information they can use during compressor troubleshooting. These curves can offer the Btu pumping rate (capacity), mass flow rates, operating amperage, and operating wattage when the suction pressure and head pressure are known for the system.
Compressor curves are available from compressor manufacturers for each of their models. Compressor data is available in either table (Figure 1) or graph format (Figure 2).