Type of Refrigerant Compressor Reciprocating Compressors: Type of Refrigerant Compressors, Compressors in which vapor refrigerant is rotated by the piston forward and backward is called the piston speed. These compressors are used for refrigerants with relatively low volumes per kilogram and a large differential pressure, such as ammonia, R-12,22, and methyl chloride. Reciprocating compressors are