APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING OPERATION OF RECIPROCATING COMPRESSOR, AND METHOD THEREOF FOR DECIDING FREQUENCY HAVING THE MAXIMUM FREQUENCY DECIDING CONSTANT AS OPERATION FREQUENCY FOR MAKING OPERATION FREQUENCY FOLLOW MECHANICAL OSCILLATION FREQUENCY WHENEVER LOAD CHANGES

PURPOSE: An apparatus for controlling operation of a reciprocating compressor, and a method thereof to decide frequency having the maximum frequency deciding constant as operation frequency to make operation frequency follow mechanical oscillation frequency whenever a load changes are provided to improve the operation efficiency of a compressor. CONSTITUTION: A current detector(40) detects a current applied to a compressor. A stroke detector(30) detects stroke of the compressor. A frequency deciding constant calculation unit(50) calculates a frequency deciding constant by using the stroke output from the stroke detector. An operation frequency command value deciding unit(60) compares the frequency deciding constant with the previous frequency deciding constant, and decides an operation frequency command value based on a result of the comparison. A controller(20) varies operation frequency by comparing the operation frequency command value with the current operation frequency, and controls stroke by varying a voltage applied to the compressor by comparing the stroke output from the stroke detector and a stroke command value.