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Understanding Centrifugal Compressor Performance PDF
Understanding Centrifugal Compressor Performance PDF
performance
In a connected process system, expensive changes to the compressor and
driver can be avoided with system debottlenecking modifications
Scott W Golden, Scott A Fulton and Daryl W Hanson Process Consulting Services Inc
W
et gas compressor capacity limits feed compressor capacity is not the same. Suction
rate or unit conversion in many FCC and pressure changes have a much stronger influence
delayed coker units. Understanding on compressor capacity due to their effect on
compressor performance and its interaction with overhead receiver condensation, gas density, and
the connected process systems is critical when compressor head.
revamping FCC and delayed coker units. Process system operating pressure and system
Unnecessary changes are frequently made to the pressure drop strongly influence wet gas compres-
compressor and driver. Alternatively, lower cost sor capacity. Compressor discharge and suction
process system modifications can be used to pressure are variables and should be manipulated
debottleneck a compressor limit. Figure 1 is a whenever possible to raise compressor capacity.
block diagram of a compressor and the connected Increasing compressor suction pressure and
process system components. reducing discharge pressure will increase
The connected process system and compressor compressor capacity. Finding cost effective solu-
performance must be thoroughly evaluated as a tions always starts with field measurements of the
single system to determine the most cost effec- current operation to identify high pressure drop
tive way to increase compressor capacity. components. Distillation column internals, proc-
Conventional process design approaches use ess piping, heat exchangers, control valves and
several equipment disciplines to evaluate piping, flow metering in the connected process system
heat exchange, and distillation systems inde- must be modelled together with the compressor
pendently. Thus, the opportunity to debottleneck to quantify compressor capacity increases result-
the compressor with lower cost process system ing from equipment modifications.
changes my go unnoticed.
Reducing system pressure drop
to increase suction pressure or Fuel
decrease discharge pressure allows gas
more gas to be compressed
through the compressor without
modifications, as outlined below. Overhead Compressor
Condensers
Process equipment pressure drop: condensers system
• Main column internals
• Piping/nozzles Absorber/
• Control valves Main deethaniser
• Fin-fans column
• Shell and tube exchangers Feed
• Flow metering Operating pressure
However, the impact of suction
and discharge system changes on Figure 1 Compressor and connected process system