SURGING IN CENTRIFUGAL

COMPRESSOR

By;

TALHA
JAMIL
OBJECTIVES
Compressor
Mechanism of Centrifugal Compressor
An introduction to SURGING
Compressor Surging Specification
Indications of occurrence of Surging
Undesirability of Surging
Causes of Surging
Performance Map of Compressor
Anti Surge Control System
COMPRESSOR
Acompressor is an equipment
that compresses gas either to
transfer to a specific location or
for a certain process
requirement.ecific location or for a
certain process requirement.
Mechanism of Centrifugal
Compressor
A centrifugal compressor, by doing work on
gas, imparts both pressure and velocity to
the gas.

When the gas is at the tip of impeller

blades, it is at maximum velocity.

As the gas enters from the impeller to the

diffuser, it converts the velocity of the gas
to increased pressure.
 Convert the velocity of
the gas into increased
static pressure

At the tip of impeller,

gas is at max. velocity
 SURGING - AN INTRODUCTION
Surgingis the complete breakdown of steady flow
in the compressor which occurs at low flow rate.
Surge - is the point at which the compressor cannot
add enough energy to overcome the system
resistance or backpressure.
Surging takes place when compressor is operated
off the design point and it affects the whole
machine and this is mechanically undesirable.
It can damage the rotor bearings, rotor seals,
compressor driver and affect the whole cycle
operation. It results in high temperature, high
vibration and leads to flow reversal.
 Ps Pr

P1 P
2

Supply Tank Compressor

Receiver Tank
 1
4 3 2

This will lead to a

decrease in flow
When Pressure in the
rate to receiver,
receiver is increased
due to resistance
due to decreased flow
in inlet flow
at point 1.
 1
3 2
4

The flow rate to the

compressor will Leading to a decrease in
decrease as well Kinetic Energy and thus
decrease in pressure
output
 SURGE WILL
OCCUR!

This will lead to a situation when the pressure at the

compressor is lower than the pressure at the receiver.

Surge Point is the point at where the flow rate is minimum.

FLOW DIRECTION WILL
REVERSE
 Compressor Surging -
Specification
Compressor surge only occur in
centrifugal compressors.

Reciprocating compressors increase

pressure by volume reduction, unlike
centrifugal compressors where they
increase pressure by converting kinetic
energy to potential energy (pressure).
Indications of occurrence of
Surging
Low system flow (Indicated by a
Flow Indicator)
Discharge temperature increases
Violent fluctuation in discharge
pressure (as per indication
through pressure indicator)
Excessive radial vibration of
compressor
A banging sound in the
compressor casing.
Why Surging is
undesirable?
CONSEQUENCES OF SURGING
Unstable flow and pressure
Damage in sequence with increasing
severity to seals, bearings, impellers, shaf
Increased seal clearances and leakage
Lower energy efficiency
Reduced compressor life
Reduced compressor output
 CAUSES OF SURGING
Restriction in suction or discharge of system.
Internal plugging of flow passage of
compressor.
Inadvertent loss of speed
Instrument on control valve malfunction
Malfunction of variable inlet guide vanes
Operator errors
Misdistribution of load in compressor
Misplacement of rotor
PERFORMANCE MAP OF COMPRESSOR
 SURGE POINTS are the peak points on the characteristic curves.
SURGE LINE is the line which connects the surge points (S) on
each characteristic curve corresponding to different constant
speeds.
CHOKING is the abnormal condition which occurs in the
compressor in which it operates at very high mass flow rate and
flow through the compressor cant be further increased as mach
number at some part of the compressor reach to unity i.e. to sonic
velocity and the flow is said to be choked. As it is not possible to
develop pressure at any greater flow.
CHOKING LINE represents the line joining the choke points on
different constant speed.
SURGE CONTROL LINE is the indicating line for surge control
mechanism to prevent surge in system. It can vary for control
systems, depending upon the margin between operating point and
surge point.
CONSTANT EFFECIENCY LINES are the curves at which the
efficiency of compressor remains constant.
MAXIMUM ALLOWABLE SPEED beyond which the compressor
may damage.
MINIMUM REQUIRED SPEED below which the pressure of fluid
cannot be increased.
When back flow occurs, pressure in the Back flow of gas
Supply tank increases as gas enters. causes pressure in
receiver to
decrease as it
leaves
 Thus, Ps > Pr, gas flow direction returns back
to normal
When flow direction returns back to normal, surge
will occur again due to correspondence of valve at
delivery pipe.
Ultimately the cycle repeats itself.
 ANTI SURGE CONTROL SYSTEM
The anti-surge control system should maintain
a minimum volume of flow through the
compressor so that the surge condition is
never encountered.
This is achieved by bleeding flow from the
discharge of the compressor to maintain a
minimum inlet flow.
This flow can either be dumped to atmosphere
or re-circulated back into the inlet of the
compressor with the help of anti-surge valve.
In the recirculation case, the flow must be
cooled to the normal inlet temperature
THANK YOU!