Centrifugal Compressors

How They Work ???

Turbo centrifugal compressors are used to elevate gas pressure for several reasons in the manufacturing process including:
the transmission of gas in a pipeline; the re-injection of gas in a formation to improve oil production; and to facilitate a chemical process.

Note: The products and gases pushed through these machines eventually lead to the production of a specific end product such as gasoline, plastics, chemicals or fertilizer, to name a few.

Compressor Example

Outlined here is a typical syn gas centrifugal compressor and the processes that take place within it.
Syn Gas is a highly rich Hydrogen process gas used in the chemical industry.

Recycle wheel is located within the machine.

General Note: Obtains power from driver at shaft end.

Which Are Suction and Discharge Nozzles?

1 1

Compression Question?

Why does the gas have to leave the machine instead of continuing to build up pressure?

Why is temperature control during the compression cycle so important?

Step 1: At the inlet, low pressure gas

enters from the customer's process.

Step 2: The inlet wall and inlet guide vane distribute

gas flow evenly to the first stage impeller.

Step 3: The first stage impeller, which is attached to the shaft, rotates at a high speed, accelerating the gas and imparting kinetic energy to the gas in the form of velocity, and potential energy in the form of pressure.

Step 4: The diffuser continues to change the kinetic energy of the gas (velocity) into potential energy (pressure).

Step 5: The return bend and return channel removes the tangential velocity component from the gas as it (de-swirls or straightens the flow) and facilitates delivery of the gas to the second stage or higher stage impellers at optimum angle and conditions.

Step 6: Repeat steps 2-5 are repeated at the other stages until the required discharge pressure is achieved to leave the 1st section.

Step 7: The 1st section gas leaves the compressor to be cooled at a higher pressure than the suction.

Step 8: The 1st Section gas re-enters the compressor, after being cooled. This is required to reach the required process discharge pressure.

Step 9: Repeat steps 2-5 are repeated in the 2nd section of the compressor until the required section discharge pressure is achieved to leave the machine.

Step 10: At the Recycle gas inlet, the makeup gas is joined with the process loop recycle gas.

Step 11: The side stream Plenum area allows the recycle gas to mix with the makeup gas which then enters the recycle impeller.

Step 12: The recycle impeller accelerates both the make up gas and th recycle gas, imparting velocity and pressure.

Step 13: The final diffuser and discharge volute continue to convert velocity into pressure and prepare the gas for return to the process.

Step 14: The gas leaves the compressor at the discharge nozzle and returns to the process.