Compressor basics

COMPRESSORS

STATIC DYNAMIC

RECIPROCATING SCREW CENTRIFUGAL AXIAL

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 Compressor basics
Compressor selection Compressors

Positive displacement Turbo compressors

machine ____

Reciprocating Rotary vane Screw compressors Centrifugal Axial-flow

compressors compressors m compressors compressors
Compression Volume Conversion of kinetic energy

Motion Reciprocating Rotating Rotating

Delivery Intermittent Quasi-continuous Continuous

Volume flow Low Low Low/medium Low/high Very high

Compression High Medium Medium Low

ration
Operation Constant volume - Variable pressure Variable volume - Quasi constant pressure

Principle

Function of a To render a specific volume of gas from a given initial condition into a desired final condition (pressure/temperature)
a compressor

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Compressor basics
Flow path
Diffusers
7 Discharge Suction 1

▲
2
6
▲
▲

▲▲

5
3
Impellers
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Compressor basics
Flow characteristics
The theoretical performance curve typically has a shape as
is shown in the figure below.
Friction losses
Friction losses are the
energy losses occurring in
the various flow passages
THE
of the stage caused by
SH OR gas friction (like pipe
DIS ETI
LO OCK KF CA
SSE
S RIC LC
HA
losses).
TIO RA
Shock losses
HEAD

N& CT
LEA ER
IST
KA
GE IC Shock losses occur at the
LO impeller vanes, diffuser
SSE
FR S
ICT vanes and return guide
IO
NL vanes. At high positive or
OS
SES
negative incidence (inlet
SH
OC
K
angle of the gas) the flow
LO separates from the vane
SPEED = CONSTANT SSE
S
surfaces, leading to
FLOW increased losses.
Page 4 © Siemens AG 2007. All rights reserved.
Compressor basics
Centrifugal compression theory
Energy transfer through impeller

U = Circumferential velocity
W = Relative velocity
C = Absolute velocity
1 = Impeller inlet
2 = Impeller outlet on outlet
Theoretical head without losses:

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Compressor basics

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Compressor basics
Developing the compressor curve

Rc/ Rprocess,2
∆Pc/
Rprocess,1
Hp

Rc2

Rc1

Compressor
curve for a
specific speed
N1

Q2 Q1 Qs /
Qv /
Qm

Page 7 © Siemens AG 2007. All rights reserved.

Compressor basics
Developing the compressor curve

process limit
Rc
adding control
margins
maximum speed
surge limit
power limit

stonewall or
choke limit

Actual available
stable zone
operating zone
of operation
minimum speed

Qs, vol

Page 8 © Siemens AG 2007. All rights reserved.

Compressor basics
Developing the surge cycle on the compressor curve (1)

•From A to B 20 - 50 ms Drop into surge

•From C to D 20 - 120 ms Jump out of surge
•A-B-C-D-A 0.3 - 3 seconds Surge cycle

H
B A Pd

Pv
D
Rlosses
C

Qs, vol

Page 9 © Siemens AG 2007. All rights reserved.

Compressor basics
Anti-surge controller
VSDS

Compressor

FT PsT PdT
1 1 1

Suction UIC Discharge

1

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Compressor basics
Compressor performance control

• Also called:
– Throughput control
– Capacity control
– Process control
• Matches the compressor throughput to the load

• Can be based on controlling:

– Discharge pressure

Process

PT
1

PIC
1

Page 11 © Siemens AG 2007. All rights reserved.

Compressor basics
Compressor performance control

• Also called:
– Throughput control
– Capacity control
– Process control
• Matches the compressor throughput to the load

• Can be based on controlling:

– Discharge pressure
– Suction pressure
Process

PT
1

PIC
1

Page 12 © Siemens AG 2007. All rights reserved.

Compressor basics
Compressor performance control

• Also called:
– Throughput control
– Capacity control
– Process control
• Matches the compressor throughput to the load

• Can be based on controlling:

– Discharge pressure
– Suction pressure
– Net flow to the user Process

• Blow off PT
1

PIC
1

Page 13 © Siemens AG 2007. All rights reserved.

Compressor basics
Compressor performance control

• Also called:
– Throughput control
– Capacity control
– Process control
• Matches the compressor throughput to the load

• Can be based on controlling:

– Discharge pressure
– Suction pressure
– Net flow to the user Process

• Blow off PT
1
• Recycle
PIC
1

Page 14 © Siemens AG 2007. All rights reserved.

Compressor basics
Compressor performance control

• Also called:
– Throughput control
– Capacity control
– Process control
• Matches the compressor throughput to the load

• Can be based on controlling:

– Discharge pressure
– Suction pressure
– Net flow to the user Process

• Blow off PT
1
• Recycle
• Guide vanes PIC
1

Page 15 © Siemens AG 2007. All rights reserved.

Compressor basics
Compressor performance control

• Also called:
– Throughput control
– Capacity control
– Process control
• Matches the compressor throughput to the load

• Can be based on controlling: SIC

– Discharge pressure 1

– Suction pressure
– Net flow to the user Process

• Blow off PT
1
• Recycle
• Guide vanes PIC
1
• Speed
Page 16 © Siemens AG 2007. All rights reserved.
Compressor basics

P1 Throttling
P2 Throttling Design Point
Recycle
Control
Disch. Press

Speed
control

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