SURGE CONTROL FOR PARALLEL GAS COMPRESSOR OPERATIONS

BASE LOAD METHOD

UIC Anti-Surge Cooler 1. Compressor A Speed is manually set (HIC) for
A Valve (ASV)
maximum flow & termed as ‘Base Load’ while
Compressor B Speed via speed controller (SC)
is swung based on Master Pressure
Discharge
Block Valve
Set Point
Controller’s (PIC) Set Point (SP) to attend to
M SC
(SP)
remaining swing in flow variations (loads).

Common Discharge Header

KO Drum

Suction Block Compressor A PIC 2. During periods of low process demand,

Valve
(BASE LOAD) HIC Compressor B (Swing Machine) can be
recycling & sometimes even close enough to
the Surge Control Line (SCL) causing the
Swing Machine to Trip. Hence an inefficient
UIC Cooler
B
Anti-Surge
Valve (ASV) configuration.
3. Base Load Operating Style requires frequent
operator intervention
Discharge
Block Valve
4. A configuration that is not in vogue anymore &
M SC not recommended.
KO Drum

Suction Block Compressor B

Valve
(SWING LOAD)

BASE LOAD OPERATION OF PARALLEL

COMPRESSORS
 SURGE CONTROL FOR PARALLEL GAS COMPRESSOR OPERATIONS
SUCTION SIDE – SPEED CONTROL
UIC Cooler
METHOD
A
Anti-Surge
Discharge
Block Valve 1. No Base Load Exists, but instead the Master
Valve (ASV)
Pressure Controller (PIC) is shifted to the
suction side.
Remote Set
Point (RSP)
2. Master Pressure Controller (PIC) provides set

Common Discharge Header

M SC
KO Drum point (SP) to speed controller (SC).
Suction Block Compressor A
Valve 3. Both Compressors would not necessarily
operate at the same speed/flow during a
Set Point (SP)
recycle since UIC A/B are acting independently
PIC

of each other.
Common Suction Header

UIC Cooler
B
Anti-Surge
Valve (ASV)

Discharge
Block Valve

M SC
KO Drum
Remote Set
Suction Block Compressor B Point (RSP)
Valve

SUCTION SIDE SPEED CONTROL OPERATION OF

PARALLEL COMPRESSORS
 SURGE CONTROL FOR PARALLEL GAS COMPRESSOR OPERATIONS
EQUAL FLOW BALANCE METHOD
UIC Anti-Surge Cooler FC 1. The Master Pressure Controller (PIC) on the
A Valve (ASV)
Discharge
Block Valve
common discharge header determines the total
FT
load demand and alters Compressors A & B
BIAS speeds (SC). The individual flow control signal
A
Remote Set
Point (RSP)
to each speed controller is achieved by scaling

Common Discharge Header

M SC Set Point the total load demand (BIAS A & BIAS B) to the
KO Drum (SP)
individual flow controller (FC) on each
Compressor A PIC
Suction Block
Valve
compressor.
2. Both Compressor Operations are independent
BIAS
B
of the Anti-surge Valve (ASV) Operation.
UIC Anti-Surge Cooler
FC 3. Flow Balancing method requires additional
B Valve (ASV)
Discharge
control elements thereby increasing CAPEX
FT Block Valve
costs.

Remote Set
4. Since Flow Element & Transmitter (FT) is
Point (RSP) installed on the compressor discharge,
M SC additional pressure drop occurs representing
KO Drum

Suction Block Compressor B energy losses & corresponding costs.

Valve
5. For the cascaded control used, PIC  FC 
SC, the inner loop (FC) must respond faster
EQUAL FLOW BALANCE OPERATION OF than the PIC outer loop causing PIC to be
PARALLEL COMPRESSORS sluggish. The faster FC loop also means, the
compressor speed would increase faster than
required often reaching maximum speed &
hence does not offer the best control strategy.
 SURGE CONTROL FOR PARALLEL GAS COMPRESSOR OPERATIONS
Cooler EQUIDISTANT TO SURGE LINE METHOD
Anti-Surge UIC 1. Based on the principle - The Deviation/Distance
A
Valve (ASV)
LSIC
Discharge
Block Valve
between the operating points & the surge
A control (SCL) line in both trains is equidistant.
2. For this configuration N1  N2 & Q1  Q2, but
Remote Set
Point (RSP) Dev1 = Dev2 (i.e., Dev = Distance between Op.

Common Discharge Header

M SC
Set Point Point & Surge Line)
KO Drum (SP)
Compressor A PIC
Suction Block
Valve
3. Both UIC A/B (Anti-surge Controller) & LSIC A/B
(Load sharing Controller) would coordinate
Cooler
their responses in Real time.
4. Applicable also for parallel compressors that
UIC
Anti-Surge
Valve (ASV) B have dissimilar / asymmetrical performance
Discharge
LSIC Block Valve curves.
B
5. An effective configuration for varying loads,
Remote Set that ensures both compressors independently
Point (RSP)

M SC adjust operations to stay away from surge.

KO Drum

Suction Block Compressor B

Valve

EQUIDISTANT TO SURGE LINE METHOD

OPERATION OF PARALLEL COMPRESSORS