Wet Gas Performance of a Single Stage Centrifugal Compressor

2008 ◽  
Author(s):  
O̸yvind Hundseid ◽  
Lars E. Bakken ◽  
Trond G. Gru¨ner ◽  
Lars Brenne ◽  
Tor Bjo̸rge
Keyword(s):  
Performance Analysis ◽  
Centrifugal Compressor ◽  
Single Stage ◽  
Water Mixture ◽  
Performance Parameters ◽  
Operating Range ◽  
Wet Gas ◽  
Gas Compression ◽  
Compressor Performance ◽  
The Impact

This paper evaluates the performance analysis of wet gas compression. It reports the performance of a single stage gas centrifugal compressor tested on wet gas. These tests were performed at design operating range with real hydrocarbon mixtures. The gas volume fraction was varied from 0.97 to 1.00, with alternation in suction pressure. The range is representative for many of the gas/condensate fields encountered in the North Sea. The machine flow rate was varied to cover the entire operating range. The compressor was also tested on a hydrocarbon gas and water mixture to evaluate the impact of liquid properties on performance. No performance and test standards currently exist for wet gas compressors. To ensure nominated flow under varying fluid flow conditions, a complete understanding of compressor performance is essential. This paper gives an evaluation of real hydrocarbon multiphase flow and performance parameters as well as a wet gas performance analysis. The results clearly demonstrate that liquid properties influence compressor performance to a high degree. A shift in compressor characteristics is observed under different liquid level conditions. The results in this paper confirm the need for improved fundamental understanding of liquid impact on wet gas compression. The evaluation demonstrates that dry gas performance parameters are not applicable for wet gas performance analysis. Wet gas performance parameters verified against results from the tested compressor is presented.

Instability Characteristic of a Single-Stage Centrifugal Compressor Exposed to Dry and Wet Gas

2012 ◽  
Author(s):  
Trond G. Grüner ◽  
Lars E. Bakken
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Investigation ◽  
Centrifugal Compressor ◽  
Pressure Sensors ◽  
Ambient Air ◽  
Single Stage ◽  
Performance Characteristics ◽  
Test Facility ◽  
Wet Gas ◽  
And Performance ◽  
The Impact

An experimental investigation was conducted to determine the instability and performance characteristics of a single-stage centrifugal compressor exposed to wet gas. The compressor was tested at different rotational speeds and low gas mass fractions (GMFs) in an open-loop test facility with ambient air and water. The stage consisted of a shrouded impeller with a vaneless diffuser surrounded by a symmetrical circular volute with increasing cross-sectional area. Liquid was uniformly injected into the impeller eye through multiple nozzles mounted in the inlet pipe. High-response dynamic pressure sensors flush-mounted in the diffuser were used to identify instability inception and evolution. Changes in the instability and pressure ratio characteristics at different GMFs and rotational speeds were revealed. Analysis with reference to dry gas was performed. Visual observation of the wet gas surge process at the inlet is described. Results and analysis obtained from the experimental investigation on wet gas instability are presented. The investigation contributed to knowledge concerning the impact of wet gas on the instability and performance characteristics.

The performance of a centrifugal compressor with a tandem impeller in off-design conditions

2019 ◽  
Vol 234 (2) ◽  
pp. 156-172 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ziliang Li ◽  
Xingen Lu ◽  
Ge Han ◽  
Yanfeng Zhang ◽  
Shengfeng Zhao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Centrifugal Compressor ◽  
Performance Enhancement ◽  
Pressure Ratio ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Complex Flow ◽  
Maximum Enhancement ◽  
Operating Range ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Compressor Performance ◽  
Low Efficiency

Centrifugal compressors often suffer relatively low efficiency and a terrible operating range particularly due to the complex flow structure and intense impeller/diffuser interaction. Numerous studies have focused on improving the centrifugal compressor performance using many innovative ideas, such as the tandem impeller, which has become increasingly attractive due to its ability to achieve the flow control with no additional air supply configurations and control costs in compressor. However, few studies that attempted to the investigation of tandem impeller have been published until now and the results are always contradictory. To explore the potential of the tandem impeller to enhance the compressor performance and the underlying mechanism of the flow phenomena in the tandem impellers, this paper numerically investigated a high-pressure-ratio centrifugal compressor with several tandem impellers at off-design operating speeds. The results encouragingly demonstrate that the tandem impeller can achieve a performance enhancement over a wide range of operating conditions. Approximately 1.8% maximum enhancement in isentropic efficiency and 5.0% maximum enhancement in operating range are achieved with the inducer/exducer circumferential displacement of [Formula: see text] = 25% and 50%, respectively. The observed stage performance gain of the tandem impellers decreases when the operating speed increases due to the increased inducer shock, increased wake losses, and deteriorated tandem impeller discharge flow uniformity. In addition, the tandem impeller can extend the impeller operating range particularly at low rotation speeds, which is found to be a result from the suppression of the low-momentum fluid radial movement. The results also indicate that the maximum flux capacity of the tandem impeller decreases due to the restriction of the inducer airfoil Kutta–Joukowsky condition.

On-Line Monitoring Software and Diagnostic Tool for Centrifugal Compressor Performance Evaluation

2006 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kamorudeen B. Abidogun ◽  
Mohamed S. Al-Ghamdi ◽  
Adel Al-Ali ◽  
Khalid Al-Yousef
Keyword(s):  
Performance Evaluation ◽  
Performance Analysis ◽  
Centrifugal Compressor ◽  
Intelligent System ◽  
Accumulation Rate ◽  
Gas Analysis ◽  
Actual Performance ◽  
Process Gas ◽  
Performance Deterioration ◽  
Compressor Performance

In-house developed centrifugal compressor performance software was customized for PETROKEMYA (an affiliate of SABIC) Olefins III cracked gas compressor (CGC), the heart of ethylene plant. The software provides live performance analysis of the machine by calculating, per section, polytropic efficiency, polytropic head, and gas power using Lee-Kesler equation of state. Gas analysis is read online to reflect the minute changes in the composition on the calculated parameters. Actual operating parameters are plotted continuously and compared to the performance curves in order to predict possible performance deterioration before it becomes too late. Such information is useful in determining future maintenance requirements based on the actual performance of the machine rather than the traditional time-based maintenance. Moreover, it ensures proper timely action through optimization of wash oil or other chemical injection to help minimize fouling accumulation rate and maximize production and machine availability. Features are introduced to enable performance analysis of the compressor since commissioning to be carried out by click of a button, providing useful information for upgrading and troubleshooting. Unlike its commercially available counterpart with write-protected restrictions, the software is easily modified for additional features that are of interest to Engineers. Features planned for the future include adding intelligent system capability for predicting performance deterioration severity, auto-notifying agents etc. Performance evaluation of a 45 MW, five section process gas compressor before and after turnaround (T/A), clearly revealed the fouling prediction capability of the software.

Experimental Investigation of the Diffuser Vane Clearance Effect in a Centrifugal Compressor Stage With Adjustable Diffuser Geometry—Part I: Compressor Performance Analysis

2014 ◽  
Vol 137 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Stefan Ubben ◽  
Reinhard Niehuis
Keyword(s):  
Centrifugal Compressor ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Pressure Ratio ◽  
Industrial Applications ◽  
Experimental Investigations ◽  
Flow Measurements ◽  
Flow Phenomena ◽  
Compressor Performance ◽  
Compressor Map ◽  
The Impact

Adjustable diffuser vanes offer an attractive design option for centrifugal compressors applied in industrial applications. However, the knowledge about the impact on compressor performance of a diffuser vane clearance between vane and diffuser wall is still not satisfying. This two-part paper summarizes results of experimental investigations performed with an industrial-like centrifugal compressor. Particular attention was directed toward the influence of the diffuser clearance on the operating behavior of the entire stage, the pressure recovery in the diffuser, and on the diffuser flow by a systematic variation of the parameters diffuser clearance height, diffuser vane angle, radial gap between impeller exit and diffuser inlet, and rotor speed. Compressor map measurements provide a summary of the operating behavior related to diffuser geometry and impeller speed, whereas detailed flow measurements with temperature and pressure probes allow a breakdown of the losses between impeller and diffuser and contribute to a better understanding of relevant flow phenomena. The results presented in Part I show that an one-sided diffuser clearance does not necessarily has a negative impact on the operation and loss behavior of the centrifugal compressor, but instead may contribute to an increased pressure ratio and improved efficiency as long as the diffuser passage is broad enough with respect to the clearance height. The flow phenomena responsible for this detected performance behavior are exposed in Part II, where the results of detailed measurements with pressure probes at diffuser exit and particle image velocimetry (PIV) measurements conducted inside the diffuser channel are discussed. The experimental results are published as an open computational fluid dynamics (CFD) testcase “Radiver 2.”

The Impact of Bleeding on Compressor Stator Corner Separation

2011 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bin Zhao ◽  
Shaobin Li ◽  
Qiushi Li ◽  
Sheng Zhou
Keyword(s):  
Radial Flow ◽  
Single Stage ◽  
Corner Separation ◽  
Transonic Compressor ◽  
High Pressure Compressor ◽  
Compressor Performance ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Large Flow ◽  
Compressor Efficiency ◽  
Pressure Compressor

Bleed air from the high pressure compressor has taken up 3–5% in the air system. However, there are not many studies on the compressor performance after bleeding. By analyzing a low-speed single-stage compressor and a transonic single-stage compressor, this paper presents several plans with different bleeding rates on the casing near stator corner, in order to study the influence of bleeding rates on the compressor stator corner separation. The results showed that for the stators of subsonic compressor with large flow separation in the corner, there is an optimum value in the stator casing bleed air amount. The flow field is better at resisting the radial flow caused by bleed air in the transonic compressor stator. The more the bleeding rates of the stator, the more the compressor efficiency improves.

Variable Inlet Guide Vane Effect on Centrifugal Compressor Performance in Wet Gas Flow

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Levi André B. Vigdal ◽  
Lars E. Bakken
Keyword(s):  
Centrifugal Compressor ◽  
Guide Vane ◽  
Flow Direction ◽  
Pressure Ratio ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Inlet Guide Vane ◽  
Compressor Stage ◽  
Guide Vanes ◽  
Wet Gas ◽  
Compressor Performance

The introduction of variable inlet guide vanes (VIGVs) upfront of a compressor stage affects performance and permits tuning for off-design conditions. This is of great interest for emerging technology related to subsea compression. Unprocessed gas from the wellhead will contain liquid condensate, which affects the operational condition of the compressor. To investigate the effect of guide vanes on volume flow and pressure ratio in a wet gas compressor, VIGVs are implemented upfront of a centrifugal compressor stage to control the inlet flow direction. The guide vane geometry and test rig setup have previous been presented. This paper documents how changing the VIGV setting affects compressor performance under dry and wet operating conditions. The reduced performance effect and operating range at increased liquid content are of specific interest. Also documented is the change in the VIGV effect relative to the setting angle.

Parametric Study on Ported Shroud Locations and Geometries for a Turbocharger Compressor

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Suheab Thamizullah ◽  
Abdul Nassar ◽  
Antonio Davis ◽  
Gaurav Giri ◽  
Leonid Moroz
Keyword(s):  
Centrifugal Compressor ◽  
Combustion Engine ◽  
Engine Performance ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Entire Study ◽  
Operating Condition ◽  
Baseline Design ◽  
Operating Range ◽  
Ported Shroud ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Turbochargers are commonly used in automotive engines to increase the internal combustion engine performance during off-design operating conditions. When used, the widest operating range for the turbocharger is desired, which is limited on the compressor side by the choke condition and the surge phenomenon. The ported shroud technology is used to extend the operable working range of the compressor, by permitting flow disturbances that block the blade passage to escape and stream back through the shroud cavity to the compressor inlet. The impact of this technology, on a speed-line, at near optimal operating condition, near choke operating condition and near surge operating condition is investigated. The ported shroud (PS) self-recirculating casing treatment is widely used to delay the onset of surge by enhancing the aerodynamic stability of the turbocharger compressor. While the ported shroud design delays surge, it usually comes with a small penalty in efficiency. This research involves designing a single-stage centrifugal compressor for the given specifications, considering the application of an automotive turbocharger. The ported shroud was then introduced in the centrifugal compressor. The performance characteristics were obtained, both at the design and at off-design conditions, both with and without the ported shroud. The performance was compared at various off-design operating speed lines. The entire study, from designing the compressor to optimizing the ported shroud configuration, was performed using the commercial AxSTREAM® software platform. Parametric studies were performed to study the effect of ported shroud axial location along the blade axial length on the operating range and performance. The baseline design, without the ported shroud (P0), and the final geometry with it for all PS inlet axial locations (P1 to P5) were analysed using a commercial CFD package and the results were compared with those from the streamline solver.

Effect of Impeller-Extended Shrouds on Centrifugal Compressor Performance as a Function of Specific Speed

1983 ◽  
Vol 105 (3) ◽  
pp. 457-465 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Sapiro
Keyword(s):  
Centrifugal Compressor ◽  
Pressure Ratio ◽  
Centrifugal Compressors ◽  
Gas Compression ◽  
Blade Tip ◽  
Compressor Performance ◽  
The Subject ◽  
Specific Speed ◽  
Vaneless Diffusers ◽  
Outside Diameter

Centrifugal compressors for gas compression applications usually employ low-pressure ratio, backward-swept impellers with vaneless diffusers. To increase the compressor flow range and speed, impeller blades are occasionally trimmed, resulting in an extended shroud configuration. The effect of extended front and back impeller shrouds on the performance of centrifugal compressors with vaneless diffusers, and the variation of this effect as a function of specific speed, is thus of concern and is the subject of this paper. An investigation was carried out on two backward-swept shrouded impellers of common blade tip and inducer hub diameters, but different inducer tip diameters (corresponding to low and high specific speeds), with the front and back shrouds extending 20 percent above the blade’s outside diameter.

Analyses of the Compressor Performance Impacts of Centrifugal Compressor Scroll Deformation Due to Installation

2010 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Xu ◽  
R. S. Amano
Keyword(s):  
Fluid Dynamics ◽  
Computational Fluid Dynamics ◽  
Centrifugal Compressor ◽  
Local Deformation ◽  
Discharge Pipe ◽  
Gas Compression ◽  
Study Results ◽  
Computational Fluid Dynamics Cfd ◽  
Compressor Performance ◽  
And Performance

Centrifugal compressors have widely applications in industrial gas compression processes. Limitations of installation and compressor package always request to modify the compressor geometry to fit certain constrains. Very often, the modifications of the scroll were performed to meet the space constrains. To meet the installation and package requirements, we always modify the scroll and discharge pipe of the compressors. In this study, an original designed scroll and a modified scroll were analyzed by using the Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD). The study is focused on the performance impacts of the scroll local deformation due to installation constrains. The CFD showed favorable agreements with experiments for original scroll. The detailed flow characters and performance impacts were discussed and results showed that current modifications of the scroll did not have significant impacts to the compressor performance. The study results can be used as a basic guidance for a compressor manufactures.

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