G A S C O M P R E S S I O N:

A Primer on GAS Compression Equipment & Technology

By W. Norm Shade, PE

4
Dynamic
Compressor s –
Centr ifugal

C H A P T E R

A basic introduction to gas compression,

intended for operators, maintenance
technicians, supervisors, engineers, stu-
dents, and others who want to gain a fun-
damental understanding of gas compres-
sor rating, application, analysis, and control.

The following is an excerpt from the forthcoming book, Gas Compression: A Primer On Gas Compression Equipment & Technology. Each
month, Gas Compression Magazine will publish approximately one chapter. At a later date, it is planned that all the individual chapters
and sections will be combined into a comprehensive text book that will include sample problems and even some homework assignments.
 Part I:
Introduction to Compression: Compressor Types and Applications

4
CHAPTER

DYNAMIC COMPRESSORS – CENTRIFUGAL

Centrifugal compressors, sometimes called radial compres- GSQTEVIHXSE\MEPGSQTVIWWSVWJSVYWIMRPEVKIKEWXYVFMRIWTVS-

sors, are the most common type of dynamic compressor found TIPPMRKPEVKIEMVGVEJXHYIXSXLIVIWYPXMRK[IMKLXERHWXVIWWERHXS
in industrial applications, including oil and gas. A centrifugal com- XLIPEVKIJVSRXEPEVIETVIWIRXIHF]XLIMRPIXHMJJYWIV
TVIWWSVMWEVSXEV]GSRXMRYSYW¾S[QEGLMRI[LIVIF]XLIVSXEX- 'IRXVMJYKEP GSQTVIWWSV GETEGMX] MW HI½RIH MR XIVQW SJ MRPIX
ing element, normally called an impeller, accelerates the gas as it ZSPYQI SV EIVSH]REQMG ¾S[ VEXI -R )RKPMWL YRMXW XLI XIVQ MW
passes through the machine, creating velocity head that is then
7MRKPIWXEKIGIRXVMJYKEPGSQ-
converted into static pressure, partially in the rotating element
and partially in a stationary diffuser, collector, plenum, or volute.
'SQTEVEXMZIP] TVMQMXMZI VSXEV] TYQTW FPS[IVW ERH JERW
appeared as early as the 17th century in Europe. There is a
VIGSVH SJ E GIRXVMJYKEP GSQTVIWWSV EW IEVP] EW  LS[IZ-
IV MX MW KIRIVEPP] EGGITXIH XLEX XLI ½VWX TVEGXMGEP GIRXVMJYKEP
compressor appeared in 1899. In 1934, Dr. Alfred Büchi and
LMWXIEQMR7[MX^IVPERHMRXVSHYGIHPEVKIHMIWIPIRKMRIXYVFS-
chargers that included centrifugal compressors for compress-
MRK GSQFYWXMSR EMV &] XLI W ERH ´W GIRXVMJYKEP GSQ-
TVIWWSVW[IVIGSQQSRP]YWIHMRQER]ETTPMGEXMSRW7MRGIXLEX
XMQIMQTVSZIQIRXWMRGIRXVMJYKEPGSQTVIWWSVWLEZIRSXFIIR
achieved through large discoveries. Rather, improvements have
FIIREGLMIZIHXLVSYKLYRHIVWXERHMRKERHETTP]MRKMRGVIQIR-
XEPTMIGIWSJORS[PIHKIHMWGSZIVIHF]QER]MRHMZMHYEPW
'IRXVMJYKEPGSQTVIWWSVWLEZIJI[IVVYFFMRKSV[IEVMRKTEVXW
EVIVIPEXMZIP]IRIVK]IJ½GMIRXERHTVSZMHILMKLIV¾S[VEXIWXLER
EWMQMPEVP]WM^IHVIGMTVSGEXMRKGSQTVIWWSVSVTSWMXMZIHMWTPEGI-
ment compressor. For this reason, they are often preferred for
ETTPMGEXMSRWMRTVSGIWWMRHYWXVMIW VI½RMRK TMTIPMRIXVERWQMWWMSR
EMVWITEVEXMSRERHPEVKIWGEPITPERXEMVW]WXIQW8LIMVQEMRHVE[-
FEGOMWXLEXXLI]GERRSXEGLMIZIXLILMKLGSQTVIWWMSRVEXMSSJ
VIGMTVSGEXMRKGSQTVIWWSVW[MXLSYXQYPXMTPIWXEKIWMRWIVMIW
Although axial compressors are more common in large gas
XYVFMRI IRKMRIW GIRXVMJYKEP GSQTVIWWSVW EVI SJXIR XLI GLSMGI
JSVWQEPPEMVGVEJXKEWXYVFMRIIRKMRIWERHEY\MPMEV]TS[IVYRMXW
EGXYEPGYFMGJIIXTIVQMRYXIEGJQ
TVIWWSVWEVIRSVQEPP]TVEGXMGEP[MXLMRPIXZSPYQI¾S[WVERKMRK
JVSQEFSYXXSEGJQ1,2 though special centrifugal ma-
GLMRIWEVIEZEMPEFPIJSV¾S[WEWPS[EWEGJQERHEWLMKLEW
 EGJQ 1YPXMWXEKI GIRXVMJYKEP GSQTVIWWSV MRPIX ZSPYQI
¾S[WVERKIJVSQEFSYXXSEGJQ1,2 though some
ZIV]PEVKIWTIGMEPQEGLMRIWLEZIFIIRFYMPX[MXL¾S[GETEGMXMIW
SJRIEVP]EGJQ
1SWXGIRXVMJYKEPQEGLMRIWSTIVEXIEXWTIIHWSJVTQSV
LMKLIV 1E\MQYQWTIIHWEVIX]TMGEPP]PMQMXIHF]MQTIPPIVWXVIWW
ERHVSXSVH]REQMGGSRWMHIVEXMSRW EW[IPPEWXLIRIIHXSOIIT
XLIKEWZIPSGMX][MXLMREIVSH]REQMGTEWWEKIWFIPS[XS
1EGLRYQFIV IWTIGMEPP]EXXLIMQTIPPIVMRPIXSVI]I ,S[IZIV
technological advances have resulted in small centrifugal impel-
PIVWFIMRKWYGGIWWJYPP]VEXIHMRI\GIWWSJVTQ
'IRXVMJYKEP GSQTVIWWSVW EVI HVMZIR XLVSYKL E ¾I\MFPI GSY-
pling connected to one end of the rotor shaft. Typical drivers
MRGPYHIIPIGXVMGQSXSVWKEWXYVFMRIWERHWXIEQXYVFMRIW[MXLSV
[MXLSYX WTIIHMRGVIEWMRK KIEVW8YVFSI\TERHIVW EVI EPWS YWIH
to drive centrifugal compressors in many energy recovery and
TVSGIWWETTPMGEXMSRWEW[IPPEWMRXYVFSGLEVKIVW
7-2+0)78%+)')286-*9+%0'3146)77367
Single-stage centrifugal compressors have a single impeller
XLEX QE] FI QSYRXIH SR E WLEJX FIX[IIR X[S FIEVMRKW X]TM-
GEPP] VIJIVVIH XS EW E±FIEQ WX]PI² EVVERKIQIRX SV QSYRXIH
SRSRIIRHSJEWLEJX GSQQSRP]VIJIVVIHXSEWER±SZIVLYRK²
%49W
%TVMQEV]VIEWSRJSVXLMWMWXLEX[MXLGYVVIRXXIGLRSP- arrangement. Single-stage centrifugal compressors are used in
SK]XLIIUYMZEPIRX±PS[IV²¾S[E\MEPGSQTVIWWSVMWX]TMGEPP]PIWW many industrial applications including various chemical process
IJ½GMIRX 'IRXVMJYKEPGSQTVIWWSVWEVIX]TMGEPP]WMQTPIV IEWMIVXS applications, air compression, natural gas pipeline transmission
QERYJEGXYVI ERH LEZI E GSQTEVEXMZIP] PS[IV GSWX XLER E\MEP FSSWXIV
 XYVFSGLEVKIVW ERHSXLIVWTIGMEPX]GSQTVIWWMSRWIV-
GSQTVIWWSVW EWJI[IVWXEKIWEVIVIUYMVIHXSEGLMIZIXLIWEQI ZMGIW XLEX VIUYMVI PEVKI ¾S[ ZSPYQIW ERH VIPEXMZIP] PS[ LIEH
TVIWWYVIVMWI ,S[IZIV GIRXVMJYKEPGSQTVIWWSVWEVIMQTVEGXMGEP SVTVIWWYVIVEXMSW8YVFSGLEVKIVWJSVVIGMTVSGEXMRKIRKMRIWEVI

KEWGSQTVIWWMSRQEKE^MRIGSQ`OCTOBER 19
 the most common machines that use single-stage centrifugal
compressors. These range from very small sizes for automotive
engines to very large units of the type shown in Figure 4.1, which
is a cross section of a typical large industrial engine turbocharger.
In turbochargers, a single centrifugal stage, powered by a turbo-
expander, compresses atmospheric air to a discharge pressure
of typically 2 to 4 atm. The turboexpander in this example is an
E\MEP X]TI LS[IZIV GIRXVMJYKEP SV VEHMEP MR¾S[ I\TERHIVW EVI
Figure 4.2 Cross section of a
also commonly used in small- and medium-sized turbochargers.
1960s vintage Cooper-Bessemer
6*& SZIVLYRK WMRKPIWXEKI
centrifugal compressor for a gas
pipeline transmission application.

Figure 4.3 Centrifugal compressor stage with a vaneless casing

(left) and a vaned diffuser casing (right).

The illustrations in Figure 4.3 further describe the types of dif-

Figure 4.1 Cross section of a large industrial engine turbocharger fusers in a centrifugal stage. The diffuser section, which helps con-
showing a single-stage centrifugal compressor (left) driven by an vert kinetic energy (velocity) into potential energy (pressure), can
E\MEP¾S[XYVFSI\TERHIVVMKLX  be vaneless as shown in the left illustration or with vanes as shown
in the right illustration. Figure 4.4 provides another view of a typical
Single-stage centrifugal compressors are commonly used in stage; however, it also includes a return bend after the diffuser. This
natural gas pipeline transmission applications that are character- arrangement is typical of the single stage in a multi-stage compressor.
M^IH[MXLLMKL¾S[VEXIWERHPS[LIEHERHTVIWWYVIVEXMSVIUYMVI-
ments. Figure 4.2 is a cross section of a machine of this type with an 1908-78%+)')286-*9+%0'3146)77367
overhung arrangement with the impeller on one end of the rotat- Multi-stage centrifugal compressors are machines having two
MRKWLEJXWMQMPEVXSXLIXYVFSGLEVKIVMR*MKYVI8LI¾S[IRXIVW or more stages in-line in series. Such compressors may be front-
through a horizontal pipe connection or nozzle (not shown) in the to-back or back-to-back arrangements. There are also internally
casing. It is then directed internally through passages with station- geared machines, as discussed in the next section. In the front-
ary guide vanes into the throat or “eye” of the rotating impeller. to-back arrangement, all impellers face in the same direction on
8LIVSXEXMSRSJXLIZERIHMQTIPPIVEGGIPIVEXIWXLI¾S[ERHXYVRW a single shaft and in a single casing, as shown in Figure 4.6. In
it from a primarily axial direction to a radial-tangential direction. XLMWGEWI XLI¾S[IRXIVWXLIGSQTVIWWSVMRXLI¾ERKIHWYGXMSR
Impeller vanes are usually backward-swept, as shown in Figures 4.2 RS^^PISRXLIPIJXIRHMWGSQTVIWWIHXLVSYKL½ZIWXEKIWMRWIVMIW
and 4.3, but they may be radial and occasionally forward-swept for
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I\MXMRKXLIMQTIPPIVXLI¾S[GSRXMRYIWXLVSYKLEHMJJYWIVWIGXMSREW
further shown in Figure 4.4, followed by a collector, volute, or ple-
RYQXLEXHIGIPIVEXIWXLI¾S[ERHJYVXLIVGSRZIVXWOMRIXMGIRIVK]
into potential energy or pressure. In some designs, including the Figure 4.4 Centrifugal
SRIWLS[RMR*MKYVIXLI¾S[I\MXWJVSQXLIMQTIPPIVHMVIGXP] compressor stage with
into the collector with no appreciable diffuser section. In addition inlet guide, impeller, dif-
XSVIGSZIVMRKTVIWWYVI XLIGSPPIGXSVHMVIGXWXLI¾S[XSERSXLIV fuser, and return bend.
horizontal pipe connection or nozzle (not shown) on the opposite
side of the casing. Figure 4.5 illustrates the horizontal connections
that are typical of pipeline compressors. As shown here, the large
connections in the single-stage compressors are usually the same
diameter as the pipeline – in this case 36 to 42 in.

20 gascompressionmagazine.com | OCTOBER 2016


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KEWGSQTVIWWMSRQEKE^MRIGSQ`OCTOBER 21
 Figure 4.10 The internally
geared centrifugal compres-
sor has two or more individual
single centrifugal compressor
stages, each having its own sep-
arate casing. Individual impellers
are driven by multiple pinions
around a bull gear drive.

Figure 4.8 All suction and discharge connections are typically on the
bottom half of horizontally split compressors, so that the top half
of the casing can be removed for accessing the rotor and other in-
ternals without having to disturb the driver or, if present, a through- The discharge temperature is given by Equation 4.3.3
driven tail compressor on the opposite end.
(4.3)

where:
Td = absolute discharge temperature
Ts = absolute suction temperature

8LIJSVIKSMRKIUYEXMSRWEVIMHIEPERHPEGOERIJ½GMIRG]XIVQ'SQ-
TVIWWMSR MW RIZIV IRXMVIP] MHIEP ERH ZEVMSYW PSWWIW ERH MRIJ½GMIRGMIW
create a higher discharge temperature and a different pressure than
what is predicted using these ideal equations. Centrifugal compressor
performance will be discussed in much more detail in Part III.
8LIVIPEXMSRWLMTWFIX[IIRGIRXVMJYKEPGSQTVIWWSV¾S[HMWGLEVKI
pressure, and compressor speed will also be discussed later in Part
III. Some general centrifugal compressor performance guidelines are:
Figure 4.9 Two steam turbine-driven barrel-type centrifugal ˆ:SPYQIXVMG¾S[MWTVSTSVXMSREPXSGSQTVIWWSVWTIIH
compressors in a process compression application. ˆ(MWGLEVKITVIWWYVIZEVMIWEWXLIWUYEVISJXLIGSQTVIWWSVWTIIH
ˆ4S[IVMWTVSTSVXMSREPXSXLIGYFISJXLIGSQTVIWWSVWTIIH
(4.1) ˆ%XEKMZIRWTIIHXLIHMWGLEVKITVIWWYVIZEVMIWMRZIVWIP][MXL¾S[
Unlike positive displacement compressors, the stable operating
where: range of a centrifugal compressor is a major concern in the selection
p = absolute pressure and design of such machines.This is because of a phenomenon known
Z!WTIGM½GZSPYQI EWWYVKI [LMGLSGGYVWEXPS[¾S[VEXIW ERHERSXLIVTLIRSQIRSR
n = poltropic exponent ORS[REWGLSOI[LMGLSGGYVWEXLMKL¾S[VEXIW

H OTSTART’s (ornew
isentropic
CSE exponent
(Coolant whenSmall n Explosion
heating system is a complete coolant heating system for
small-engine
For air compression
hazardous applications,
location applications.
= k = cp / Proof)

adiabatic compression
. According to
cv)

is usu-
the the
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impeller
keeping theinlet).
engines It iswarm
a function of thedamaging
and reduce system backpressure
condensationon in
ally used
GSQTER] as the
 XLI basis
'7) MW for
XLIcalculation of performance.
½VWX I\TPSWMSRTVSSJ In thatJSVGIH
GSSPERX case, cylinders and critical components.”
XLI GSQTVIWWSV  'LSOIH ¾S[ SGGYVW [LIR XLI ¾S[ ZIPSGMX] ET-
circulating
the isentropic
system exponent,
that is built
k, is used
directly
inythe
forrcalculations.
smallerr horsepower
For other proaches sonic speed
HOTSTART serves somewhere
the global within
oil aandcompressor
gas market stage.with
This
engines
pure gases,
with aandsmall
especially
foot print.
for gas mixtures, polytropic compres- may occur at the impeller inlet or at a vaned
forced circulation preheating systems designed to heat cool- diffuser inlet. These
sion
“HOTSTART
is commonly already
usedy has
as the
general
basis purpose
for calculations.
small coolant heat- phenomena
ant,, oil,, orr will be discussedcombination.
an oil/coolant extensively in Part III.
. High capacity units are
ers like
Thethedischarge
CSM (Coolant
pressureSmall
increases according
Mechanical) andtoCMM
Equation 4.2.3
(Coolant EZEMPEFPIMR[IEXLIVXMKLXSVLE^EVHSYWPSGEXMSRGSR½KYVEXMSRW
EZEMPEFPIMR[IEXLIVXMKLXSVLE^EVHSYWPSGEXMSRGSR½KYVEXMSRW
Medium Mechanical) but nothing that is built forr a hazardous REFERENCES
that meet recognized CSA orr ATEX standards forr safety and
application,
(4.2) ” said Pat Norwood,, Market Managerr – Oil & Gas.“An Gas.. “An performance.
1
GPS, Engineering Data Book, vol. 1, 11th ed. (Tulsa, OK: Gas Proces-
existing system forr largerr engine applications (600L) was ourr only The CSE features
sors Association, 1998).
a positive displacement pump which pulls
option forr small 65L engines previously.
where: coolant
2
Rollins,from theCompressed
J.P., ed., low end ofAir f the
andsystem, , heats and
Gas Handbook, 4thcirculates
ed. (Cleve-it
Pd = absolute
±%JI[]IEVWEKS
±%JI[ ]IEVWEKS discharge pressure
 [IMHIRXM½IHERIIHJSVEWQEPPSMPLIEXMRK back land,
k into
OH: theCompressed
system to heat Air and
theGas
blockInstitute,
k and cylinders.
1973). . Preheating
system forr hazardous
Ps = absolute applications
suction pressure
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22 gascompressionmagazine.com | OCTOBER 2016