centrifugal compressor

Understanding centrifugal compressor equipment interaction

Equipment Interaction

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Equipment Interaction
The compressor is taking suction from a source, point A at pressure P1, and discharging at pressure P2 at point B into a process system consisting of pipelines, valves and equipment. The gas is transported through this system to be delivered to point C at pressure P3. The line pressure drop, (P2-P3), is usually denoted as p (delta P) of the system
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System curve
Plot of pressure drop versus flow gives the system curve. The total pressure drop has two components, the superincumbent pressure or static pressure difference between Points B and C, and the dynamic pressure drop, i.e., the drop due to friction, velocity change.
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System curve
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Compressor Curve
The flow Q, HEAD, P, and speed N relationship of a centrifugal compressor . It can be seen that pressure increase as the flow drop till reaches the surge line. Similarly if the flow increase it reaches the stone wall limit for the particular speed.

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Compressor Curve

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Relationship between Compressor and System Curves.

When a compressor is connected to a system, the operating point can be obtained by superimposing the system curve on the compressor curve, it can be noted that although a system is quite independent of its upstream source equipment, in this case of compressor; operation is very much dependent on its downstream connected system.

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Relationship between Compressor and System Curves.

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Single-speed Compressor
Simple arrangement of a centrifugal Single-speed compressor drive with suction/discharge pressure control

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Incoming Flow to Compressor Decreases

Suction pressure reduces Discharge control valve closes System curve moves to left with new operating point.

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Incoming Flow Drops Below Surge Control Point

Discharge control valve closes Anti surge valve opens New system curve and operating point is located

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Gas Demand Increase at the Consumer End

Flow increases

System curve shift to left

Pressure drop increase

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Summary
In summary, for all single-speed compressors, variation in flow is achieved only by varying the system curve position backward and forward. The operating point shifts along the compressor curve,

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Variable-speed Compressor Drive with Speed Controller

The speed is changed by a variable-speed driver to achieve varying flow-pressure requirements. The driver is often a gas or steam turbine, although variable-speed electric motors are also used in certain cases.
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Variable-speed Compressor Drive With Speed Controller

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Incoming Flow to Compressor Decreases

Suction pressure reduces Speed reduces New operating point is reached where the discharge flow equals the reduced incoming flow .

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Incoming Flow Drops Below Surge Control Point

Speed reduces to minimum Anti surge valve open to control the flow

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Gas Demand Decrease at the Consumer End

Flow decreases System curve shift to left Speed reduces till it met the compressor curve at reduce flow rate

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Compressor Delivers at a Fixed Pressure to Consumer, Set Pressure Changed

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Static pressure moves down Flow increases Suction pressure drops Speed reduced
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Summary
when a compressor is driven by a variable-speed drive (gas turbine, steam turbine, etc.), the operating point may shift either along the compressor curves, the system curve, the fixed pressure line, or a combination of them depending on the nature of change as discussed. This is quite different from a compressor driven by a single-speed drive (electric motor) described earlier:
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Gas Molecular Weight Changes

Molecular weight decrease pressure decrease Increase speed If on margin new curve will be formed and flow reduces. Increases suction pressure Molecular weight increase, pressure increase Flow increases new curve will be formed If gas is not available Speed reduces

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Conclusion
Compressor-like a centrifugal pump can be operated anywhere on its curve between surge point (or surge control line, SCL) and stonewall by shifting the system curve, provided the driver is adequately sized. However, if the increase is due to a change in MW where the compressor curve itself shifts, this should be limited to the specified MW variation range.
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Number of Impellers at Different Compression Ratios

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Characteristics Shape
Impeller and diffuser geometry influence compressor performance

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Blade Angle
If blade angle is zero resulting basic slope normally shows 2 or 3 percent head rise when going from design flow to minimum flow . If angle is 45 impeller will typically produce a head rise of 20 percent or more, when moving from design flow to minimum flow. industry standard for conventional closed impellers is represented by the middle line, which is 25 to 35" of backward lean.
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Blade Angle

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