g

Power Systems - Oil & Gas

Training Center

Customer

Due to the influence of many elements on the

performance of compressors and to the fact that
it is never possible to perform tests in the exact
contractual conditions, there exist standards to
be applied in carrying out tests and there exist
procedures allowing the performance values
found at one or more operating points near to
the contractually guaranteed point to be brought
to the exact conditions of said guaranteed point.
A performance test on a centrifugal compressor
normally serves to verify the absorbed power
brought to contractual conditions or to verify the
flow rate prior to compressor surge.

Power Systems - Oil & Gas

Customer
Training Center
Have the operating conditions of the plant sufficiently near to
design conditions. Standards ASME PTC10 establish the
maximum deviations from the contractual values for the
conditions of the gas on inlet to the compressor :

2% for molecular weight

8% for density
5% for absolute pressure
8% for absolute temperature
2% for velocity

Power Systems - Oil & Gas

Customer
Training Center
Bring the compressor to the RPM indicated on the operating
curve relevant to the guaranteed point, characterized by volume
flow and head. At this speed readings will be taken at three
points :

1. with volume flow approximately similar to that of

the guaranteed point,
2. with volume flow about 10% higher than that of the
guaranteed point,
3. with volume flow about 10% lower than that of the
guaranteed point.
To reach these points, one hour is sufficient.

Power Systems - Oil & Gas

Customer
Training Center
With the machine at operating speed, make the number of readings specified
at the frequency required by contract or by the test specification (normally 4
sets of readings at a distance of 5 or 10 minutes from each other) on the
following values : for each compression stage.

1. Barometric pressure
2. Compressor speed (RPM)
3. Suction pressure
4. Suction temperature
5. Discharge pressure
6. Discharge temperature
7. Pressure upstream of the flow meter device
8. Temperature upstream of the flow meter device
9. Pressure drop on the device
During testing of the various points, one or more samples of the compressed
gas shall be taken and analyzed.

Power Systems - Oil & Gas

Training
Center
Verifying minimum
flow prior
to surge

Customer

Bring the compressor to the speed at which it is to be tested. Operate

on the plant so as to progressively decrease the flow treated by the
compressor. The simplest way to do this is to close the compressor
discharge with the anti-surge valve on regulation and then, with
extreme prudence and keeping vibrations under constant control,
change the set of the anti-surge regulator until the machine shows
the first symptoms of surge
NOTE : This procedure is possible only if there exists a flow
metering device which detects recycled flow as well, that is, which is
placed between the return of the anti-surge line and the compressor
suction, and thus measures the flow that is treated by the machine in
every conditions.
Effect continuously, until the machine begins to show marked
symptoms of surge (high vibrations and instability in flow) and
consider valid for the test the reading just previous to the one
showing symptoms of instability.

Power Systems - Oil & Gas

Training Center

Customer

For reporting the conditions observed during testing of the

guaranteed point conditions, proceed as follows:
After having determined the values of His t and Qt at the 3
test points, utilizing calculation programs based on the
equations B.W.R.S., trace on a graph, the length of curve
that passes through these points and verify whether this
curve passes through the guaranteed point, identified by
Hisc and Qc. In the negative case, the curve must be brought
to a speed N such that it passes through the guaranteed
point, applying the laws of similitude:

Power Systems - Oil & Gas

Training Center

Customer

LAWS OF SIMILITUDE

Qi N t

Qi ' N c

H is ,i
H is ,i '

Nt

Nc

i = 1, 2, 3

Pis ,i
Pis ,i '

Nt

Nc

Power Systems - Oil & Gas

Training Center

Customer

Qi' = (Nc/Nt) Qi
His,i' = (Nc/Nt)2 His,i
Pis,i' = (Nc/Nt)3 Pis,i

Power Systems - Oil & Gas

Training Center

P1

P2

H is ,1'

is ,1

H is , 2 '

is , 2

c Q1' Pmc '

c Q 2 ' Pmc '

P2

Customer

H is , 2 '

is , 2

c Q 2 ' Pmc '

Nc

Pmc ' Pmc

Nt

Power Systems - Oil & Gas

Training Center

H is H pol

H eff
is pol

P 2 ( gas )

H is , 2 '

is , 2

c Q 2 '

P1( gas )

P 3( gas )

Customer

H is ,1'

is ,1
H is , 3'

is , 3

c Q1'

c Q 3'

Power Systems - Oil & Gas

Training Center

Customer

Pturbine-shaft = Pgas / mcmg

mc = 0.99
mg = 0.98
fPT = 1 / [%P/(100)]
fPp = 1013.25 / pt(mBar)
fPsuction = 1/1 + { [psuc,t(mmH2O)%Psuc ] / 100100
}

fPexhaust = 1 / 1 + { [pex,t(mmH2O)%Pex ] /
100100 }

ISO Conditions (15 C and 1013.25 mBar)

ISO power PC = Pt fPTfPp fPsuctionfPexhaust

Power Systems - Oil & Gas

Training Center

Customer

HR = (Mc Hi) / [CT (LT - LC)]

fHR.T = 1 / [%HR/(100)]
fHRsuc = 1/1 + { [psuc,t(mmH2O)
%HRsuc ]/100100 }
fPexhaust = 1/1 + { [pex,t(mmH2O)
%HRex ]/100100 }
ISO Conditions (15 C and 1013.25 mBar)
ISO HRc = HRt fHR.T fHRsuction fHRexhaust