ESTIMATING

CENTRIFUGAL
COMPRESSORS
MANTHAN G. DESAI..
FLOW THROUGH CENTRIFUGAL
COMPRESSOR:
Impellers

Stage - 2 Stage - 1

Return
channel Diffusers
PARAMETERS FOR SPECIFYING
CENTRIFUGAL COMPRESSOR
PARAMETERS AVAILABLE
 SUCTION PRESSURE
 SUCTION TEMPERATURE
 GAS COMPOSITION
 MASS FLOW RATE / STANDARD
VOLUMETRIC FLOWRATE
PARAMETERS ESTIMATED
 NUMBER OF STAGES
 DISCHARGE TEMPERATURES
 COMPRESSOR CASINGS
 COMPRESSOR SPEED
 NUMBER OF IMPELLERS
 TYPE OF DRIVE
 GAS POWER
TERMINOLOGY: MACHINE BEHAVIOUR:

 HEAD COEFFICIENT = Hi/(u2/g) 2

 FLOW COEFFICIENT = Q / Large
Tank
(πd2/4 x u) Head

Head
(Potential)

 SURGE 1
 EQUATIONS OF STATE Compressor
Flow
 COMPRESSIBILITY (Kinetic)
V gas velocity Vrelative

α1
Vrel for low flow
α2

U VT2 VT1

As per Euler’s equation,

H ∝ U x VT

More the VT, more will be the head.

 STEPS FOR COMPRESSOR ESTIMATION
P1, T1 and gas H = { Z / [(n-1)/n] } x ( R / M.W.)
composition θ = Q / (πd2/4 x u) => d = √Q/ (π θ /4 x U)
x (T1) x { (P2/P1) [(n-1)/n] - 1 }
Considering θ = 0.09
And , N = 60u / πd
k1, Z1 & molecular No. of impellers = H/ Hi
weight
-’N’ thus obtained is different for different
Distribute the number process stages
Vi-actual = Z1 x (R/M.W.) x of impellers to process - Number of impellers per process stage
T1 x ṁ x 1000 / [ P1 ] stages might be lesser than number of impellers
that can be accommodated in a casing,
in which case one casing may have
Assume polytropic Recalculate P2 and P1 @ each stage different process stages (with same
efficiency (ηp) based on number of impellers. impeller speed)
And - N obtained might not fall in the range of
Recalculate discharge temperatures commercially available drivers
T2 = T1 x (P2/P1) [(n-1)/n] for new discharge pressures
where, (n-1)/n = ((k-
1)/k)/ηp Estimate the compressor casings
-Drivers with suitable P and closest N are
required for compression process
Or chosen from the database.
-Compressor casing sizes are selected
T2 can be derived from EOS based on the estimated number of
P = ṁ x H / (1000 x 367.2 x
using process simulation impellers within the casing
ηp)
software -Process stages are distributed among the
casings and flow coefficient, head
coefficient and discharge temperatures
Number of process µ = Hi/(u2/g) => u = √(Hg/ µ), are calculated to be within limits
stages – Limited by T2, considering µ = 0.5; u = max. 200 -Gear boxes are introduced to change
Э/- T2 = max. 160 to 175 m/s to 275 m/s the speeds if required
°C
 Illustration of API 617 - Terms

Specified Operating Compressor Rated point

condition-2

Normal operating point

Specified Operating
condition-1

Operating Stability

Turndown Range
THANKYOU!!
Sarvam khalu idam brahma!