Factors affecting reciprocating compressor performance

Journal Article · Tue Jun 01 00:00:00 EDT 1993 · Hydrocarbon Processing; (United States)

OSTI ID:6164745

Woollatt, D ^[1]

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1. Dresser-Rand Co., Painted Post, NY (United States)

A reciprocating compressor is a positive displacement machine and, in principal, its capacity and horsepower can be calculated very easily. In practice, however, several loss mechanisms act to decrease capacity and increase horsepower from the ideal predicted values. Many of these effects are quite difficult to predict accurately and the only effective way of developing reciprocating compressor performance prediction methods is to run a large number of tests on different compressors under different operating conditions. Combined with an understanding of the physics controlling the losses, experimental results allow good empirical models of losses to be developed. However, without the benefit of a good understanding of the physics of the loss mechanisms, it is impossible to interpret test results. Some factors affecting the magnitude of losses are compressor design, compressor speed, suction and discharge pressure and temperature, gas composition, suction and discharge piping design, and valve design. Losses that are important in some applications may be negligible in others so it is essential that a wide range of compressor designs, valve designs, gas molecular weight and operating conditions be tested when developing a performance prediction model. The paper discusses the effects of clearance and pressure ratio; the primary losses affecting capacity and power, including valve and port pressure loss, valve springing, valve inertia, piston ring leakage, packing leakage, discharge valve leakage, suction valve leakage, pulsations, heat transfer in the suction passage, and heat transfer in the cylinder; heat transfer in compressor cylinders; performance prediction methods; and compressor diagnosis.

• OSTI ID: 6164745
• Journal Information: Hydrocarbon Processing; (United States), Vol. 72:6; ISSN 0018-8190
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

03 NATURAL GAS
COMPRESSORS
PERFORMANCE
CAPACITY
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
DESIGN
DIAGNOSTIC TECHNIQUES
ENERGY CONSUMPTION
FORECASTING
HEAT TRANSFER
LEAKS
LOSSES
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
NATURAL GAS DISTRIBUTION SYSTEMS
OSCILLATIONS
PERFORMANCE TESTING
PIPES
PRESSURE DEPENDENCE
PRESSURE DROP
TEMPERATURE DEPENDENCE
VALVES
VELOCITY
CONTROL EQUIPMENT
ENERGY SYSTEMS
ENERGY TRANSFER
EQUIPMENT
FLOW REGULATORS
TESTING
032000* - Natural Gas- Transport
Handling
& Storage