skip to main content
OSTI.GOV title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: Preventive maintenance keeps compressor engines at peak efficiency

Journal Article · · Oil Gas J.; (United States)
OSTI ID:6513104

Texas Gas's 184 reciprocating compressor engines and 22 turbines supply nearly a half million horsepower to move gas through the company's 5900-mile transmission system. The testing and diagnostic equipment that keeps the engines running at maximum efficiency includes fiber-optic probes that inspect the interior of complex turbines, sound-wave generators that detect structural flaws, and oscilloscopes that monitor engine heartbeat. By anticipating problems and correcting them before they cause major breakdowns, the engine evaluation and maintenance program not only saves money but also raises engine productivity. One of the program's key elements is a portable computer and display screen that can plug into an engine and give a detailed electronic picture of its condition.

Research Organization:
Texas Gas Transmission Corp., Owensboro, KY
OSTI ID:
6513104
Journal Information:
Oil Gas J.; (United States), Vol. 80
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English