A Practical Guide To Compressor Technology

A Complete overview of theory, selection, design, operation, and maintenance This text offers a thorough overview of the operating characteristics, efficiencies, design features, troubleshooting, and maintenance of dynamic and positive displacement process gas compressors. The author examines a wide spectrum of compressors used in heavy process industries, with an emphasis on improving reliability and avoiding failure. Readers learn both the theory underlying compressors as well as the myriad day-to-day practical issues and challenges that chemical engineers and plant operation personnel must address. The text features: Latest design and manufacturing details of dynamic and positive displacement process gas compressors Examination of the full range of machines available for the heavy process industries Thorough presentation of the arrangements, material composition, and basic laws governing the design of all important process gas compressors Guidance on selecting optimum compressor configurations, controls, components, and auxiliaries to maximize reliability Monitoring and performance analysis for optimal machinery condition Systematic methods to avoid failure through the application of field-tested reliability enhancement concepts Fluid instability and externally pressurized bearings Reliability-driven asset management strategies for compressors Upstream separator and filter issues The text's structure is carefully designed to build knowledge and skills by starting with key principles and then moving to more advanced material. Hundreds of photos depicting various types of compressors, components, and processes are provided throughout. Compressors often represent a multi-million dollar investment for such applications as petrochemical processing and refining, refrigeration, pipeline transport, and turbochargers and superchargers for internal combustion engines. This text enables the broad range of engineers and plant managers who work with these compressors to make the most of the investment by leading them to the best decisions for selecting, operating, upgrading, maintaining, and troubleshooting.

Compressors are a vital link in the conversion of raw materials into refined products. Compressors also handle economical use and transformation of energy from one for into another. They are used for the extraction of metals and minerals in mining operations, for the conservation of energy in natural gas injection plants, for secondary recovery processes in oil fields, for the utilization of new energy sources such as shale oil and tar sands, for furnishing utility or reaction air, for oxygen and reaction gases in almost any process, for process chemical and petrochemical plants, and for the separation and liquefaction of gases in air separation plants and in LPG and LNG plants. And, as the reader will undoubtedly know, this listing does not even begin to describe the literally hundreds of services that use modern compression equipment.

Reciprocating compressors and their applications. Design and materials of reciprocating compressor components. Operation and maintenance of reciprocating compressors. Overhaul and repair of reciprocating compressors. Troubleshooting compressor problems. Preventive maintenance of reciprocating compressors. Safety in operation and maintenance. Appendix: Reciprocating compressor calculations. Index.

This book describes fresh approaches to compression technology. The authors describe in detail where, why, and how these can be of value to process plants. As such plants have become ever larger and more complex, more technology-intensive solutions have had to be developed for process machinery. The best practices that have emerged to address these requirements are assembled in this book.

Practical techniques for optimizing compressor performance Written by experts with more than 100 combined years of industry experience in machinery failure avoidance, Compressors: How to Achieve High Reliability & Availability offers proven solutions to a pervasive and expensive problem in modern industry--compressor failure. This succinct, on-the-job guide addresses elusive causes of compressor failure and clearly maps out permanent remedies you can put to use right away. With a focus on centrifugal and reciprocating compressors, this accessible reference is based on real-world processes and procedures used by successful global companies. Coverage includes: Compression principles and internal labyrinths Selection factors for process compressors Operation characteristics of turbocompressors Wet and dry gas seals Bearings, stability, and vibration guidance Lube and seal oil systems Impellers and rotors Compressor maintenance and surveillance Inspection and repair of rotors Machinery quality assessment (MQA) Failure analysis and troubleshooting Reciprocating compressor operation, control, maintenance, and rebuilding Maintenance and operations interfaces Reciprocating compressor monitoring and surveillance Training competent compressor engineers

The benchmark guide for compressor technology pros You don't have to scour piles of technical literature for compressor answers any longer. The Compressor Handbook compiled by Paul Hanlon packs all the answers on design procedures, practical application, and maintenance of compressors—straight from top experts on these widely used machines. You get details on everything from fundamentals and theory to advanced applications, techniques, and today's materials -- including sought-after data on compressors that inflate tires, spray paint, increase the density of natural gas, or perform any of a myriad of other important industrial and day-to-day functions. This fully illustrated Handbook can help you: Understand the structure and operation of compressors of all types Design or select compressors for any use, from power-cleaning to chemical processes Follow step-by-step design procedures for fewer errors and optimized results Specify leading-edge materials, components, and lubricants Operate and maintain all types of compressors at peak efficiency Answer questions on and provide designs for ancillary and auxiliary equipment Invent new applications for compressor technology Easily find tabular data on gas properties, efficiency curves, compression ratios, and horsepower, plus definitions of nomenclature

This book examines the full spectrum of compressor types, how they operate, how to control them, and how operating conditions can significantly impact their performance. Discussed in detail are the influence of pressure, temperature, molecular weight, specific heat ratio, compression ratio, speed, vane position, and volume bottles. The various methods of throughput control are also addressed, including discharge throttling, suction throttling, guide pain positioning, volume, bottles, suction valve unloaders, speed control, as well as how each of these control methods affects compressor life. Compressor surge is defined and discussed in detail, along with the types of instrumentation (controllers, valves, pressure, and temperature transmitters) available, and which of those are most suitable for controlling search. Case studies have been included to illustrate the principles covered in the text. This edition also includes detailed information on compressor seals. Various types of seals providing the best results for different applications are discussed, thereby giving the reader a basic understanding of seals serotypes and applications.