AIChE Equipment Testing Procedure - Centrifugal Compressors A Guide to Performance Evaluation and Site Testing

The newest addition to AIChE's long-running Equipment Testing Procedure series, Centrifugal Compressors: A Guide to Performance Evaluation and Site Testing provides chemical engineers, plant managers, and other professionals with helpful advice to assess and measure the performance of a key component in a number of chemical process operations. From petrochemical refining and natural gas production to air separation plants, efficient, safe, and environmentally-sound operations depend on reliable performance by centrifugal compressors.

The book presents a step-by-step approach to preparing for, planning, executing, and analyzing tests of centrifugal compressors, with an emphasis on methods that can be conducted on-site?and with an acknowledgement of the strengths and limitations of these methods. The book opens with an extensive and detailed section offering definitions of relevant terms explained not only in words, but also with the equations used to determine their values. The book then goes on to address:

• Selection of instrumentation and identification of elements to be measured
• Strategies for data collection and evaluation
• Recommendations for when to schedule testing
• Pre-test, in-test, and post-test considerations (i.e., equipment, safety, process, and environmental)
• Computation and interpretation of results, including guidelines for field modifications and analysis of results

The book concludes with appendices for applicable codes and standards, relevant symbols and nomenclature, and values generated from a sample performance test. With its engineer-tested procedures and thorough explanations, Centrifugal Compressors is an essential text for anyone engaged in implementing new technology in equipment design, identifying process problems, and optimizing equipment performance.

101.0 Purpose 1

102.0 Scope 1

200.0 DEFINITION AND DESCRIPTION OF TERMS 3

300.0 TEST PLANNING 18

301.0 General Guidance 18

302.0 Communication 18

400.0 INSTRUMENTS AND METHODS OF MEASUREMENT 19

401.0 Minimum Instrumentation for Checking Compressor Performance 19

402.0 The Ideal Beginning 19

403.0 Schematic of Test Piping and Instrumentation 20

404.0 When Should Tests be Conducted? 20

405.0 Test Planning 20

405.1 Test Codes 21

405.2 Equipment 21

405.3 Process Considerations 22

405.4 Safety 22

405.5 Environmental Considerations 22

405.6 Pre-Test Inspection of Physical Facilities 22

406.0 Conducting the Test 23

407.0 Duration of Test Points 24

408.0 Selecting Instruments and Methods of Measurement 25

409.0 Testing Methods25

409.1 Pressure and Temperature Measurement 25

409.2 Gas Component Measurement27

409.3 Flow Measurement27

409.4 Power Measurement 28

409.5 Speed Measurement 29

500.0 TEST PROCEDURE 30

501.0 Site Test 30

502.0 Test Planning 30

503.0 Test Measurements 31

504.0 Test Procedure 32

600.0 COMPUTATION OF RESULTS 34

700.0 EVALUATION OF RESULTS35

701.0 Guidelines for Field Modifications 35

702.0 Error Analysis with Example 36

800.0 APPENDIX 40

801.0 Applicable Codes and Specifications 40

802.0 List of Symbols and Notations 41-42

803.0 Subscripts 42

804.0 Results of Sample Performance Test 43