Operator's Guide to Process Compressors


Book Description

Gas compressors tend to be the largest, most costly, and most critical machines employed in chemical and gas transfer processes. Since they tend to have the greatest effect on the reliability of processes they power, compressors typically receive the most scrutiny of all the machinery among the general population of processing equipment. To prevent unwanted compressor failures from occurring, operators must be taught how their equipment should operate and how each installation is different from one another. The ultimate purpose of this book is to teach those who work in process settings more about gas compressors, so they can start up and operate them correctly and monitor their condition with more confidence. Some may regard compressor technology as too broad and complex a topic for operating personnel to fully understand, but the author has distilled this vast body of knowledge into some key, easy to understand lessons for the reader to study at his or her own pace. The main goals of this book are to: Explain important theories and concepts about gases and compression processes with a minimum of mathematics Identify key compressor components and explain how they affect reliability Explain how centrifugal compressors, reciprocating compressors, and screw compressors function. Explain key operating factors that affect reliability Introduce the reader to basic troubleshooting methodologies Introduce operators to proven field inspection techniques




Operator's Guide to Process Compressors


Book Description

The perfect primer for anyone responsible for operating or maintaining process gas compressors. Gas compressors tend to be the largest, most costly, and most critical machines employed in chemical and gas transfer processes. Since they tend to have the greatest effect on the reliability of processes they power, compressors typically receive the most scrutiny of all the machinery among the general population of processing equipment. To prevent unwanted compressor failures from occurring, operators must be taught how their equipment should operate and how each installation is different from one another. The ultimate purpose of this book is to teach those who work in process settings more about gas compressors, so they can start up and operate them correctly and monitor their condition with more confidence. Some may regard compressor technology as too broad and complex a topic for operating personnel to fully understand, but the author has distilled this vast body of knowledge into some key, easy to understand lessons for the reader to study at his or her own pace. This groundbreaking new work is a must-have for any engineer, operator, or manager working with process compressors. The main goals of this book are to: Explain important theories and concepts about gases and compression processes with a minimum of mathematics Identify key compressor components and explain how they affect reliability Explain how centrifugal compressors, reciprocating compressors, and screw compressors function. Explain key operating factors that affect reliabilityIntroduce the reader to basic troubleshooting methodologies Introduce operators to proven field inspection techniques Improve the confidence of personnel operating compressors by teaching them the basics of compressor theory Improve compressor reliability plantwide by teaching operating and inspection best practices Improve communication between operating and supporting plant personnel by providing a common vocabulary of compressor terms Help processing plants avoid costly failures by teaching operators how to identify early compressor issues during field inspections




A Simple Guide to Understanding Compressors


Book Description

This straightforward guide to compressors seeks to unveil a lot of myths surrounding compressors. In this book, we will be looking at most types of compressors, including the centrifugal compressors, the air compressors, and of course the most troublesome of all compressors, the reciprocating compressors. Having a compressor with minimal operating problems does not only depend on the selection of the right type and size for your job. Detailed specifications of all auxiliary equipment and operating conditions, as well as keeping constant vigilance over the engineering and installation is imperative. The Simple Guide will explain in a simple yet definitive manner which compressor type is best used for which job and what it can produce.




A Practical Guide to Compressor Technology


Book Description

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.




Working Guide to Process Equipment


Book Description

Working Guide to Process Equipment, 2nd Ed. carefully and clearly explains all the basic technical issues that you need to know to trouble-shoot most process equipment problems. This guide contains a wealth of useful diagnostic tips, worked-out calculations, practical examples, and informative illustrations to help you quickly pinpoint trouble and repair typical malfunctions in: Trayed and packed distillation towers; Natural and forced reboilers; Partial and total condensers; Steam systems and deaerators; Vaccuum systems; Fired heaters; Shell and tube heat exchangers; Centrifugal compressors; Gas turbines and reciprocating engines; Centrifugal pumps and motor drivers. In no time at all, this essential problem-solving manual will become your most trusted on-the-job tool for dealing effectively with costly equipment malfunctions.




Process Centrifugal Compressors


Book Description

Originating in the process compressor industry, this text primarily addresses: rotating equipment engineers, project engineers, engineering contractors, and compressor user companies in oil and gas field operations, natural gas processing, petroleum refining, petrochemical processing, industrial refrigeration, and chemical industries. It enables the reader to assess compressors and defines the constraints influencing the compressor design.




Operator’S Guide to Rotating Equipment


Book Description

Every operator who is responsible for monitoring critical rotating equipment will greatly benefit from this handy reference book. The goal of this book is to present proven techniques that will enable rookie and veteran operators alike to detect problems early and, we hope, eliminate major outages and/or maintenance costs. To achieve this goal we shall explain the basics of lubrication systems, bearings, drivers, seals and sealing systems, for centrifugal and positive displacement pumps as well as turbines, centrifugal compressors and reciprocating compressors. We will then present common sense inspection methods for centrifugal and positive displacement pumps, gear boxes, motors, heat exchangers, and turbines.




Compressors and Modern Process Applications


Book Description

A modern reference to the principles, operation, and applications of the most important compressor types Thoroughly addressing process-related information and a wider variety of the major compressor types of interest to process plants, Compressors and Modern Process Applications uniquely covers the systematic linkage of fluid processing machinery to the processes they serve. This book is a highly practical resource for professionals responsible for purchasing, servicing, or operating compressors. It describes the main features of over 300 petrochemical and refining schematics and associated process descriptions involving compressors and expanders in modern industry. The organized presentation of this reference covers first the basics of compressors and what they are, and then progresses to important operational and process issues. It then explains the underlying principles, operating modes, selection issues, and major hardware elements for compressors. Topics include double-acting positive displacement compressors, rotary positive displacement compressors, understanding centrifugal process gas compressors, power transmission and advanced bearing technology, centrifugal compressor performance, gas processing and turbo-expander applications, and compressors typically found in petroleum refining and other petrochemical processes. Suitable for plant operation personnel, machinery engineering specialists, process engineers,as well as undergraduate students of this subject, this book's special features include: * Flow schematics of modern process units and processes used in gas transport, gas conditioning, petrochemical manufacture, and petroleum refining * Listings of licensors for each process on the flow schematics * Identification of each process flow schematic of compressors, cryogenic, and hot gas expanders at their respective locations * Important overview of surge control, estimating compressor performance, applications for air separation and gas processing plants, petroleum refinery issues, and important criteria that govern compressor selection and application Placing hundreds of associated process flow schematics at the fingertips of professionals and students, author and industry expert Heinz Bloch facilitates comprehension of the workings of various petrochemical, oil refining, and product upgrading processes that are served by compressors.




Operator's Manual


Book Description




AIChE Equipment Testing Procedure - Centrifugal Compressors


Book Description

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. This condensed 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, which are explained not only in words, but also with the equations used to determine their values. Other discussion topics include: Selection of instrumentation and identification of elements to be measured; Strategies for data collection and evaluation; Recommendations for when to schedule tests; Pre-test, in-test, and post-test considerations (equipment, safety, process, environmental); and Computation and interpretation of results, including guidelines for field modifications and analysis of results.