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

AIChE′s first manual for testing and measuring performance of centrifugal compressors 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.

100.0 PURPOSE & SCOPE 1 101.0 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

The AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERS (AIChE) is a distinguished professional association that strives to provide leadership in the advancing chemical engineering profession. The Equipment Testing Procedures Committee is composed of engineers with substantial experience in the design and operation of process plants, as well as in solving problems that can arise with the equipment used in these plants.