Field Performance Testing for Centrifugal Compressors

摘要

Compressors are used in all areas of production and in many different sectors of the chemical process industries(CPI).Production facilities can have a number of compressors of different types and in a range of sizes.The three main compressor types are centrifugal,axial and reciprocating.This article focuses on centrifugal compressors(Figure 1)and how field performance testing can be carried out in this equipment class to benefit the end-users,manufacturers and maintenance personnel.The benefits of field testing for existing units include the ability to quantify performance deterioration as a function of equipment age,to determine if and when certain main-tenance tasks should be performed,and to identify specific equipment components for product improvement.For new units,field testing helps validate product performance.