RECIPROCATING COMPRESSORS

Objectives

The course entails an in depth study of these machines: technology, performance’s, operation and current modes of failures. These basic aspects should enable the participants to solve troubleshooting problems. Case studies from a range of applications and industries will be presented.

COURSE OUTLINE

Module 1

Technology

·         Construction and design philosophies

·         Components of reciprocating compressors: frame, cylinders, piston and rings, piston rod and crank head, crankshaft and connecting rods, bearings, valves.

·         Auxiliaries: dampers, lubrication system, cooling system, safety devices.

Module 2

Performance

·         Ideal gas compression.

·         Valve behaviour,

·         Leakage

·         Indicator diagrams

·         Efficiency, power

Module 3

Operation

·         Specific problems such as water condensation

·         Start up, capacity control, shutdown

·         Influence of: pressures, nature of gas, inlet temperature

·         Multistage compressors.

Module 4

Deterioration

·         Forces created by the pressure, by inertia, by friction: effects on bearings and internal parts.

·         Defects and typical failures of valves, piston rings and packing rings, piston rod.

·         Dismantling and mounting procedures.

Module 5

Vibration Monitoring

·         What to monitor and where

·         Measurement devices

·         Overall and spectral measurements.

·         Vibration limits

·         Introduction to spectrum analysis.

Module 6

Lubricating Monitoring

·         What to monitor and where

·         Shape, size, amount, chemical composition of debris.

·         Debris limits.

·         Analytical techniques

Module 7

Look at the future

·         The latest ideas in compressor monitoring