SURGING IN CLOSED SYSTEM

CENTRIFUGAL COMPRESSOR
Centrifugal Compressor
- One of dynamic/non-positive displacement
compressor type
- Works to increase the pressure by adding speed of
gas and convert it (kinetic energy) into pressure
- Principle operation

With impeller rotation will produce centrifugal motion,

then push the gas outward the outlet
Impeller raises gas speed and diffuser change
speed becomes pressure
Gas enters the
compressor through inlet
connection and enters
the impeller

The impeller rotates and

imparts energy to the
gas and delivers it at
higher pressure and
velocity to the diffuser.
In the diffuser the
remaining velocity energy
is gradually converted to
pressure energy

The volute completely

surrounds the diffuser and
serves to collect the gas
and to recover additional
velocity energy. The
compressed gas is then
expelled through the
discharge.
Symtomps of Surge
- There will be low flow system
- Discharge temperature increases
- Extreme change on motor current
- There will be violent fluctuation in discharge pressure
Effects of Surge
Gas will flow
backwards Rotating shaft Thrust bearing
and pushes will slam into will be
rotating thrust bearing damaged
assembly

Cause rotating
elemnt to come
into contact
with stationary
element
Surge Avoidance
Surge can endanger the safe operation of a
compression system and as a consequence it limits the
performance and operating envelope of the
compressor. Taking away these limitations requires that
surge can be avoided by suppressing the
aerodynamic instability of the compression system.
Surge Avoidance
To prevent the compressor operating point from crossing the surge
line:
Selecting a control line some distance away from the actual

surge Iine.
Surge detection and avoidance techniques activate the
measures to keep the operating point in the stable regime
when the actual (onset of) surge is detected.
Reducing the downstream pressure or changing the impeller
speed to prevent surge from developing.
Surge Avoidance
To prevent the compressor operating point from crossing the surge
line:
Selecting a control line some distance away from the actual

surge Iine.
Surge detection and avoidance techniques activate the
measures to keep the operating point in the stable regime
when the actual (onset of) surge is detected.
Reducing the downstream pressure or changing the impeller
speed to prevent surge from developing.
Surge Avoidance
To extend the safe operating range of compressors is to reduce
the variability in process conditions that can trigger aerodynamic
instability.
Ex. adequate control of the fluid temperature at the inlet and
intercoolers, adjusting the safety margins when gas composition
and hence the surge line change, and adopting appropriate
start-up and shutdown procedures to avoid destabilizing
transients.
With the combination of a throttle, return piping, and cooler, the
conditions of the gas at the compressor inlet were kept
approximately constant and thereby effectively decoupling the
inlet and discharge side of the system.