Compressor selection

[HamzaNossair]

For a process that can met with either 4 stages Recp Compressor Vs 6 stages Integrally Geared Cent. Compressor, can any one give me an advise with any drawback for each selection?

Vibration, capacity control, cost........etc?

 

[zdas04]

What the heck are you trying to accomplish with the machines? How clean does the downstream gas have to be? Basically the Recip will use less energy, but will put oil in the gas. The centrifugal must have a narrower suction range than the recip. The centrifugal will take up less space for the same work. It just depends on your mission which you would prefer.

David Simpson, PE
MuleShoe Engineering

"Belief" is the acceptance of an hypotheses in the absence of data.
"Prejudice" is having an opinion not supported by the preponderance of the data.
"Knowledge" is only found through the accumulation and analysis of data.
The plural of anecdote is not "data"

 

[HamzaNossair]

This will be Boil off Gas Service, so, I'm evaluating Dry Recp or Laby Sulzer Vs. Int Gear.6 stage would be a dynamic problems?

 

[nickelkid]

Lack of definition is the best recipe for “problems.” Zdas04 asked a few of the basic questions…

 

[zdas04]

Thanks for the support RobinHandy.

HamzaNossair,
You have to define the boundary conditions. For example if you are on an offshore platform, deck space is at a premium and energy density is key. Other locations having a small footprint might not matter so much. You have to understand how variable the suction pressure is (a recip wants to stay within +/-5% in absolute unts, a centrifugal wants to stay within +/-2%). How variable is the suction temperature (centrifugals don't do well with changing density). How variable is discharge sink?

For a given application each of these items (and a hundred more) will have an impact on the decision. For a very near thing (which this may be) I often list the boundary conditions in a table, assign a weight to each boundary condition and then a 1-10 score for each technology for each condition. Multiply times the weight and add the results. If there is not a clear winner go with life-cycle costs. If there is a clear winner go with that.

David Simpson, PE
MuleShoe Engineering

"Belief" is the acceptance of an hypotheses in the absence of data.
"Prejudice" is having an opinion not supported by the preponderance of the data.
"Knowledge" is only found through the accumulation and analysis of data.
The plural of anecdote is not "data"