Evaluating the Performance of Centrifugal Compressors

AIChE’s Equipment Testing Procedures Committee writes procedures that explain how to conduct performance tests on various types of equipment and how to interpret the test results. The committee recently published such a procedure for centrifugal compressors. “Centrifugal Compressors: A Guide to Performance Evaluation and Site Testing, 1st ed.,” provides methods of conducting and interpreting field tests on centrifugal compressors. Such tests may be used to verify the guaranteed performance operating conditions; to determine how to improve performance when the compressor does not perform as required or does not satisfy process requirements; to ascertain if performance problems are being induced by the installation; to track the condition of the compressor internals, especially if the gas is corrosive or causes fouling, or if a process upset has occurred that might damage the compressor; to provide guidelines for the user in modifying existing equipment; or to enable the user to estimate the gas composition through comparisons to the shop test results. This article is excerpted from the recently published book.