| dc.description.abstract | This paper will discuss the challenges with
contamination resulting from long periods of compressors in
standstill conditions. The reliability of gas seals is largely
dependent on having a continuous supply of clean and dry seal
gas. In a dynamic mode the gas supply systems takes process
gas from a higher pressure level in the compressor, conditions
it and provides it to the gas seal to create the ideal
environment for the gas seal. This ensures the gas seal is
provided with effective protection against contaminated
process gas.
Compressor gas seals are very robust sealing devices,
but need to be operated in a dry and clean environment. The
leading root cause of gas seal failures is contamination. One of
the most common sources of contamination is during
compressor start up, slow-roll, standstill, or shutdown modes.
In these modes there is a lack of seal gas flow, which suggests
no means to produce seal gas flow is available, such as a high
pressure gas source or booster for the seal gas supply. This is
where it pays to have a reliable, clean gas supply. Without
seal gas flow, sufficient seal gas cannot be provided to the gas
seal and results in the gas seal being contaminated.
This paper will describe contamination to the gas seal
by process gas, during commissioning, by particle and by
liquids, which are caused by inadequate seal gas supply. Then
it will focus on different methods of providing seal gas flow
during transient conditions. And finally, it will discuss
solutions to ensure a reliable, clean gas flow to the seal at all
relevant conditions. | en |
