CST03 - Part 2: High Reliability Pistons for Reciprocating Compressors ? Non Lube Piston for 5 Year Run-Time�

Abstract

Reliability and performance related issues of pistons and cylinder rings can be avoided in the vast majority of cases and the piston should never be the MTBF (Mean Time Before Failure) bottle neck. Even for non-lube machines a piston layout can be designed that results in a five year uninterrupted run-time (as discussed in one of the cases in this paper). Piston performance and reliability is highly predictable. In most cases poor reliability of cylinder rings stems from incorrect application of specific ring designs, insufficient engineering or off-the-shelf methods in the design phase of the piston. A new design process has been developed to mitigate reliability issues on reciprocating compressor pistons. This approach was presented at the TPS 2018 in the lecture High Reliability Pistons for Reciprocating Compressors with Validated Performance Modelling. The first pistons that have been engineered using this process were installed 2015. This lecture presents the details of two installations and a general guideline for the design of high performance pistons and advanced piston layouts. ?