Modern Methods to Detect Degradation in Centrifugal Compressor Performance and Use of Thermodynamic Performance Modelling to Identify Causes

Abstract

Detecting degradation in centrifugal compressor thermodynamic performance can be challenging. Machines can operate at different inlet and discharge conditions, different inlet guide vane positions, different speeds and even on different gases or gas mixtures. Compressor performance curves that typically show mass flow versus discharge pressure and power can limit one’s ability to analyze performance at different operating conditions. The use of more general and invariant compressor performance parameters, such as inlet volumetric flow versus head and efficiency can be more useful, especially when evaluating the cause(s) of a loss in compressor performance. Identifying the cause(s) is useful so that the problem can be corrected without the need of a more comprehensive repair or a trial and error approach. The purpose of this tutorial is to show how compressor performance degradation can be detected and how to identify the possible cause(s).