Greg McMillan’s book, Centrifugal and Axial Compressor Control, delves into the complex control challenges associated with centrifugal and axial compressors, particularly in surge conditions. This is a unique opportunity to learn from a true industry leader.
In a Hydrocarbon Engineering article, Control Valve Selection for Ethylene Plants, Matthew Wagner describes how to choose the right combination of valve style, trim type, materials of construction, and digital positioners for critical valve application in an ethylene unit.
The owners of LNG regasification terminals are looking for ways to increase the operational efficiency of their assets while still ensuring that safety is never compromised. The application of a broad range of advanced digital technologies is helping them to meet this challenge and increase capacity at their plants.
An ethylene plant has a number of very large, very critical compressors which will cause the entire plant to shutdown if they ever trip. The cracked gas compressor increases the entire cold-side feed from around 3 psig to ~475 psig, typically through 5 stages. The two refrigeration compressors are the next biggest compressors that can also shut down the entire plant if they trip.
Given the possible harm to the equipment, a special surge prevention algorithm is required to efficiently protect the compressor. The controller response time also must be higher than for majority of other control loops. The Emerson DeltaV PK controller is a good example of fast-acting controller for compressor antisurge control.
Some of the most perennially popular posts (say that fast 10 times!) here on the blog involve axial or centrifugal compressor surge control, or better stated—anti-surge control. In a paper presented at this year's AIChE Spring Meeting, Emerson's Greg McMillan—a member...
Some of the most consistently popular posts here on the blog involve compressor anti-surge control. It's a condition in centrifugal and axial compressors where a flow reversal condition can occur. Wikipedia defines centrifugal compressor surge as: …the point at which...
Centrifugal and axial compressors are at the heart of many production processes. Effective compressor automation and turbomachinery control not only impacts efficiency, but also safety, reliability, production throughput and energy usage. A complete turbomachinery control system consists of measurement devices, high speed controllers, control valves, guide vane drives, turbine governors and more.
Compressors are important assets for most process manufacturers and producers. Common threats to their health include high vibration, fluctuations in gas flow, surge conditions, suction or discharge restrictions, temperature spikes, seal failures and inadequate...
In this 2:50 YouTube video, Optimized Anti Surge Control Simulator, Emerson’s Tom Bass and CCC’s Rick Fausel describe the Innovation Center simulator setup. The purpose is to show the control strategies working with the control valve to meet the application requirements for surge protection.
Some of our most consistently popular posts here at Emerson Process Experts center on anti-surge control for centrifugal compressors. I had the opportunity to catch up with Emerson's Ashish Patki when he was in town last month. Ashish shared a story where a national...
Update: Greg has published a post, Checklist for Compressor Surge Control Tips which should give you some things to consider for your centrifugal and axial compressors. Orginal post: It's great to questions from automation professionals from some of my posts built up...
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