How a Centrifugal

Compressor Works

Rainer Kurz
Solar Turbines Incorporated

Klaus Brun
Southwest Research Institute

Overview

• The Working Principles of Centrifugal Compressors

• Centrifugal Compressor Components
• Types of Centrifugal Compressors
• Drivers for Centrifugal Compressors
– Gas Turbines
– Electric Motors
• VFD
• Variable speed gearbox

1
 The Working Principles of
Centrifugal Compressors

Gas Laws

• The relationship of pressure, temperature and density

• Same principle as in recips:

2
 Gas Laws

• The relationship of pressure, temperature and density

• Same principle as in recips:

• When gas is compressed, both its density and its temperature

increase (unless heat is exchanged with the environment)
• Adiabatic : No heat exchange with the environment

Compressibility Factor

• Correction factor to correct the density from ideal

gas behavior to real gas behavior

• Typically less than 1

• Means that for given pressure and temperature, the

‘real’ density is usually higher than the ‘ideal’ density

3
 ACFM and SCFM

1lb of Gas
at 1lb of Gas
14.7 psia and 60F at
500 psia
and 60F

The three principles

• Energy Transfer from the impeller to the fluid

• Centrifugal Force
• Exchanging Pressure and Velocity

4
 Energy

• For a flowing gas there are two types of energy

involved:
– Kinetic Energy (Velocity)
– Potential Energy (Static Pressure)*

• They are interchangeable, i.e. static pressure can be

converted into velocity and vice versa

* For completeness: ..and Elevation

Diffusion

velocity velocity
pressure
pressure
Mass Flow
Mass Flow

Diffusors always increase the available flow area

Continuity thus requires a reduction in flow velocity*
Bernoullis law thus leads to an increase in static pressure
Too much diffusion (=deceleration) leads to flow separation
Flow does not ‘naturally’ flow against pressure rise
* ….in subsonic flow

5
 Acceleration

velocity
pressure velocity
pressure
Mass Flow Mass Flow

Acceleration due to reduced available flow area

Continuity thus requires a increase in flow velocity*
Bernoullis law thus leads to an reduction in static pressure

* ….in subsonic flow

Diffusors and Accelerators

• Turbine Blades • Compressor Blades

• Axial Inlet Vanes • Vaneless Diffusors
• Compressor inlet section • Diffuser Vanes
• Pipe Spool Pieces • Volutes
• Venturi Nozzles • Pipe Spool Pieces

They all provide less flow They all provide more flow
area at the outlet than at the area at the outlet than at the
inlet inlet

6
 Some Typical Diffusors

Impeller
Compressor Blades

Vaneless Parallel Wall

Diffusor

Some typical Accelerators

1.40E+00

Nozzle
1.20E+00

Turbine Blades 1.00E+00

8.00E-01 p/p=1.1
p/p=1.3
Mis

p/p=1.5
p/p=1.7
6.00E-01 p/p=1.9

4.00E-01

2.00E-01

0.00E+00
-5.00E-01 0.00E+00 5.00E-01 1.00E+00 1.50E+00 2.00E+00 2.50E+00

s
Velocity distribution on the blade surface(top)
and flow channel (left) of a turbine nozzle

7
 Energy Increase

• Ok, we now know how to trade, but

how do we increase the overall
energy?

• Obviously, if the impeller were in a

black box, we would expect that the
gas coming out is at
a higher velocity
and/or
a higher pressure
• So, how does the impeller do this?

Rotation of the Impeller

Centrifugal Force
+
Blade Force (‘Lift’)

Increase Energy
of the
Gas

8
The Effect of Rotation

• Spinning an Object
– Causes a force trying to
accelerate away from center
– Requires effort

• Impeller
– Spinning causes gas to move
from inlet to outlet
– Additionally, the blades push
the gas
– Requires power to maintain
stream of gas

Compressor Stage

9
 After the Impeller

• Pressure and velocity are increased

• We now want to convert at least some of the velocity
into pressure:
• We need a diffuser

Pressure and Velocity

Build-Up in a Compressor

1200

1000

800

600

400

Total Pressure

200

0
Total Pressure (=Energy)
Static pressure(=pressure energy)
e
ey
t
le

Velocity(=kinetic Energy)
et
In

it
ex
nl
V

t
xi
i
iG

or

re
or
t
ro

ot

to

t
le
R

t
xi
in
st

t
xi
e
r

re
to

or
ro

to
t
ro
2 nd

a
2 nd

st
2 nd

10
 Compressor Operating Points

The faster it spins, the more work (head) gets imparted,

but also the more flow is processed, and the more
power is consumed.
Twice the speed yields four times the work, twice the
flow, and eight times the power

Definition of Terms - Pressures

1. ABSOLUTE PRESSURE is the pressure measured from an absolute vacuum. It

equals the algebraic sum of barometric pressure and gage pressure.

2. STATIC PRESSURE is the pressure in the gas measured in such a manner that no
effect is produced by the velocity of the gas stream. It is the pressure that would be
shown by a measuring instrument moving at the same velocity as the moving stream and
is the pressure used as a property in defining the thermodynamic state of the fluid.

3. STAGNATION (Total) PRESSURE is the pressure which would be measured at the

stagnation point when a moving gas stream is brought to rest and its kinetic energy is
converted to an enthalpy rise by an isentropic compression from the flow condition to the
stagnation condition. It is the pressure usually measured by an impact tube. In a
stationary body of gas, the static and stagnation pressures are numerically equal.

4. VELOCITY PRESSURE (DYNAMIC PRESSURE) is the stagnation pressure

minus the static pressure in a gas stream. It is the pressure generally measured by the
differential pressure reading of a Pitot tube

11
 Definition of Terms- Temperature

1. ABSOLUTE TEMPERATURE is the temperature above absolute zero. It is

equal to the degrees Fahrenheit plus 459.69 and is stated as degrees Rankine.

2. STATIC TEMPERATURE is the temperature that would be shown by a

measuring instrument moving at the same velocity as the fluid stream. It is the
temperature used as a property in defining the thermodynamic state of the gas.

3. STAGNATION (Total) TEMPERATURE is that temperature which would be

measured at the stagnation point if a gas stream were brought to rest and its kinetic
energy converted to an enthalpy rise by an isentropic compression process from the
flow condition to the stagnation condition.

Definition of Terms-Flow

1. CAPACITY (Actual Flow) of a compressor is the volume rate of

flow of gas compressed and delivered referred to conditions of
pressure, temperature and gas composition prevailing at the
compressor inlet.

2. STANDARD or NORMAL FLOW is the rate of flow under certain

‘standard’ conditions, for example 60degF and 30”Hg (US Standard)
or 0degC and 1013.25 mbar (SI Normal).

3. MASS FLOW is the rate of flow in mass units

12
 Energy,Work,Temperature,Power and all that

• Energy in turbomachines appear in two forms: Work

and Heat. Adding and subtracting Energy can change
such measurable properties as temperatures,
pressures and velocities.
• Work is defined as a force acting on a body over
some distance.
• Heat is the energy transfer between systems with
unequal temperatures
• The different forms of energy can be converted into
one another, albeit not always completely
• Power is Work per unit of time

What is Compressor Head?

• Head is a measure of energy (or work) transferred to the

gas.
• The amount of energy transferred is shown in the
temperature increase of the gas
• Head is defined as the energy added to each pound mass of
the gas by one or more rotating impellers.
• Head is expressed in units of foot-pounds-force per pound-
mass (ft-lbf/lbm)
• An ideal process, that generates no losses, would achieve
the pressure increase with a certain amount of energy
transfer, that is lower than the actually required transfer
(Æisentropic head)

13
 Recip vs. Centrifugal

• The compression in a slow running recip is almost

isentropic, but usually not adiabatic. Losses usually
occur mainly due to the gas exchange (valves etc.)

• In a centrifugal, friction losses occur along the entire

compression process. They are usually related to
friction between the gas and the walls, or to friction
between non uniform gas streams

Compressor Map

25,000
More Speed 82%
85%
Yields 15,500
rpm 85%

More Head and Flow 20,000

15,000 rp
m
82%
14
,00
0r 78%
pm
Less Flow 86%
13
it

74%
Gives 15,000
im

,0
00
eL

rp
m
rg

More Head 12
Su

,0
ISENTROPIC HEAD

00
11 rp
m
, 00
10,000 10 0
rp
Distinct Areas ,0 0
0r
pm
m

of High Efficiency
5,000

Surge and Choke

1,000 2,000 3,000 4,000 5,000 6,000

INLET VOLUME FLOW

14
 Each set contains a head vs flow map…...

….a dimensional suction or discharge vs. std flow map and a semi-dimensional map.

15
 The head versus flow map is by
far the most universal map,
because changes in
suction temperature or
gas composition
will only slightly alter the map.
It allows to determine operating
speed, distance from surge , and the
expected isentropic efficiency

Effects of Changing Gas Conditions on Compressor

Performance

• Specific Gravity
• Temperature
• Pressure Ratio

16
 Initial Design Condition at
Constant Discharge Pressure
50
OPERATING POINT
P2 = 1200 psia
45 Qstd = 65 MMSCFD
PWR = 3850 hp 15,5
00
ISENTROPIC HEAD, ft-lbF/lbM (000)

72
40 % 75% 15,0
00
75%
35 14,0

it
00

im
72%
eL
rg

30 13,0 68%
00
Su

12,0
25 00

11,00
0
20
10,00 Ratio of Specific Heats
0 rpm 1.255
15 Specific Gravity .700
Suction Temperature 100°F
Suction Pressure 500
10 psia
5 10 15 20 25
INLET VOLUME FLOW, CFM (00) Q

Higher Specific Gravity

(SG was 0.7)

50
OPERATING Original Power
POINTS P2 = 1200 psia
45 Original Flow Qstd = 69.22
P2 = 1200 psia 72% MMSCFD
15
ISENTROPIC HEAD, ft-lbF/lbM (000)

Qstd = 65 ,50 PWR = 3850 hp

40 MMSCFD 0
74% 15,0
PWR = 3654 hp 00
74%
35 14,0 72%
it
m

00
Li

68%
e
rg

30 13,0
Su

00 60%

25 12
,00
0
11,
20 000
Surge 10
Control ,00 Ratio of Specific Heats
15 Line 0r 1.234
pm Specific Gravity .800
Suction Temp 100°F
10 Suction Pressure 500
5 10 15 psia 20 25
INLET VOLUME FLOW, CFM (00) Q

17
 Lower Specific Gravity
(SG was 0.7)
50
OPERATING
POINTS Original Power
45 Original Flow P2 = 1200 psia
P2 = 1200 psia 15,5 Qstd = 60.8
00
ISENTROPIC HEAD, ft-lbF/lbM (000)

Qstd = 65 73% MMSCFD

40 MMSCFD 75% 15,0 PWR = 3850 hp
00
PWR = 4845 hp
75%
35 14,0

it
00 73%

im
eL 70%
13,0
rg
30 00
Su

66%
12,0
25 00

11,0
00
20
10, Ratio of Specific Heats
000
15 Surge rpm 1.279
Control Specific Gravity 0.600
Line Suction Temp. 100°F
10 Suction Pressure 500
psia
5 10 15 20 25
INLET VOLUME FLOW, CFM (00) Q

Higher Suction Temperature

(T1 was 100°F)
50
OPERATING POINTS
Original Flow Original Power
P2 = 1200 psia P2 = 1200 psia
45 Qstd = 57.66
Qstd = 65 MMSCFD
MMSCFD
ISENTROPIC HEAD, ft-lbF/lbM (000)

PWR = 4234 hp
72%
40 75% 15 PWR = 3850 hp
76% ,50
0
75% 15,
35 00
0
it
im

14 72%
eL

,00
30
rg

0 68%
Su

13
,00 64%
0
25
12
,00
0
20 11
,0 00
Surge 10, Ratio of Specific Heats
Control 000 1.241
15 rpm
Line Specific Gravity .700
Suction Temp. 150°F
10 Suction Pressure 500
psia
5 10 15 20 25
INLET VOLUME FLOW, CFM (00) Q

18
 Lower Suction Temperature
(T1 was 100°F)
50
OPERATING POINTS
Original Flow Original Power
P2 = 1200 psia P2 = 1200 psia
45 Qstd = 74.82
Qstd = 65 MMSCFD 15,5
00 MMSCFD
ISENTROPIC HEAD, ft-lbF/lbM (000)

PWR = 3443 hp
40 72% PWR = 3850 hp
15,
74% 000

74%
35 14,0

it
00

im
72%
L
ge
68%
30
r
13,
Su

000 60%

25 12, 50%
000
11,0
20 00
10,0
Surge 00 r Ratio of Specific Heats
Control pm
15 1.270
Line Specific Gravity 0.700
Suction Temp. 50°F
10 Suction Pressure 500
5 10 15 psia 20 25
INLET VOLUME FLOW, CFM (00) Q

Higher Suction Pressure

(P1 was 500 psia)
50
OPERATING POINTS
Original Flow Original Power
P2 = 1200 psia P2 = 1200 psia
45 72% Qstd = 113.5
Qstd = 65 MMSCFD
MMSCFD
ISENTROPIC HEAD, ft-lbF/lbM (000)

PWR = 2184 hp 15
,50 PWR = 3850 hp
40 75% 0
75% 15
,00
0
35
it

76%
im

72%
14
eL

,00
0 68%
rg

30
Su

13 60%
,00
0
25
12
,00
0
20 11,
000
10,0
Surge 00 r Ratio of Specific Heats
15 p m
Control 1.255
Line Specific Gravity .700
Suction Temp. 100°F
10 Suction Pressure 700
5 10 15 psia 20 25
INLET VOLUME FLOW, CFM (00)

19
 Lower Suction Pressure
(P1 was 500 psia)
50
OPERATING POINTS
Original Flow Original Power
P2 = 1200 psia P2 = 1200 psia
45 72 Qstd = 49.46
Qstd = 65 MMSCFD % 15,7
0 0 MMSCFD
ISENTROPIC HEAD, ft-lbF/lbM (000)

PWR = 4755 hp
40 PWR = 3850 hp
75% 15,00
0
75%
35 14,0

it
0 0

im
72%
eL
rg

30 13,0 68%
Su

00

12,0 60%
25 00

11,0
0 0
20

Surge 10,0 Ratio of Specific Heats

00 r
15 Control p m 1.255
Line Specific Gravity .700
Suction Temp 100°F
10 Suction Pressure 425.50
5 10 15 psia 20 25
INLET VOLUME FLOW, CFM (00) Q

Effect of SG on Head Requirement for the same

pressure ratio

HEA
HEAD
D

HEAD

SAME PRESSURE

LIGHTER HEAVIER
MOLECULAR MOLECULAR
WEIGHT GAS WEIGHT GAS

20
 Effects of Gas Process Changes

If this property And these Then the

changes… remain constant required head
will
Increase T1 PR,SG Increase
Reduce T1 PR,SG Decrease

Increase PR T1,SG Increase

Reduce PR T1,SG Decrease

Increase SG T1,PR Decrease

Reduce SG T1,PR Increase

Stall, Surge and Choke

QA − QC QA − QB
Turndown (%) = ⋅100 SM (%) = ⋅100
QA QA

21
 What is Choke (Stonewall)?
• The maximum flow that the compressor staging can handle at a
given speed.
• Choke (or Stonewall) may occur at the impeller inlet or at the vaned
diffuser inlet.
• Choke occurs because of sonic velocity or excessive negative
incidence.
• All the power is dissipated in incidence and frictional losses and is
a very inefficient mode of operation.
• Generally not detrimental to the Centrifugal Compressor.

What is Surge?

• The point at which the impeller(s) can not add additional power to
overcome the discharge pressure.
• Surge is an oscillation of the entire compressor flow.
• Reversal of flow rapidly increases gas temperature into the impeller,
reducing pressure ratio and aggravating surge, pressure fluctuation
and rotor vibration.
• The vibration and rapid change in axial thrust can result in damage to
labyrinth seals, thrust bearings and in severe cases can also damage
the rotor components and stators.
• Sudden changes in load may also damage to the driver.

22
 What is Compressor Surge?

Flow
Reversal Increase
in Head
C B Initial
Operating Point
D A
HEAD
INE
EL
RG

Co pee s
SU

ns d
S ne
Li

tan
t
CAPACITY
(FLOW)

Surge Control System Layout

TURBINE
COMPRESSOR

S D

FLOW ORIFICE
SURGE CONTROLLER

GAS COOLER

DP
LOADING DISCHARGE VALVE
SWITCH LOADING
VALVE SURGECONTROL VALVE
SUCTION
VALVE
CHECK VALVE

23
 Interaction between the Compressor and the System

25,000
82%
85%
15,500
rpm 85%
15,000 rp
m
20,000 82%
14
,00
0r 78%
pm
86%
it 13 74%
15,000
im
,0
00
eL

rp
m
rg

12
Su

,0
ISENTROPIC HEAD

00
11 rp
m
, 00
10,000 10 0
rp
,0 0 m
0r
pm
Pipeline
Resistance
5,000 Curve

1,000 2,000 3,000 4,000 5,000 6,000

INLET VOLUME FLOW

Series and Parallel Layouts

Head

Pipeline Characteristic

LP+HP

LP

Flow
Head

1 Compressor
Pipeline Characteristic

2 Compressors

Flow

24
 Storage/Withdrawal

• Typical GT Size: 1 – 30MW

• Often Two Casing Applications (no back-to-back)
• LP and HP compressor usually have different staging
To reservoir

Reservoir Filled

Head
LP HP
Series path

Parallel path

Beginning

Flow
Control valve compressor

Surge control, check valves and coolers not shown.

Types of Centrifugal
Compressors

25
Horizontally Split vs. Vertically Split (Barrel Type)

Axial Inlet vs. Radial (Tangential) Inlet

Overhung vs. Beam Style Impeller

26
 Solid vs. Modular Rotor

SUCTION END CENTERBOLT DISCHARGE END

(STUB) SHAFT (STUB) SHAFT
THRUST
COLLA
R
DRIVE
ADAPTER

DRIVE ADAPTER
FOR THRU-DRIVE

IMPELLER

Straight-Through vs. Back-to-back

2- body straight- through back-to-back

(Compound)

Issues: Thrust Load (esp. transient and off-design);

Interstage Leakage; Cost
When: High PR, Intercooling, Sidestreams

27
 Gas Compressor
Components

Compressor Cross-Section

Inlet

IGV Diffuser

Impellers

Volute

VP78(98)-
017

28
Inlet System

29
 Impellers

Shroud
Back
Hub
Vane

Impeller with
Shroud Removed

High Flow Low Flow

Impeller Manufacturing

• Cast Impellers
• (5-Axis) Milled Impellers
• Unshrouded (Open)
• Brazed Shroud
• Welded Shroud
• Single Piece
• Welded
• Riveted

30
 Vaneless Diffuser

Vaned Diffusor

Wedge-Type
Diffuser
Low Solidity
Diffuser

31
 Stator Components

2 2
1 1
3 3

INLET VANE RETURN VANE

PURPOSE:
To guide the flow from the inlet or the previous diffuser exit to the impeller eye
of the next stage with as little losses and as uniform as possible.

Volute

PURPOSE:
To guide the flow from the diffuser exit to the discharge nozzle with as little
losses and as much pressure recovery as possible.

32
 Solid-Shaft Rotor
vs Modular Rotor

D D

Solid-
Solid-Shaft Rotor Modular Rotor

D…Effective Shaft Diameter

Inlet Seals and Bearings

IGV

Dry Seal
Thrust Bearing
Journal Bearing
Mixed Flow
Impellers

33
 Axial Thrust

Thrust Bearings

OIL FEED THRUST BASE

GROOVE PAD RING

THRUST
COLLAR THRUST
ROTATION DIRECTION ROTATION

THRUST
PAD

LOWER
OIL FEED LINK BASE LEVELING DISK PIVOT OIL FEED
GROOVE RING (Upper Link) PIN HOLE

34
 Journal Bearings

Tandem Dry Gas Seal

stationary

Bearing
Impeller

A…Seal Gas In
rotating
C…Primary Vent
D…Buffer Gas In
S…Secondary Vent

35
 Compressor Drivers
and
their Characteristics

Equipment Concepts

Centrifugal Compressor Centrifugal Compressor

Driven by Driven by
Variable Speed 2-Shaft Gas Turbine
Electric Drive (powered by pipeline gas)

36
 Variable Speed Electric Drives

• Variable Frequency Drive

– With Gearbox
– High Speed Direct Drive
• Variable Speed Gearbox

Variable Frequency Drive

• Motor Running Speed

is determined by
current frequency Motor
Gear
box Com-
• Frequency Converter pressor
allows to modify current
frequency, thus motor Frequency
speed Converter

• Standard
1500/1800/3000/3600
rpm Motor: With
Gearbox
• High speed motor:
Without Gearbox

37
 Variable Speed Gearbox

• Constant Speed
Motor Motor Var. Speed
Gear Com-
• Variable Speed box pressor

Gearbox
• Part Load Efficiency
• Starting

Variable Speed Gearbox

38
 Drive Comparison

Efficiency(from point of VFD Var. Speed G/B

electricity metering)

Transformer 99.5% 99.5%

Motor 97.2% 97.2%

Gearbox (time 98% 92.8%

weighted average)
VFD (time weighted 98% N/A
average
Overall 92.8% 89.8%

Data from:Dague,P., Sautter,W. ’Conversion of Gas Turbine Drivers to Electric Motor Driven Planetary Gear
Systems for Centrifugal Compressor Service’ GMC 2002
and own analysis

Gas Turbine

39
 Simple Cycle Gas Turbine
GAS GENERATOR
INJECTOR COMBUSTOR TURBINE

ACCESSORY
DRIVE

COMPRESSOR

TORCH
IGNITER POWER
TURBINE

Courtesy of Solar Turbines Incorporated

Gas Turbine - Movie

40
 Brayton Cycle (Simple Cycle Gas Turbine )
Velocity Temperature Pressure

Flame Temperature

2
1

3 7
1 2 3 5 7
55

Station
5

Gas Turbine Performance vs.

Ambient Temperature

10000
9000
8000
Power, Heat rate

7000
6000
HP
5000
HR
4000
3000
2000
1000
0
-20 -10 0 10 20 30 40 50
T amb (deg C)

41
 Efficiency at Part Load Operation

110

Rel. Thermal Efficiency (%)

100

90

80

70

60

50
50 60 70 80 90 100
Load (%)

Gas Turbine Thermal Efficiencyη/ηref versus Load P/Pmax

(Typical, for 3 arbitrarily selected industrial engines)

Power and Heatrate vs. Elevation

9000
8000
7000
Power, Heatrate

6000
5000 HP
4000 HR
3000
2000
1000
0
0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500
Elevation-m

42
 Power Turbine Map

1.1

0.9
P ( 30F )
0.8 P( 50F )
P (%)

P (70F)
0.7 P (90F )
P(110F)
0.6
Npt opt
0.5

0.4
40 60 80 100
Npt (%)

Operating Conditions for Pipeline Applications

2 5 ,0 0 0
82 %
85 %
1 5, 5 00
rp m 8 5 %
15 ,0 00 rp
2 0 ,0 0 0 m 82%
14
,0 0 78%
0
8 6 % rp m
it
L im

13 7 440000
%
ISENTROPIC HEAD

1 5 ,0 0 0 ,0
00
rge

12 rp
,0 m 2 UNITS 3 UNITS IN PARALLEL
Su

35000 1 UNIT
11 00
,0 rp
1 0 ,0 0 0 10 00 m 30000
,0 rp
00 m
rp
P ip elin e m 25000
R esista n ce
5 ,0 00
C u rve 20000
HEAD (FT)

1 ,0 0 0 2 ,0 0 0 3 ,0 0 0 4 ,0 00 5 ,0 00 6 ,0 0 0
15000
IN L E T V O L U M E F L O W SITE POWER AT 75F
10000

5000

0
0 5000 10000 15000 20000 25000

-5000
ACFM

43
 Matching Gas Compressors and Gas Turbines

1.1 25,000
82%
85%
1 15,500
rpm 85%
15,000 rp
m
0.9 P ( 0 C) 20,000 82%
14
0.8 P( 10 C) ,00
0r
78%
P (%)

86% pm
P (20 C)

it
im
15,000 13 74%
0.7

eL
P (30 C) ,0
00

ISENTROPIC HEAD

rg
rp

Su
12 m
0.6 P(40 C) ,0
00
Npt opt 11
,0
rp
m
0.5 10,000
10 00
,0 0 rp
0r m
0.4 pm
Pipeline
40 60 80 100 Resistance
5,000 Curve
100%=15000rpm
Npt (%)
1,000 2,000 3,000 4,000 5,000 6,000
INLET VOLUME FLOW

Part Load

• Controlled by fuel flow

• May require adjustment of F/A ratio
(DLN)
• Two Shaft: TRIT and speed drop
• Causes reduction in efficiency

44
 Engine Controls

• Fuel
• Variable Inlet Guide Vanes
– During Start-Up: To avoid Surge
– For Single Shaft SoLoNOx: To control Fuel/Air Ratio in the
combustor
– For Two Shaft: Control NGP such, that engine will run at full
mechanical speed even at temperatures above match
• Bleed
– During Start-Up: To avoid Surge
– For Two Shaft SoLoNOx: To control Fuel/Air Ratio in the
combustor

Engine Controls Pt 2

• Controlling the Temperature

– T3 needs to be
controlled, but usually,
either T5 or T7 are
measured
– T7 : Ok for Single shaft, 2
Problematic for two shaft
(var. PT speed) 1
– T5 : T3/T5 relationship
determined by test (air 7
flow necessary for 3 5
energy balance),
however some
dependency on T1.

45
 Matching

Match
hp PT nozzle area smaller
Temper hp
ature
PT nozzle
area larger
NGP=const

T3=const

Inlet Air Temperature Inlet Air Temperature

View of Engine External Components

46
 Conclusions

• Overview of
– Operating Principles
– Components
– Types
of Centrifugal Compressors

• Overview of Major Gas Compressor Drivers.

Appendix

47
 Universal Gas Constants

Terminology & Relationships

48
Terminology & Relationships

Terms & Relationships

49
Terms & Relationships

50