300 Reciprocating Compressors Compressor Manual

Fig. 300-61 Gas Temperature Rise Characteristics for Operation with Thermally Circulated Coolant and Dry Jackets

363 Capacity Control

Capacity may be controlled on the basis of suction pressure, discharge pressure,
flow or a combination of these variables. Capacity can be varied by use of
unloaders, clearance pockets, and/or by speed variation when the driver is a
variable-speed machine.
Whenever possible, constant-speed operation is recommended in order to avoid
possible excitation of torsional or acoustical resonances. This is of particular impor-
tance on complex compressors with three or more stages, or when the unit(s) are to
be located on an offshore platform. (The acoustical simulation becomes increas-
ingly difficult with variable-speed machines, as does torsional vibration analysis.)
The complex steel structure of an offshore platform has numerous vibratory natural
frequencies which can respond to mechanical or acoustical excitations generated by
the compressor. The risk of encountering such resonances are greater with variable
speed compressors.

December 1998 300-74 Chevron Corporation