CENTRIFUGAL COMPRESSOR SELECTION

The basic procedures to estimate the performance of the turbomachinery, horsepower,

head, efficiency, and number of stages, size, type, and the Quick Compressor Selection can be
done mainly in three methods. 1st purely Graphic method, 2nd Mollier chart method, 3rd
Polytropic (or adiabatic) methods this one is simplified and accurate can be applied with a
hand calculator or computerized. The selection process occurs before the machine is purchased
from OEM.
  Single stage centrifugal generally operates in the 3,600 to 50,000 rpm range utilizing 4.0 in
to 30.0 in up to 55.0 in impellers diameter for multistage . Centrifugal designers tend to think
in terms of impeller rotational tip speeds of 500 to 1,000 ft/sec. Maximum Hp/stag=10,000 ft-
lbf/lbm. The inlet flow rates above 500 ACFM to more than 50,000 ACFM (very low efficiency
below 1500 ACFM). The maximum compression temperatures/casing is 450°F.The optimum
Specific speed and diameter range for these machines are:
Ns =30 to 300               Ds = 0.3 to 6
The other parameters usually considered are inlet flow Mach Number less than (0.6-0.7) for
choking limitations, head coefficient ψ(0.47-0.52) and flow coefficients  ∅ (0.01-0.1) to
optimize the compressor selection.

9  Steps to Centrifugal Compressor Selection:

Step 1 Given following quantities:

Data from handbook.
w1 = 5000 Mass flow, lb/m
Z1 = 0.955 Inlet compressibility factor
R = Gas constant = 1,545/MW
T1 = 520 Inlet temperature, R
P1 =30 Inlet pressure, psia
P2 = 100 discharge pressure psig
K = 1.126
Z2= 0.925 discharge compressibility factor
Za = (Z1+Z2) / 2
MW = 45.5 calculate total mw
Step 2 Determine the inlet flow volume.
V1 = (ZRT1) / (144 P1) = 3.9034 f3/lb
SCFM standard ft3/min referenced to 60°Fand 14.7 psia
Q1=ICFM= SCFM (14.7 Zs /P1)* (T1/520)
Q1= W1 .V1 = 5000*3.9034   acfm
Q1 =19,517 ICFM

Estimated Qout= Q/(rp^(1-1/x))^1/n =7,480 ACFM

Step 3.Select compressor frame:
From any OEM tables select compressor frame.
Horizontal split casing up to 700 psi                                                            Barrel type from 700 up
to 5000 psi.
From below table 1 select nominal speed and diameter.
Hpnom = 10,000 ft    (from table1)
Or assume nominal (N*D) = 177000
Nnom= 5900 rpm.                 D=30 in

Step 4 determines the Head H.

Polytropic efficiency η =0.77 or use the below Graph.
n/(n-1) = ηp k/(k-1)  =6.88             n=1.17
Calculate the total head.

Z1 = 0.955         Z2 = 0.925              Za= 0.94

Hp = Za R T1 (n/n - l)[rp^(n-1)/n  - 1]
      = (0.94)(l,545/45.5)(520)(6.88)[(3.33)1/6.88 - 1 = 21800 ft
Determine the pressure ratio,
rp = P2/P1    =3.33                over 20 use reciprocating compressor.
Determine the approximate discharge temperature,T2. (Maximum 450F)
The approximate actual discharge temperature can be calculated from:
T2 = T1 [r]^(n-1)/n  = 619 R
Step 5 Determine the Number of Stages Required.
Calculate or find (nominal polytropic head) or Assume:
Hpnom -stage= 10,000 ft lb/lbm
Use maximum 10 stages for one casing.
use rule of thumb for  Hstg
Hstg = 10,000 - (MW-29)100 = 8350 ft
Number of stages = 21800/8350 =2.61 = 3 stage
Hstg = 7266 ft
Step 6 Adjust the speed and Size of the Machine.
Q ~ N    ,    H ~ N^2     ,     P ~ N^3
N= Nnom (Hp / Hnom*no stg)^0.5
   = 5,900[21,800/(10,000)(3))^0.5
N = 5030 rpm
Step 7 Determine the Horsepower Requirement.
GHP= w1 H/33000 η

GPWR = (5,000)
(21,800)/(33,000)(0.77)=4290 hp
PWRsft = PWRg + Lm
             = 4,290 + 107(Mechanical losses)
             = 4,397 hp
Step 8 calculate impeller tip speed
U2 = D N /229                     (700 to 900 fps)
Mach number Ma = U/ Va
U2 = D N /229 = 30 *5030/229 = 669.7 ft/s
Va =( K g R T1 Z1)^0.5 =781.4 fps
Ma = U/ Va= 669.7/781.4= 0.857

 Step 9  The non-dimensional 4 similarity parameters.     ( limits )

U= 669.7    ,     D=30     ,      N=5030     ,      Q=19517      ,     H=7266
Flow coefficient ∅ = 700.3 Q/N D^3                            (0.01 to 0.1)
   ∅= 0.1
Head coefficient   Ψ =g* H/U^2                                   (0.47- 0.52)
   Ψ=0.52
Specific speed    Ns = (N√Q)/(H)^(3/4)                        (30 to 300)
   Ns =115.27
Specific diameter Ds = (D (H)^(1/4))/√Q                          (0.3 – 6)
   Ds=1.28
 
 
CONCLUSIONS.
Step 9 is new and advanced step & beyond the basic calculations.
These non-dimensional 4 similarity parameters are used to optimize the compressor selection.
Flow coefficient indicates up to 0.1 radial impeller multistage, from 0.128 to 0.3 is mixed flow
single stage, over 0.3 to 1.0 is multi stage axial compressor. Head coefficient near 0.5 shows
the best efficiency. These two parameters can be used to define completely the impeller
performance.
Specific speed (30 to 300) shows the geometry & behaviour & class of the impeller, specific
diameter (0.3 to 6) & speed both indicates to compressor type & shape.
Specific speed up to 3.0 indicates to Reciprocating compressors .from 3.0 to 30 shows Screw,
over 300 refers to axial compressors. As shown in Balje Ns-Ds diagram below.
Some useful Graphs.
 
 
 
    
 
Mehmet Samancioglu
Ankara 18 April 2016