Centrifugal Compressor Pre-Commissioning Checklist

Documentation
Operating & Maintenance Manual

Lubrication Schedule / Chart

Special Tools / Tackles List

Performance Data / Curves

Safety Instruction Sheets

Shaft Alignment Chart

Safety
Main Driver Locked Out / Tagged

Insulation for Personnel Protection for

all piping above 60⁰C

Safety Valves (Setting / Installation)

Block Valves (if any) to Safety Valves

are open

Guards around rotating parts

Purging of piping
(removing toxic / flammable material)

Floor Area is clean (tripping hazard)

Alignment and Couplings

Bearings Lubricated
(prior to rotating shaft for cold alignment)

Cold Alignment
(Based on cold alignment chart)

Hot Alignment (Note 1)

(machine run for a few hours & normal
operating temperatures achieved)

Coupling Lubricated

Coupling Guard Installed

Notes:
1
a. Cold alignment done without running the machine and data recorded such as horizontal angularity,
horizontal offset, vertical angularity, vertical offset
b. After running the compressor for a time period where normal temperatures in suction and discharge
are obtained, machine is stopped and the shaft alignment remeasured. Necessary adjustments to
alignment done with respect to cold alignment readings to achieve the hot alignment parameters.

Page 1 of 3
Piping & Pipe Supports
Piping (Suction / Discharge) Cleaned

Piping Inspected for removal of

Dirt, Scale, Rust, Weld Scale,
Loose Nuts / Bolts.
Packing Material (paper / plastic)

Pipe supports allow pipe

movement due to pipe expansion

Suction strainers screens inspected

prior to installation

Suction Strainers installed

with correct & clean screens

Insulation (as required) installed

Heat Tracing (as required) installed

Lubrication Oil Piping Venting done to

remove entrapped air

Vents/ Drains Routed properly for

lubrication oil away from main equipment

Purge / Seal Gas available at desired

pressure and temperature

Seal Gas Filter/Coalescer Inspected &

installed as per manufacturer's
recommendations

Drain lines are properly sloped

Instrumentation & Controls

Field gages checked and installed

Differential Pressure Indicators across

Strainers / Filters available & functional

All Alarms / Trips Functional check done

including auxiliary systems

Control loops have been loop checked

such as anti-surge, capacity control

Emergency Shutdown Valves (ESDV)

Function & loop check

Blowdown Valve (BDV) Function

and loop check

Orifice (if any) in blowdown line

clean & installed correctly

Page 2 of 3
Drivers
Motor lubricated according to
manufacturer's recommendations

Motor auxiliary systems functional

Motor Run Uncoupled for checking

direction of rotation & noise/vibration

Turbine run uncoupled

Turbine Trip Speed Checked

(3 times)

Lube Oil Cleaning / Flushing

Seals / Bearings Disconnected from Lube
Oil system

Lube Oil Recirculation system with

seals / bearings disconnected available

Lube Oil Heating Available (70-80⁰C)

System Flushed at high velocities

(twice the normal operating velocity)
using heated oil (70-80⁰C)

Lube Oil Strainers / Filters

checked / cleaned as required during
flushing operations

Inter / After Coolers (ACHE)

Fan Motor Lubrication as per
manufacturer's recommendation

Fan Motor run uncoupled & checked

for vibration & noise

Fan Alignment with motor checked

Fan checked for High Vibration Trip

(Refer Instrumentation & Controls)

Coupling guard installed for fan

Electrical
All earthing and bonding visual checks
completed, & resistance of bonds
checked prior to energizing
(switching on power)

Prepared by: Ankur Srivastava

Chemical Engineer
Email: ankurcheme@gmail.com

Page 3 of 3