TOM Training Centrifugal Compressors

Section 05 P and I D Power Generation Industrial Applications

Index page
1 Gas system 2
1.1 Typical compressor clean seal gas system 2
1.2 Typical compressor seal gas vent system 3
1.3 Typical separation gas system 4
2 Typical lubrication system 4
Appendix 1 typical P and I D 6
Appendix 2 typical P and I D 7
Appendix 3 typical P and I D 8

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1 Gas system

Centrifugal compressors require sealing elements, at the points where the

rotor protrudes from the casing, to prevent any gas leakage along the shaft
to atmosphere. On these compressors, dry gas seals are provided. The dry
gas seals act in conjunction with the seal gas system.

To provide a separation between the dry gas seal and the oily atmosphere
in the bearing brackets, a barrier seal is installed between each dry gas seal
and radial bearing. The barrier seals act in conjunction with the separation
gas system.

All appended P and I D sheets are typical and for training only.

1.1 Typical compressor clean seal gas system

To prevent dirt, that can be in the process gas of the compressor, from
entering between the sealing faces of the dry gas seals, there is a supply of
filtered process gas to the first sealing stage of each dry gas seal. The
process gas, which is used as sealing gas, is taken from the compressor
discharge and provided by the compressor clean seal gas system.

The seal gas system can be provided with different sorts of gas filter
systems for filtering the seal gas. Possible filter systems are:

· Standard duplex filter

· Coalesced duplex filter
· Duplex filter with double block and bleed

Coalescer filters are fitted with elements to separate moisture from the seal
gas. During operation, condensate can form in the seal gas filter. This
condensate must be continuously drained, therefore the drain valve of the
coalescer filter compartment in use must always be open. This to enable
condensate to flow from the seal gas filter to flare drain.

Duplex filter with double block and bleed is provided at customer request or
becuase of safety reasons. Double block means nothing nore than two
valves blocking off a filter instead of one.

The system consists of three 3 way ball valves, which can be manually
opened or closed to switch filters. The following figure shows a duplex
coalescer gas filter with double block and bleed.

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figure 1
Duplex coalescer gas
filter with double block
and bleed

Pollution of the filter elements can be determined by measuring the pressure

difference across the filter.

The duplex filter is fitted with a pressure differential indicator transmitter

(PDIT), item 443, which provides an alarm signal when the pressure
differential reaches its set point, 0.5 bar. At this stage the clean standby filter
must be brought on line using the manual changeover valves. The filtered
gas is supplied via orifices, item 172, into the dry gas seal bodies of the
compressor.

1.2 Typical compressor seal gas vent system

The dry gas seal can consist of two seal units mounted in a tandem
arrangement. The inboard seal operates on filtered seal gas. The outboard
seal operates on vented gas from the inboard seal and acts as a backup if a
problem occurs with the inboard seal.

The appendix shows a typical seal gas system for a compressor, all items
mentioned in the text below can be found there unless otherwise stated.

The condition of an inboard seal can be determined by measuring the gas

flow through the orifice, item 198, in the primary seal vent line. If the
condition of the inboard seal deteriorates, more gas will flow into this vent
line resulting in a higher gas flow through the orifice and consequently high
differential pressure. The differential pressure is measured by PDIT item
444 and an alarm signal will be initiated at high differential pressure.

If the condition of the outboard seal deteriorates the pressure in the primary
seal vent line will drop, this is because gas can easily flow through the
outboard seal. A low gas flow through the orifice, item 198, and
consequently low differential pressure will be the result.

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The pressure regulator valve, item 200 in the common primary vent line will
close. Pressure transmitter (PT) item 446 indirectly controls this pressure
regulator valve; an alarm signal will be initiated at high common primary
vent line pressure.

The pressure transmitter, item 445, (one on each primary vent line)
measures the primary vent line pressure just before the orifice, item 198,
and initiates an alarm signal at low primary vent line pressure (high outboard
seal leakage). These pressure transmitters also initiate a trip signal at too
high pressure in the primary seal vent line (failure of the inboard seal). Both
primary seal vent lines are fitted with non-return valves, item 372 to prevent
gas from flowing back to the seals.

1.3 Typical separation gas system

To prevent lubricating oil flowing from the radial bearings to the dry gas
seals, a separating wall is formed by supplying separation gas N2 to the
shaft barrier seals of both compressors. N2 gas is supplied by the N2
generator item 110. The separation gas pressure to the barrier seal is
controlled by the self acting pressure regulator item 201. Via an orifice, item
170 the separation gas is supplied into the barrier seals of the compressor.
The pressure transmitter, item 442, initiates an alarm signal at low and high
supply pressure. Where a high alarm indicates a fault in the pressure
regulator and a low alarm a fault in the pressure regulator or increased
leakage of the barrier seal.

The signal of the pressure transmitter, item 442, in the separation gas line is
also used as interlock in the oil pumps start logic and only at sufficient
nitrogen supply pressure a start permissive signal for the oil pumps will be
given. This to ensure that a separation gas flow is established to the barrier
seals before the oil pumps can be started.

2 Typical lubrication system

Oil suply is needed for the lubrication of the axial and radial bearings of the
compressors and the gearbox bearings and wheels. The appendix shows a
typical lubricating system for a compressor, all items mentioned in the text
below can be found in this figure unless otherwise stated.

Clean lubricating oil at the correct temperature, pressure is piped to the

compressor axial and radial bearings. To guarantee clean oil with the right
temperature and pressure, a heater (item 121), coolers (item 138 & 139),
filters and pumps (item 130 in combination with 126) are installed in the lube
oil cirquit.

Lube oil supply pressure to the cooler and filter is controlled at a constant
pressure by a pressure regulator, item 202. Lube oil supply pressure to the
compressor is controlled at a constant pressure by a pressure regulator,
item 203.

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The duplex coolers, item 138 & 139 are checked by a temperature indicator
transmitter (TIT), item 485. Lube oil temperature is regulated by temperature
regulator item 204, which can fully or partially let the oil bypass the cooler.
When temperature upstream the filter gets too high, an alarm signal is
initialised. The duplex filter is fitted with a pressure differential indicator
transmitter (PDIT), item 446, which provides an alarm signal when the
pressure differential reaches its set point, e.g. 0.5 bar.

The lube oil main supply line is provided with two pressure transmitters, item
440 & 441. During starting, pressure transmitter item 441 gives a
compressor start permissive signal to the electric drive at sufficient lube oil
pressure. During running an alarm is generated if the oil supply pressure
becomes too low, e.g. <1.4 barg.

The signal from pressure transmitter item 440 in the lube oil main supply line
is used to generate a trip signal at an unacceptable low lube oil pressure,
e.g. <1.1 barg.

After lubrication of the bearings, the oil flows through individual drain lines,
to the common oil return line which transports the oil back to the buffer tank,
item 165. The individual drain lines are provided with flow glasses, item 528
trough 529, so that the oil flow can be checked.

For safety the lube oil system is provided with a rundown tank, item 101.
During starting, a level transmitter, item 516, which is fitted in the rundown
tank, gives a compressor start permissive signal to the electric drive at
sufficient lube oil level. The buffer tank has the same sort of level
transmitter, item 515, which also gives a compressor start permissive signal
to the electric drive at sufficient lube oil level.

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