Hydrocarbon Processing - January 2021 - 61
Valves, Pumps and
Turbomachinery
H. P. BLOCH, Reliability/Equipment Editor
Modular reed valve technology
for reciprocating compressors
Hydrocarbon processing plants use
reciprocating compressors for process
gases in a certain flow and differential
pressure range, and double-acting cylinder-piston arrangements are almost
always involved. These arrangements include inlet and discharge valves on both
the head end and the frame end (also
called the " crank end " ) of the cylinder.
Inlet valves act as check valves that allow
the gas to enter the cylinder during volume expansion; the valves close off during compression. Discharge valves stay
closed during volume expansion and
begin to open after the gas has reached a
pressure higher than that of the opposing
(delivery-side or process-side) pressure.
The back-and-forth movement of the
piston inside the cylinder is done mechanically by means of a traditional slider-crank mechanism. Since these compressors are double-acting, compression
takes place on one of the two sides of the
piston while gas is aspirated on the other
side. Upon stroke reversal, the cycle is reversed, and the other side of the cylinder
is now involved.
Reciprocating compressors offer several advantages, and four of these usually
come to mind first:
* Design flexibility, as these
machines can be manufactured
in vertical or horizontal
configuration. The internal
packing, including piston rings
and rider bands supporting
and sealing the piston, can be
lubricated or non-lubricated.
The piston can be configured
with integral labyrinths for vertical
reciprocating compressors,
thereby eliminating piston rings.
* Excellent efficiency even for small
compressor sizes operating at high
pressures, and at partial loads.
* Operating flexibility over a wide
range of gases and gas conditions
for a given configuration.
* Wide range of throughput
volumes achievable by keeping
suction valves open during all
or part of a cycle.
Today's leading compressor designers
focus much attention on operating flexibility and ease of maintenance. In most
cases, the design includes several crank
mechanisms activated by a single crankshaft. Many cylinders (or " crank throws " )
can be installed on a single frame, all driven by one driver.
Other, 5%
Instruments and controls, 6%
Cylinder lube issues, 6%
Unloaders, 7%
Rider bands, 7%
Piston rings, 7%
Process issues, 8%
Rod packing, 19%
Compressor valves, 35%
FIG. 1. Failing components in reciprocating compressors
FIG. 2. Proprietary valvea (A); close-up of high-performance polymer flow elements (B);
two straight-through flow elements illustrate the design principle (C).
Hydrocarbon Processing | JANUARY 2021 61
Hydrocarbon Processing - January 2021
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Hydrocarbon Processing - January 2021
Contents
Hydrocarbon Processing - January 2021 - Intro
Hydrocarbon Processing - January 2021 - Cover1
Hydrocarbon Processing - January 2021 - Cover2
Hydrocarbon Processing - January 2021 - Contents
Hydrocarbon Processing - January 2021 - 4
Hydrocarbon Processing - January 2021 - 5
Hydrocarbon Processing - January 2021 - 6
Hydrocarbon Processing - January 2021 - 7
Hydrocarbon Processing - January 2021 - 8
Hydrocarbon Processing - January 2021 - 9
Hydrocarbon Processing - January 2021 - 10
Hydrocarbon Processing - January 2021 - 11
Hydrocarbon Processing - January 2021 - 12
Hydrocarbon Processing - January 2021 - 13
Hydrocarbon Processing - January 2021 - 14
Hydrocarbon Processing - January 2021 - 15
Hydrocarbon Processing - January 2021 - 16
Hydrocarbon Processing - January 2021 - 17
Hydrocarbon Processing - January 2021 - 18
Hydrocarbon Processing - January 2021 - 19
Hydrocarbon Processing - January 2021 - 20
Hydrocarbon Processing - January 2021 - 21
Hydrocarbon Processing - January 2021 - 22
Hydrocarbon Processing - January 2021 - 23
Hydrocarbon Processing - January 2021 - 24
Hydrocarbon Processing - January 2021 - 25
Hydrocarbon Processing - January 2021 - 26
Hydrocarbon Processing - January 2021 - 27
Hydrocarbon Processing - January 2021 - 28
Hydrocarbon Processing - January 2021 - 29
Hydrocarbon Processing - January 2021 - 30
Hydrocarbon Processing - January 2021 - 31
Hydrocarbon Processing - January 2021 - 32
Hydrocarbon Processing - January 2021 - 33
Hydrocarbon Processing - January 2021 - 34
Hydrocarbon Processing - January 2021 - 35
Hydrocarbon Processing - January 2021 - 36
Hydrocarbon Processing - January 2021 - 37
Hydrocarbon Processing - January 2021 - 38
Hydrocarbon Processing - January 2021 - 39
Hydrocarbon Processing - January 2021 - 40
Hydrocarbon Processing - January 2021 - 41
Hydrocarbon Processing - January 2021 - 42
Hydrocarbon Processing - January 2021 - 43
Hydrocarbon Processing - January 2021 - 44
Hydrocarbon Processing - January 2021 - 45
Hydrocarbon Processing - January 2021 - 46
Hydrocarbon Processing - January 2021 - 47
Hydrocarbon Processing - January 2021 - 48
Hydrocarbon Processing - January 2021 - 49
Hydrocarbon Processing - January 2021 - 50
Hydrocarbon Processing - January 2021 - 51
Hydrocarbon Processing - January 2021 - 52
Hydrocarbon Processing - January 2021 - 53
Hydrocarbon Processing - January 2021 - 54
Hydrocarbon Processing - January 2021 - 55
Hydrocarbon Processing - January 2021 - 56
Hydrocarbon Processing - January 2021 - 57
Hydrocarbon Processing - January 2021 - 58
Hydrocarbon Processing - January 2021 - 59
Hydrocarbon Processing - January 2021 - 60
Hydrocarbon Processing - January 2021 - 61
Hydrocarbon Processing - January 2021 - 62
Hydrocarbon Processing - January 2021 - 63
Hydrocarbon Processing - January 2021 - 64
Hydrocarbon Processing - January 2021 - 65
Hydrocarbon Processing - January 2021 - 66
Hydrocarbon Processing - January 2021 - 67
Hydrocarbon Processing - January 2021 - 68
Hydrocarbon Processing - January 2021 - 69
Hydrocarbon Processing - January 2021 - 70
Hydrocarbon Processing - January 2021 - 71
Hydrocarbon Processing - January 2021 - 72
Hydrocarbon Processing - January 2021 - 73
Hydrocarbon Processing - January 2021 - 74
Hydrocarbon Processing - January 2021 - 75
Hydrocarbon Processing - January 2021 - 76
Hydrocarbon Processing - January 2021 - 77
Hydrocarbon Processing - January 2021 - 78
Hydrocarbon Processing - January 2021 - 79
Hydrocarbon Processing - January 2021 - 80
Hydrocarbon Processing - January 2021 - 81
Hydrocarbon Processing - January 2021 - 82
Hydrocarbon Processing - January 2021 - Cover3
Hydrocarbon Processing - January 2021 - Cover4
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https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gulfpub/hp_201911
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gulfpub/hpimarket_2020_v2
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https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gulfpub/hp_201910
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https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gulfpub/hp_201901
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gulfpub/petrochemical_2018_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gulfpub/petrochemical_2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gulfpub/hp_201812
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gulfpub/hpimarket_2019_v2
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