Asset Condition Management

Gents,

What are the major signs while operation which can help us in determining centrifugal compressor liquid entrainment/liquid carryover problem?

Thank you for sharing your expert knowledge.

I guess if you depend on the vibration to detect liquid carryover, it might be too late.

Depending on the machine's design and process, there could be ways to determine the liquid presence while the compressor in operation, such as:

1- high upstream drum level
2- high suction pressure
3- presence of liquid from compressor's drains
4- sudden and intermittent vibration

Regards- Ali M. Al-Shurafa

Greetings team,

Very interesting question and appreciated the answer from Mr. Al- Shurafa.

1. Centrifugal compressor is oil compressed and separated the pressure gas or air is released oil free.

2. If liquid carry over, the oil drum level increases and no pressure gas or air is released. The high level alarms of oil drum is an indication of some liquid entered in compressor system.

3. The liquid can emulsify the oil system, if that is not liquified gases.

4. If such risks are there system provided with liquid sensors/ floaters in suction line.

regards

Chary

Thank you for the reply gents. What effect liquid entrainment will have on compressor suction and discharge temperature, pressure and flows keeping in view centrifugal compressor?

The effects of carryover liquid:

impeller can be broken,

very high vibration.

posible causes:

heat exchanger broken, the water traps damaged.

Regards.