Centrifugal Compressors

Operation
By Eng. Alaa E. Omar

Starting Preparations
1. The whole unit should be clean and free of
all loose material.
2. All control, alarm and trip circuits should
be energized .
3. Open stop valves on all pressure and level
instruments.

Starting Preparations
4. Make sure that the settings of all
temperature, pressure and other alarm and
trip devices are correct.
5. Make sure all valves of the lube oil and seal
gas system are in their correct status.

Starting Procedures
1. Check the oil level in the oil reservoir at
full mark, fill up if necessary and check
the condition of the oil.

Starting Procedures
2. Start the instrument air supply to the oil
guard between the dry gas seals and
radial bearings.
! CAUTION
To prevent lube oil carry over to the gas seal
area, always start the air supply to the
labyrinths between the radial bearings and the
dry gas seals before the oil pump is started.

Starting Procedures
3. Verify that the lube oil filter and the seal
gas filter are ready to operate.
4. Make sure that the lube oil cooler and the
cooling fans are ready to operate and that
the cooling system of the electric motor
driver - is ready to operate .Make sure that
all process equipment is ready to operate.

Starting Procedures
5. Make sure that the temperature of the oil is
not below 10 C. Operate the oil reservoir
heater if necessary.
6. Start the main oil pump .
! WARNING
To prevent overloading of the oil pump
driver, the oil pump should not be started at
low oil temperature.

Starting Procedures
7. Vent the oil system thoroughly.
! NOTE
To avoid interruption of the oil supply, the
standby oil filter should be filled with oil
and vented before putting it on line.

Starting Procedures
8. Check the functioning of the standby oil
pump.
By closing valve in the sensing line to pressure
transmitter and opening the bleed off valve before
pressure transmitter.
From pressure indicator see at what pressure the
standby oil pump starts.
(After testing, put the valves in their original positions
and stop the stand by oil pump)
By start button on motor control station.

Starting Procedures
9. Check all components of the oil systems to
see that they are operating properly.
10. Check the oil supply gauge pressure .
11. Make sure there is a normal flow of oil to
all components requiring lubrication by
checking the flow through the flow glasses.

Starting Procedures
12. Make sure that the compressor driver is
prepared for operation .
13. Make sure that the gas vent systems are
ready to accept gas.
14. Make sure that the compressor suction and
discharge valves are closed.

Starting Procedures
15. Vent and pressurize the compressor
casing, to suction pressure .
! WARNING
During venting, the anti surge valve should
be forced to close in order to vent the
compressor casing . After venting the anti
surge valve should be opened.

Starting Procedures
16. Open the drain valves of the compressor
to remove any condensate or moisture.
17. Close the drain valves of the compressor
after condensate stops flowing.
18. Open the drain valves from the inboard
seal chambers to remove any condensate
from it.

Starting Procedures
19. Close the drain valves after condensate
stops flowing.

Starting Procedures
20. Make sure there are no trips.
The compressor permissive to start signal will be healthy if :

There is no trips from either the compressor or the

process.
The buffer gas supply pressure to the labyrinths
between the radial bearings and the dry gas seals
is sufficient.
The temperature of the oil at the cooler outlet is
higher than 30 C.
The level in the oil reservoir is high enough.
The level in the lube oil rundown tank is high
enough.

Starting Procedures
21.

B
C
Valve B is set at the minimum stop
Valve C is closed, A,D are fully open

Starting Procedures
22. Check dry gas seal leakage flow is normal.
23. Start the driver .
24. After reaching the final speed put valve B
on automatic.
Valve B is controlled by the suction pressure
25. Put the anti surge valve on automatic mode.

Starting Procedures
26. The start up procedure is completed.
27. Check and record : oil pressure and
temperature, oil flow, vibrations, axial
position, and air supply.

Stopping
EMERGENCY STOP =
a stop caused by one of the
compressor or process trip
signals.

AN OPERATORS STOP =
This stop is initiated by pushing
the stop button on the
compressor control panel.

Operators Stop:
An operator planned stop should done as
follows:
Reduce the load of the compressors to
minimum.
Press the stop button at the compressor
control panel.

To Depressurize the compressor:

The Suction valve should be closed.
The discharge valve should be closed.
The blow down valve should be opened.
= After the compressor is at stand still, the oil
pump can be stopped.