Revamping of centrifugal compressors

Many of the centrifugal compressors we delivered and installed decades ago under the Elliott licence are still in operation today. Knowledge of thermodynamics, aerodynamics and rotor dynamics has advanced so much that re-rating your centrifugal compressors can prove highly cost-effective.

Howden Thomassen Compressors offers a comprehensive revamping service for centrifugal compression systems. Details are provided below.

Hardware:

• New compressor rotors and diaphragms, fitted inside your existing casing. The performance of the compressor is modified to meet changes in your processing requirements
• Optimised spherical-type tilting pad bearings to improve rotor stability
• Purpose-built mechanical wet seals or dry gas seals to stop excessive seal oil leakages (including related control systems)
• Replacement of gear-type couplings with either dry flexible disc or diaphragm couplings, reducing maintenance costs
• Abradable seals with tighter clearances to reduce recirculation losses and buffer gas consumption.
• Reverse engineering of any component (including improvements, if required)

Engineering services:

• Performance feasibility studies
• Mechanical design studies using finite element method (FEM) techniques
• Rotor dynamic analysis: calculation of the torsional and lateral critical speeds, including the transient torsional and lateral unbalanced response
• Vibration analysis
• System analysis (both process and auxiliary systems).

Our engineers contribute more than 40 years of experience of centrifugal compressors. They also have access to state-of-the-art, in-house design and manufacturing facilities. We are therefore ideally positioned to revamp your centrifugal compressor, irrespective of manufacturer.