Location of the emergency shut-off valve for the natural gas compressor
Thread Content
Should the emergency shut-off valve for a natural gas compressor be installed at the inlet side or the outlet side? Will installing an emergency shut-off valve at the intake side cause damage to the intake pipeline?
It depends on whether your compressor is a piston-type, screw-type, or centrifugal compressor. For centrifugal compressors, it is recommended to install them at the inlet, while piston and screw compressors should be installed at the outlet, as their explosion protection rating is lower
Installed at the inlet end. This is for safety reasons. When installed at the outlet end, if the shut-off valve operates, it can easily lead to pressure buildup, resulting in safety accidents or equipment damage.
I think pistons or screws should be installed at the inlet to prevent pressure buildup at the outlet, while centrifugal types should be installed at the outlet to prevent surging
An emergency shut-off valve is installed at the inlet; when an emergency shutdown command is received, the actuator drives the valve body to close, thereby shutting off the gas supply from upstream and protecting the system’s facilities as well as ensuring safe production.
Emergency shut-off valves are used in many applications. Specifically for your natural gas compressor, they are installed at the inlet; once the flow is shut off, the compressor operates like a vacuum pump. This condition cannot persist for too long, as the compressor then operates in a state of under-compression, which causes significant damage to its bearings. Therefore, it is not advisable to maintain this state for an extended period. When added at the outlet, it is generally placed in a dehydration and dehydrogenation unit located at a distance from the compressor, in order to isolate the dehydration and dehydrogenation station. There is also one below the light oil absorption tower, used to separate the dehydration unit from the dehydrogenation unit. Therefore, the emergency shut-off valve should be interlocked with the natural gas compressor to close simultaneously – that is the best solution!