When starting a centrifugal compressor, should the inlet and outlet valves be fully open, or should the inlet be open while the outlet is closed?
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When starting a centrifugal compressor, should the inlet and outlet valves be fully open, or should the inlet be open while the outlet is closed?
For centrifugal compressors, the outlet valve is fully closed during startup. For syngas compressors or ammonia compressors, the return valve (i.e., the anti-surge valve) is fully open while the outlet valve is fully closed; thus, they operate in a full circulation mode during startup. For air compressors, the outlet vent valve and the inter-stage vent valves (i.e., the anti-surge valves) are fully open, with the outlet valve being fully closed; hence, they operate in a venting mode during startup
Generally, logic would dictate that this be done; the several inlet and outlet valves I’ve come across were all open before starting up, while the outlet valve of the blower was closed
The outlet valve can be closed completely, but the vent valve must remain open to prevent compressor surge.