Abnormal noises in centrifugal compressors
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A centrifugal compressor driven by a turbine, with medium and high-pressure cylinders, is experiencing vibration; the shaft displacement is low, and there are no significant changes in other process parameters. Abnormal noises are occurring at the drive end of the high-pressure cylinder (this equipment has just undergone major maintenance, and the vibration sensors were checked). What are the possible reasons for this situation? Thank you!
Could it be the sound coming from the pipeline? Let’s double-check it carefully!
Is there no problem with the bearing? Has the pipeline support been checked?
Such problems mostly stem from installation accuracy. If it’s started over again, let’s see if that can resolve it.
The drive end of the high-pressure cylinder – haha, is it a thrust end or a free end? What type of compressor is it~~~~MCL OR BCL OR etc?
At around 10:00 a.m. on the 23rd, the inlet flow rate to the high-pressure cylinder (with a rated flow rate of 1314 Nm3/h) decreased by 900 m3/h (from 6600 m3/h to 5500 m3/h); at that moment, the anti-surge valve also started to operate (at 53%-62% capacity). Around 2:00 a.m. on December 30th, 2017, the flow rate began to increase again (from 5200 m3/h to 6000 m3/h), and the abnormal noises at the site disappeared by afternoon. There are some doubts as to whether this was caused by surge, rotational stall, or something else. If so, why are there no significant changes in other parameters, such as vibration, outlet pressure, shaft displacement, etc.?
An abnormal noise will be heard when the anti-surge valve opens.
Although the inbound traffic has decreased, there was traffic before, so it is likely that no significant noise will be generated; moreover, there are no obvious changes in other parameters.
The anti-surge valve is a bit far away; the sound comes from the compressor outlet