(Question) Mechanical operation test of centrifugal compressors
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1. How should the process flow for the mechanical operation test be arranged (it is not specified in API617)? Should the inlet and outlet be kept fully open during operation? What are the risks of doing this? Can any centrifugal compressor be used for this purpose? 2. API617 stipulates that \"after the mechanical operation test is completed, the compressor must be disassembled to inspect the shaft bearings and dry gas seals.\" Are contractually specified shaft bearings and dry gas seals required for this mechanical operation test? 3. As I understand it, the mechanical operation test involves conducting a no-load test with the inlet and outlet fully open. However, our company purchased a POB-CH single-stage cantilever centrifugal compressor from HITACHI; at that time, mechanical operation tests were conducted at the factory in Japan using a closed-loop system filled with 100% N2. Is this called a mechanical operation test?
This must be carried out in accordance with the instructions provided by the manufacturer. In the case of conventional turbine gas compressors, the outlet should be fully open (to allow exhaust to atmospheric pressure), while the inlet can be slightly opened as required, with the aim of enabling the compressor to start under minimal load. If there are instructions provided by the manufacturer, it is still best to follow them step by step.
In this case, experiments are conducted on both mechanical operation and mechanical properties. Both performance tests and mechanical operation experiments were conducted.
Thank you for your reply. In other words, using 100% N2 for a closed-loop test run also counts as a mechanical operation test, right?
Yes, this simulates the actual operation of machinery on-site while testing various parameters of the unit.
What does “there are tracks in front and behind” mean?
One must act on solid grounds to avoid trouble, or in other words, to learn from past experiences.
Mechanical operation testing can employ vacuum pumping to avoid the workload associated with pipeline connections. If the piping is connected and tested with gas, it is of course also a mechanical operation test. Mechanical operation tests generally use contract bearings, but no dry gas seal is installed; instead, a commissioning seal is used
1. The mechanical operation test should allow the inlet and outlet to remain fully open; it should have no impact on the compressor. Some units are tested in this manner on-site or in the workshop. 2. Generally, bearings specified in the contract should be used, while dry gas seals are usually trial seals. 3. It is also possible to use gas for the mechanical operation test
The presence of gas in the factory indicates a PTC test, while vacuum indicates an MRT test.