【Ten Years of Rapid Development in Chemical Equipment】1388–2024: Successful Testing of China’s First Multi-stage Centrifugal Compressor

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Happy New Year 2024 ********************** 【Ten Years of Rapid Development in Chemical Processing Equipment】 A continuously updated summary post is available; feel free to join the discussions at https://bbs.hcbbs.com/thread-3576046-1-1.html (Source: Haichuan Chemical Forum Website) ***************** Recently, the first set of multi-stage centrifugal compressors used in Fujian Meide Petrochemical’s 900,000 tons per year propylene production project via propane dehydrogenation was successfully tested for the first time. All operational parameters were within normal ranges, and the equipment received high praise from both the project owner and the supervision team. The compressor is 27 meters long, 6.5 meters wide, and 5 meters high, with a total weight of 937 tons. It is the first and largest multi-stage centrifugal compressor in China. Due to the compressor’s dimensions and weight exceeding the specified limits, installing it in the conventional manner poses difficulties in leveling and aligning it, as the weight of the compressor’s components makes such tasks more challenging; it is difficult to complete the installation without the use of specialized tools or heavy machinery. At the same time, the maximum diameter of the inlet and outlet pipelines for this compressor is 2.4 meters, which poses difficulties in achieving stress-free pipeline connections for the compressor. If stresses generated during welding or connection to the unit cause changes in the unit’s alignment parameters, the large weight of the compressor will make it difficult to realign the unit. To effectively address the various challenges encountered during installation, improve construction efficiency, and reduce costs, Shaanxi Huajian, in collaboration with compressor manufacturers and project owners, conducted numerous discussions and developed an innovative installation method for compressors that involves sequential installation, iterative alignment, gradual fixation, and preliminary installation calculations. By combining international and domestic standards for stress-free pipe connections and taking into account the actual conditions on site, a specialized plan for stress-free installation of compressor pipes was formulated. This approach successfully solved the problems related to leveling and alignment caused by the weight of the components during compressor installation, ensured stress-free pipe connections, and facilitated smooth progress in the compressor installation process. Once again, it demonstrated Shaanxi Huajian’s comprehensive expertise. The construction method for large multi-stage centrifugal compressors thus won the 2023 Shaanxi Chemical Construction Enterprise-Level Method award.