Spare centrifugal compressor
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Dear teachers: According to Clause 7.4.3 of the \"Code for Process Design of Petrochemical Plants\" (SH/T 3121-2022), standby units should not be installed for large-scale centrifugal and axial flow compressors that operate continuously. What are the reasons why it is not suitable to use equipment in such units? Is it because centrifugal compressors have a low failure rate?
The main reason why backup units are not used is that large centrifugal and axial flow compressors have high reliability and low failure rates; moreover, their maintenance and replacement costs are high. Therefore, in continuous production processes, backup units are generally not installed. .
Low failure rate is one aspect; I think the high cost of using the equipment’s components is another aspect as well.
““It is not advisable to set it”; it is not mandatory. Typically, such equipment operates continuously for a long time, with inspections and maintenance only being carried out after more than a year. Factors such as equipment investment, low utilization rates, and long startup times are all reasons why it is not appropriate to set it up. However, it still needs to be determined based on the requirements of the production process and the importance of the necessary setup. Additionally, the long startup time of such devices must also be taken into account. For reference.
In my opinion, the reason why backup units are not suitable for such large-scale power generation units is mainly based on the following points: 1. The investment in such units is generally huge, and it is necessary to reduce costs. 2. The overall integrity and continuity of the unit are relatively good; high continuity was taken into account during the design phase. 3. Most importantly, large-scale units take a long time to start up and their startup procedures are complex. Once the main equipment stops operating, it is not possible to restart it immediately in order to maintain continuous production, which fails to meet the requirements for continuity in petrochemical production.
Thank you for sharing the information; the forum is even better with you here.
Centrifugal compressors have a low failure rate, and their maintenance intervals are 3–5 years; therefore, there is no need to install backup units； On the other hand, centrifugal compressors are part of complete units, and specific requirements exist regarding the foundation, plant structure, and pipeline design; as a result, the cost increases significantly. It is not recommended to install backup units
Centrifugal compressors operate stably with a low failure rate! Additionally, the cost is high; typical large-scale units start at 20 million!