Development Trends in Fluid Machinery (Survey)
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Hello, fellow sailors! I am a student at school, currently studying process fluid machinery. The main focus of research is on piston compressors; it is believed that this type of compressor is gradually being replaced by centrifugal compressors (of course, reciprocating compressors are still used for high-pressure and ultra-high-pressure applications). I’m very curious to know what the trends look like in practical applications. There is also information on the usage of fluid machinery such as pumps, fans, and separators.
This post was last edited by *ebinan on 2009-10-16 at 15:51. It doesn’t seem that such a trend exists for now, as centrifugal compressors cannot temporarily replace piston compressors in some applications. Moreover, considering actual usage patterns, fluid machinery is rarely employed in practical operations, as those responsible for operation don’t pay too much attention to theoretical aspects. Therefore, you should ask the members in the design forum about your question!
Piston compressors, centrifugal compressors, and screw compressors each have their own characteristics and suitable applications. Refining plants still have many piston compressors, such as hydrogen compressors with high compression ratios. Centrifugal compressors are widely used in the ethylene industry, while piston compressors are used for ultra-high-pressure polyethylene. In the fertilizer industry, centrifugal compressors are widely used. In general, in the 1970s, centrifugal compressors could be used in many of the applications where piston compressors were previously used. In China, Shenqi and Shangqi are both piston compressor manufacturers that produce compressors with high piston force. Abroad, companies such as New Biloń, Borsig, and Dresser-Rand are major manufacturers of piston compressors. In short, in certain situations, piston compressors are irreplaceable.
There’s no need to worry about this; focusing on learning well and applying what you’ve learned is what matters. Research in schools should avoid being divorced from reality. Perhaps what you read in books seems to consist mainly of equations and strong theories, but there is a huge gap between practical applications and what is described in the books. For processes with low flow rates or a relatively small scale, piston compressors are still the preferred choice, after all, they are readily available.