Does creating a negative pressure at the inlet of a reciprocating compressor have an impact on the unit?
Thread Content
Does creating a negative pressure at the inlet of the 4M16 reciprocating compressor have an impact on the unit? The designed inlet pressure is a slight positive pressure of 0.01 MPa, with an alarm set at values below 0 MPa. In actual operation, the process pressure is -0.03 MPa. Is it appropriate to operate under such conditions? I earnestly request guidance from all experts! Thank you!
There could be two aspects to this: 1. It is necessary to determine whether the inlet pipes and similar components might experience blockage or damage under negative pressure conditions； 2. When the inlet pressure decreases, the compression ratio of your compressor will change, which may cause damage to the components of your compressor ； Regarding the above issues, it is recommended that you ask the compressor manufacturer to help you with the calculations.
There is definitely an impact; drawing negative pressure at the inlet indicates that the inlet cannot meet the requirements for the compressor to operate. In such cases, it is necessary to adjust the operation mode to four cycles per minute or one cycle per minute; otherwise, the inlet pipeline is prone to blockages, or the gas tank may overfill and burst. When operating the unit under negative pressure conditions, it is common to hear sounds of liquid impact against the cylinders. It’s a dangerous situation; it is recommended to shut down the machine and check the inlet filter.
The inlet must not be under negative pressure; this issue must be resolved
There is definitely an impact. First, an excessively high compression ratio can lead to overheating; second, it affects the exhaust volume
In addition to what was mentioned above, it also causes an increase in the motor load.