Regarding which party is responsible for the piping diagrams of compressor units: the design institute or the compressor manufacturer
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This post was last edited by sue211 on 2016-11-9 at 11:41. I have a question regarding the drawing of compressor piping, and I would like to ask the experts here for their advice. Compressor manufacturers supply the piping materials and piping between compressor units. However, due to design qualification issues, compressor manufacturers are unable to provide construction drawings, or blueprints, for the compressor units; the piping diagrams provided are not blueprints. The design institute then produces the drawings using its own seal, based on the piping layout provided by the compressor manufacturer. Do all design institutes do this now? Can the entire compressor be treated as a skid-mounted unit, with the design institute responsible for designing the pipelines before and after the compressor? The compressor manufacturer is responsible for the piping design of the compressor unit.
These days, compressors are generally handled as skids, with the piping responsible for the pipes that lead out of the skid. It is not necessary for the manufacturer to provide blueprints, but once the final design is completed, it must be compatible with the equipment drawings provided by the manufacturer.
That’s basically how it’s done these days; design firms take on projects for which compressors aren’t suitable
Why not let the design institute take overall responsibility?
If the design institute creates the drawings based on the manufacturer’s drawings, then all the responsibility lies with the design institute. But I think compressor manufacturers should also bear some responsibility. So I’m not sure how things are handled in design institutes these days.
Yes! If there are no issues with the drawings, it’s not a problem, but if something goes wrong, it will be the responsibility of the design institute! So compressor manufacturers should also bear some responsibility!
Manufacturers are usually only responsible for the drawings of the equipment they sell, unless it is a sub-project
Piping involves vibration calculations, and it is also a key point and challenge in the installation design process. Most design institutes can’t do it. Normally: 1. When ordering the compressor, Party A specifies in the technical agreement or bidding process which calculation method shall be used. It doesn’t count; natural selection takes its course. 2. Even if Party A does not mention it, the design institute will also require the manufacturer to carry out vibration calculations, which are generally performed in accordance with the requirements of API618. 3. The design institute proposes the pipeline layout plan, which is then calculated by the manufacturer or through external calculation services. 4. The design institute carries out actions such as setting limits, securing components, or adding brackets based on the requirements resulting from the calculations. 5. The design institute is not involved in the internal piping design of the skid-mounted unit. 6. For non-pierced inter-stage pipes, calculations are carried out by the manufacturer who also provides the drawings (for unqualified small factories, the task is outsourced).
Most compressor manufacturers these days do not have the qualifications to produce technical drawings. It used to be done by design institutes. Is it still the same now?
Since the calculation cost for Method 3 is relatively high, it must be clearly stated in the technical agreement. Otherwise, there will be arguments!
Large companies with the necessary qualifications don’t need to outsource, while smaller companies without such qualifications have to do so.