Minimum number of participants: 6

Objective: 

- Analyze the operating parameters of reciprocating compressors.

- Identify causes of malfunctions.

- Anticipate serious failures.

 

Target group: 

- This course is aimed at operators, foremen, technicians or engineers in operations, maintenance or process departments.  

- Prerequisites: Introductory course on rotating machines or equivalent experience.

- 8 to 10 people maximum per session. 

 

Content :

09:00 - 10:30 
OPERATION 

- Reciprocating compressor performance: flow rate, power, efficiency

- Influence of suction parameters (single and multi-stage)

- Operating limits: compression ratio and delta P, discharge temperature

 

10:30 - 10:45 

Break

 

10:45 - 12:15 

OPERATION

- Starting a reciprocating compressor

    o Operating constraints, rotor turning, purges and presence of liquid

    o Checking safety systems and alarms 

- Operating point and operating limits:

    o Delta refrigerant gas/water temperature

    o Valve temperature monitoring

    o Seal leakage rate

- Protection and safety

    o Low suction pressure and delta pressure on each stage

    o Safety valves on each stage

    o Protection against abnormal vibrations: acceptable limits

    o Circuit protection: lubrication and cooling

    o Non-return valve on discharge line

 

12:15 - 13:15 
Lunch

 

13:15 - 15:15 
MALFUNCTION ANALYSIS

- Causes : 

    o Nature and quality of gas: deposits and valve fouling

    o Flow control system anomalies: valve damage

    o Gas condensation

- Behavioral anomalies :

    o Abnormal vibrations: valves and crossheads

    o Abnormal heating of bearings

- Failure analysis: cause tree and common failures

 

15:15 - 15:45 
Break

 

15:45 - 17:00 
INSTALLATION 

General principles of reciprocating compressor assembly

- Cylinder mass and support

- Pipe docking: principle 

- Thermal protection: cylinders, piping and suction tank

 

MAINTENANCE ELEMENTS

- Maintenance program: policy and strategy

Implementation / working method :

One-day interactive face-to-face course, with Powerpoint support shared at the start of the course in both paper and digital formats.

A questionnaire will be sent to trainees before the course in order to adapt the course content to participants' expectations as far as possible.

A course evaluation questionnaire will be distributed to participants at the end of the course.

Course language and materials:
French