Dresser-rand Company

Dresser Industries, Inc.

Siemens Energy Global Gmbh & Co. Kg

Sorokes, James M.

Miller, Harry F.

James M Sorokes

Mark Joseph Kuzdzal

David James Peer

Kirk Ryan Lupkes

Paul Morrison Brown

Richard J Wiederien

Brian David Massey

William C Maier

Pascal Lardy

Kevin Miny

Harry Francis Miller

Marcus Meyer

Sebastian Huth

Scott David Wisler

Mark J Kuzdzal

David J Peer

Martin Reimann

David Andrew Taylor

Jesus Pacheco

Roman Mensing

Igor M Belousov

Steven Nove

Chris M Leasure

Austin Kimes

Tyler Johnson

Compressor rotor structure and methodology for harmonizing compressor aerodynamics and rotordynamics are provided. Disclosed embodiments benefit from a compressor design effective for improving rotordynamics (e.g., stiffer rotor structure) without reducing a usable aerodynamics range of the compressor. This design may involve variation of the rotor structure along the rotor axis to locate respective surfaces defined by respective inlets of the one or more impellers at a varying distance relative to the rotor axis based on respective ratios selected for the configuration of the impeller bodies. This arrangement may be effective for improving rotordynamics while satisfactorily meeting the respective varying aerodynamics requirements at the various compression stages by the impeller bodies.

Compressor rotor structure and method for arranging said rotor structure

A balance piston seal assembly for a balance piston of a compressor is provided. The balance piston seal assembly may include a balance piston seal configured to be disposed about the balance piston such that an inner radial surface of the balance piston seal and an outer radial surface of the balance piston define a radial clearance therebetween. The balance piston seal assembly may also include a plurality of heaters in thermal communication with the balance piston seal and configured to heat and thermally expand the balance piston seal and thereby increase a radial length of the radial clearance.

Electrically heated balance piston seal

A system and method are provided for detecting an impending stall or surge in a radial compressor. The system and method may include a plurality of detection devices configured to detect a transition of a low momentum zone of a gas flow through the diffuser from a first position adjacent a shroud wall of the diffuser to a second position adjacent a hub wall of the diffuser. The system and method may also include a control system electrically coupled to the plurality of detection devices and configured to receive a plurality of information signals. Each information signal may be transmitted by a respective one of the plurality of detection devices and may correlate to a location of the low momentum zone. The control system may be configured to process the plurality of information signals and detect the impending stall or surge based on the location of the low momentum zone.

System and method for detecting stall or surge in radial compressors

A supersonic compressor provided may include an axial inlet and a centrifugal impeller fluidly coupled to the axial inlet. The centrifugal impeller may have a periphery and may be configured to impart energy to process fluid received via the axial inlet and discharge the process fluid from the periphery in at least a partially radial direction. The supersonic compressor may further include a static diffuser circumferentially disposed about the periphery of the centrifugal impeller and configured to receive the process fluid from the centrifugal impeller and convert the energy imparted. The static diffuser may include a plurality of diffuser vanes defining diffuser passageways therebetween. A supersonic ramp may be formed at an end of the at least one diffuser vane proximate the periphery of the centrifugal impeller. The supersonic ramp may be configured to generate a shock wave from the process fluid.

Supersonic compressor with structural arrangement to increase pressure energy in a discharge process fluid received from a centrifugal impeller

A compressor may include a casing defining a discharge cavity and a seal cavity. A rotary shaft may be disposed in the casing, and a shaft seal assembly may be disposed in the seal cavity and about the rotary shaft. An impeller may be coupled with and configured to be driven by the rotary shaft. A balance piston may be integral with the impeller and may define the discharge cavity and the seal cavity. A balance piston seal may be disposed about the balance piston such that the balance piston seal and the balance piston define a radial clearance therebetween. The radial clearance may be configured to provide fluid communication from the impeller to the discharge cavity. A heat shield may be disposed in the discharge cavity, and may be configured to prevent the conduction of heat from the discharge cavity to the seal cavity via the casing.

Heat shield for pressure casing

Systems and methods are provided for sidestream mixing. The system may include a first junction formed from a plurality of conduits. The plurality of conduits may include a first conduit fluidly coupled to a compressor, the first conduit forming a first conduit diameter and configured to flow therethrough a first process fluid stream of a plurality of process fluid streams. The plurality of conduits may also include a second conduit fluidly coupled to the first conduit and the compressor, and configured to flow therethrough a second process fluid stream of the plurality of process fluid streams. The first junction may be disposed a first distance at least three times the first conduit diameter upstream of the compressor, such that the first process fluid stream and the second process fluid stream are mixed and form a first combined process fluid stream prior to being fed into and pressurized in the compressor.

System and method for sidestream mixing

A balance piston seal assembly for a balance piston of a compressor is provided. The balance piston seal assembly may include a balance piston seal, a stationary support, and a gripping assembly disposed between the balance piston seal and the stationary support. The balance piston seal may be configured to be disposed about the balance piston such that an inner radial surface of the balance piston seal and an outer radial surface of the balance piston define a radial clearance therebetween. The stationary support may be configured to be coupled or integral with a casing of the compressor. The gripping assembly may be configured to secure the balance piston seal with the stationary support and to maintain concentricity between the balance piston seal and the balance piston during thermal radial expansion of the balance piston seal relative to the balance piston.

Balance piston seal centering

An adjustable seal and method for varying a radial distance between the adjustable seal and a rotor of a turbomachine are provided. The adjustable seal may include a first annular member defining a plurality of radial channels, and a second annular member defining a plurality of slots at least partially extending therethrough. The second annular member may be concentric with the first annular member and configured to rotate relative to the first annular member. The adjustable seal may also include a plurality of seal segments interposed between the first annular member and the second annular member. Each seal segment of the plurality of seal segments may be slidably disposed in a respective radial channel of the plurality of radial channels and may have an axial projection slidably disposed in a respective slot of the plurality of slots.

Adjustable labyrinth seal

A compressor performance adjustment system includes a compressor chassis defining an inlet passageway, a diffuser passageway coupled to the inlet passageway, and a return passageway extending from the diffuser passageway. At least one inlet vane is located in the inlet passageway. At least one diffuser vane is located in the diffuser passageway. At least one return vane is moveably coupled to the compressor chassis and located in the return passageway. The return vanes may be adjusted without disassembling the compressor chassis in order to adjust the flow incident on compressor components and adjust the performance of a compressor.

Compressor performance adjustment system

A casing assembly for a compressor includes an internal compression assembly with a shaft and at least one impeller disposed on the shaft. The casing assembly includes an inlet body segment having a fluid inlet, an outlet body segment having a fluid outlet, and a number of intermediate body segments selected from a plurality of intermediate body segments, which are preferably preformed. The intermediate segments are disposed between the inlet and outlet segments to form the casing and each has an inner circumferential surface defining an interior chamber section, the chamber sections collectively defining at least a portion of a compressor chamber sized to receive the compression assembly. Preferably, the intermediate segment inner surfaces have equal inside diameters and are generally coaxially aligned. As such, the inner surfaces collectively define a portion of continuous compressor support surface of a desired axial length for supporting the compression assembly.

Multi-segment compressor casing assembly

A device for measuring three-dimensional coordinate position of a blade to validate the position on an impeller having a main guide track with a mounting collar on one end with a secondary guide track securably received on the main guide track. The secondary guide track has an arm member that includes a vertically extending rod. The lower end of the rod is used to contact the coordinate points to be measured on the face of the blade. The X, Y, and Z coordinate measurements of each point along the face of the blade is read from scale indicia located along the main guide track, the secondary guide track and the rod extending down from the secondary guide track.

Position validator device

A diffuser vane assembly for a centrifugal compressor includes movable vanes which are inserted or retracted from the diffuser passage through slots in one of the diffuser walls. The vane assembly is axially movable by an internally threaded drum and gear arrangement. A hand crank external to the compressor is effective to rotate the drum and thereby axially move the plate and attached vanes within the diffuser passage.

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Olean, NY, United States of America

James M Sorokes