Rotary screw gas compressor manufacturers 1

[chkc9187]

Hi all,

Could you please suggest me the names of some US manufacturers that make reliable oil flooded rotary screw compressors for natural gas applications? The pressure ratio required is 6:1 in one stage and the gas flow rate is 3 MMSCFD.

Most companies that I've found so far make these machines for air compression applications only.

Thank you.

 

[zdas04]

The actual screw compressor is not really a problem. Machines from Gardner-Denver, Sullair, Howden, Frick, Kobelco, MyCom, or others will all perform about as well regardless of the brand of screw. What does matter a lot is the packager. It sounds like you are a ways from being able to see where the learning curve starts, so you need to look for a knowledgeable packager. Someone like AG Industries in Broken Arrow (Oklahoma) Toromont in Houston (the packages out of Houston have been lacking, but the stuff they package in Calgary is very good), Exterran in Houston can put together a package that can work well. Try to steer clear of plant packages because: (1) they tend to lack an oil pump (which you really need for wellsite use, not so much for downstream use); (2) the skids are too light to drop in the dirt; and (3) the temperature control is to inflexible for wellsite use. If the above doesn't make sense, find an Engineer that knows these packages.

David Simpson, PE
MuleShoe Engineering

"Belief" is the acceptance of an hypotheses in the absence of data.
"Prejudice" is having an opinion not supported by the preponderance of the data.
"Knowledge" is only found through the accumulation and analysis of data.
The plural of anecdote is not "data"

 

[chkc9187]

Thanks for your input David.

I do agree that a good packager is very essential for such a project. We wanted to make sure that we consider all the local manufacturers for our initial review before we approach any of the packagers.

Also, this compressor will be used on an offshore production platform. Could you share any additional precautions that need to be taken while getting the equipment packaged?

 

[zdas04]

Start with a packager and look at their compressor manufacturer recommendation. Going the other way is a mistake. There is simply too little difference from one manufacturer to the next. If the packager is not talking about "dew point control" or "managing discharge temperature" in the first few minutes you may have the wrong packager. With raw wellhead gas at least 3/4 of the problems can be traced back to the oil absorbing water vapor from the gas. If you don't cook the water out, then it stays in the oil and ruins the oil just before the compressor crashes. Some packagers are very aware of this and most are not. Find one that is.

As to offshore, there are some pretty specific containment and electrical standards, a packager near the Gulf should be very aware of them. The big issue is often physical size and how do you fit the stuff you need (especially adequate cooling) onto the available deck space. I would expect to dump waste heat to the ocean, but having never done one of these offshore, I'm not confident what that looks like.

David Simpson, PE
MuleShoe Engineering

"Belief" is the acceptance of an hypotheses in the absence of data.
"Prejudice" is having an opinion not supported by the preponderance of the data.
"Knowledge" is only found through the accumulation and analysis of data.
The plural of anecdote is not "data"

 

[dcasto]

look at Compass compressors and RCSI

 

[zdas04]

RCSI once told me that for vacuum service you have to use a Process Derivitive screw (like the Frick they were selling) because the shaft seals on an air-derivitive were on the lp end and they couldn't handle vacuum operations. I got certified letters from 3 air-derivitive manufacturers that said that that statement was wrong. I laid the letters in front of the RCSI sales guy and he said "I knew that, but I didn't think you'd check". I don't know if this sales guy was an anomaly or if he was the norm, but a culture that would grow that kind of slime should be avoided. I have avoided both RCSI and CSI ever since that meeting. They may be perfectly fine, but that one guy's ethics did not sit well with mine.

David Simpson, PE
MuleShoe Engineering

"Belief" is the acceptance of an hypotheses in the absence of data.
"Prejudice" is having an opinion not supported by the preponderance of the data.
"Knowledge" is only found through the accumulation and analysis of data.
The plural of anecdote is not "data"