Location along a pipeline is important because higher inlet pressures (denser gas) allow the use of smaller machines, and since inlet pressures drop off more and more with distance along a pipeline due to the disproportional increases in friction with lower pressure, transmission efficiency is quickly lost when distances between compressor stations become excessive. Pipeline transmission is more efficient at high pressures and cold temperatures. It is also desirable to have all compressor stations use similar equipment (equal compression ratios), hence a particular characteristic distance between compressor stations of equal compression rations can be maintained for any given volumetric flow rate, inlet temperature and inlet pressure condition.
The required compression ratio is the key to your study. Machine size is affected by inlet temperatures, with the higher inlet temperatures and lower inlet pressures both requiring larger machines for any given compression ratio. Let the inlet pressure fall too much, or inlet temperatures climb too high, and machine sizes increase and distances between compressor stations become too close.
On the other hand, since denser gas enters the compressor at lower inlet temperatures and higher inlet pressures, smaller machines may be used, but more power will be required with lower inlet temperatures for any given discharge pressure.
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