Centrifugal Compressor Nozzle Orientation
Centrifugal Compressor Nozzle Orientation
(OP)
The radial split process gas centrifugal Compressor driven by non-condensing Steam Turbine is designed to be installed on Tabletop foundation in refinery.
In EPC stage during detailed engineering, Who (Civil or Piping or Rotating or Compressor Vendor or All together) normally will take a call about Centrifugal Compressor nozzle orientation (Top-Top vs Bottom-Bottom), assuming all design criteria for foundation design (i.e. Adequate separation margin of foundation natural frequency from operating speed), acceptable compressor nozzle loading, piping flexibility can be satisfied in both type of orientation?
In this case, what can be the criteria of selecting top-top vs bottom-bottom and what will be first choice?
I have seen both type (top-top and bottom-bottom) for such compressors driven by non-condensing steam turbines installed on Tabletop foundation and therefore this question.
Thanks in advance for your expert comments.
In EPC stage during detailed engineering, Who (Civil or Piping or Rotating or Compressor Vendor or All together) normally will take a call about Centrifugal Compressor nozzle orientation (Top-Top vs Bottom-Bottom), assuming all design criteria for foundation design (i.e. Adequate separation margin of foundation natural frequency from operating speed), acceptable compressor nozzle loading, piping flexibility can be satisfied in both type of orientation?
In this case, what can be the criteria of selecting top-top vs bottom-bottom and what will be first choice?
I have seen both type (top-top and bottom-bottom) for such compressors driven by non-condensing steam turbines installed on Tabletop foundation and therefore this question.
Thanks in advance for your expert comments.
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RE: Centrifugal Compressor Nozzle Orientation
I have seen both as well but the decision for top or bottom typically included other factors outside of just Civil or Piping or Rotating or Compressor Vendor or All together.
Financial and procurement factors - Bidding cycles, vendor selection, vendor standard offerings vs. custom layouts.
Process factors - equipment layout, pipe rack locations, accessibility
Owner factors - conformity with other compressors on site, familiarity with maintenance and operations personnel.
From a purely functional aspect, I am not aware of any pros and cons to a top-top vs bottom-bottom configuration.
RE: Centrifugal Compressor Nozzle Orientation