Wind pressure exceeding 200 kPa
Some basic chemical feedstocks, such as propylene, ethylene, butadiene, benzene, etc., can be processed into important chemical products including plastics, fibers and rubber. In petrochemical plants producing such basic feedstocks, centrifugal compressors also play an important role as one of the key pieces of equipment. In addition, centrifugal compressors are also critical equipment in other industries such as petroleum refining and refrigeration.
China was capable of manufacturing centrifugal compressors as early as the 1950s. Starting from the early 1970s, a series of high-performance medium- and high-pressure centrifugal compressors were introduced, mainly for petrochemical plants and large-scale fertilizer plants. Rich operational experience has been accumulated, and on the basis of digesting and absorbing imported technologies, China’s capabilities in research, design and manufacturing have been significantly enhanced.
Advantages
The wide application of centrifugal compressors is mainly attributed to the following advantages over reciprocating compressors:
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Large gas volume, simple and compact structure, light weight, small unit size and small footprint.
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Smooth operation, high reliability, high operating rate, few friction parts, resulting in low spare parts consumption, low maintenance costs and reduced manpower requirements.
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In chemical processes, centrifugal compressors enable a completely oil-free compression process for chemical media.
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As a rotary machine, centrifugal compressors are suitable for direct drive by industrial steam turbines or gas turbines. In large-scale chemical plants, by-product steam is commonly used to drive industrial steam turbines, enabling comprehensive utilization of thermal energy.
However, centrifugal compressors also have certain disadvantages.
Disadvantages
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Not suitable for applications with extremely small gas volumes or excessively high pressure ratios.
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Relatively narrow stable operating range; while gas volume adjustment is convenient, its economic efficiency is relatively poor.
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Efficiency is generally lower than that of reciprocating compressors.
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