Wind pressure exceeding 200 kPa
Some basic chemical raw materials, such as propylene, ethylene, butadiene, benzene, etc., can be processed into important chemical products including plastics, fibers and rubbers. In petrochemical plants producing such basic raw materials, 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, accumulating rich operational experience. On the basis of digesting and absorbing imported technologies, China has greatly enhanced its independent research, design and manufacturing capabilities.
Advantages
The wide application of centrifugal compressors is mainly due to their advantages over reciprocating compressors as follows:
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Large gas flow rate, simple and compact structure, light weight, small unit size and small footprint.
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Stable operation, reliable performance, high operating rate, few friction parts, resulting in low demand for spare parts, low maintenance costs and less maintenance manpower.
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In chemical processes, centrifugal compressors can achieve a completely oil-free compression process for chemical media.
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As a rotary machine, centrifugal compressors are suitable for direct driving by industrial steam turbines or gas turbines. For most large-scale chemical plants, by-product steam is often used to drive industrial steam turbines as a power source, enabling the comprehensive utilization of thermal energy.
However, centrifugal compressors also have some disadvantages.
Disadvantages
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Centrifugal compressors are not suitable for applications with extremely small gas flow rates or excessively high pressure ratios.
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The stable operating range is relatively narrow; although gas flow adjustment is convenient, its economic efficiency is poor.
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The efficiency of centrifugal compressors is generally lower than that of reciprocating compressors.
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