Transient studies for compressor systems allow the prediction of the compressor system behavior during fast transients such as they occur during emergency shutdowns. For the system simulations, the compressor behavior is assumed to be quasi steady state. This means in particular that the steady state compressor flow-head-efficiency-speed map remains valid. During well instrumented emergency shutdown tests conducted on a centrifugal compressor system under realistic operating conditions, data showing the head-flow-speed relationship of the rapidly decelerating compressor was taken. This data is compared to steady state head-flow relationships taken at a number of speeds. This allows to determine the relative deviation between the transient and steady state head-flow-relationships, and thus answers the question of the validity of steady state assumptions during rapid transients. The impact of the fast transients on efficiency and consumed power, which can be derived from the speed decay of the system, as well as the impact of non-stationary heat transfer are also evaluated and reported.

This paper reports a comparison of two methods to perform residual stress measurements. The specimens tested by each method were two blades from a shrouded centrifugal compressor impeller. The first method is the conventional hole drilling strain gage method which was used to predict residual stresses across the blade surface. The residual stresses are released by drilling a hole in the blade. The second method is called the nonlinear harmonic (NLH) scanning method and is based on the principal that the magnetic domains of ferrous materials vary in a non-linear way relative to internal stress. The effects of residual stress may be either helpful or harmful, depending on the magnitude of the residual with respect to the operating stresses. If not adequately relieved by heat treatment, residual tensile stress that develops in the welding process of shrouded impellers, will add to the stress developed by rotation which moves the point to the right on the Goodman diagram and reduces allowable alternating stress. The results showed comparable residual stress measurements of the NLH method compared to the conventional hole drilling method.

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