Extensive study on the control of centrifugal compressor surge

Abstract

This paper reports the results of an extensive study concerning surge instability in an industrial compression system and its dynamic suppression. Both numerical simulations and experiments have been used to analyse the system behaviour under unstable operating conditions and to compare different control devices for surge suppression. First, the characterization of surge is performed over the whole unstable operating range of a compression system based on a four-stage centrifugal compressor. The unsteady energy associated with the surge cycle is employed as an index of the surge intensity to allow for a quantitative approach to the problem. Subsequently, the behaviour and performance of a passive-type control system and of an active-type one are analysed and compared. The former consists of an innovative device based on an oscillating water column, whereas the latter is a high-gain type of feedback device implemented digitally. Experimental data show that the proposed passive device is effective not only in inhibiting surge development, but also in suppressing fully developed instability. The active device turns out to be more effective than the passive one, but under severe conditions it may fail because of actuator limitations and noise amplification. Finally, the relative merits and limitations of the two control systems are discussed with reference to their effectiveness range, flexibility, steady-state performance, installation, maintenance, and costs.

Contribución a la Mejora del Margen de Bombeo en Compresores Centrífugos de Sobrealimentación

“…Es una posibilidad que se ve favorablemente para la aplicación en los pequeños motores range extender 6 propuestos para los vehículos híbridos. Dado que los MCIA utilizados son de pequeña cilindrada y se cuenta con buen recurso de potencia eléctrica, parece razonable recurrir al accionamiento eléctrico.…”

“…Otro sistema de control o supresión del bombeo es el planteado por Arnulfi et al [6] [7] basado en los trabajos previos de Gysling et al [47], quienes propusieron el acoplamiento aeroelástico de una masa-resorteamortiguador en el circuito de salida del compresor. El sistema consta de un volumen de pared móvil capaz de absorber la energía de las perturbaciones que genera el compresor; se puede ver un esquema general en el gráfico (a) de la figura 2.14.…”

“…En pos de salvar estos inconvenientes, Arnulfi et al [6][7] encuentran las propiedades buscadas en las columnas de líquido. Proponen el dispositivo que se ve en la gráfica (b) de la figura 2.14.…”

Control of centrifugal compressors via model predictive control for enhanced oil recovery applications

“…In industrial practice, surge control still relies on avoidance control. Although many solutions based on active control have been proposed (Arnulfi et al, 2006), they were not implemented on industrial-size compressors due mainly to the cost and reliability of the additional devices they require (Uddin and Gravdahl, 2012).…”

A high-speed valve for surge control in a centrifugal compression system

“…Surge control tests with a movable wall actuator are discussed in [9], [10]. Variable inlet guide vanes are mainly used in industry to optimize the performance and efficiency of turbocompressors during stable operation.…”