Abstract: A compression system comprises a compressor, an inlet duct, a throttling valve installed in the inlet duct, an outlet duct, an anti-surge valve fluidly coupling the outlet duct with a portion of the inlet duct downstream of the throttling valve and a recycle valve fluidly coupling the outlet duct with a portion of the inlet duct upstream of the throttling valve. Keeping the recycle valve open, the anti-surge valve closed and the throttling valve partially closed allows lowering the pressure of the flow entering the compressor during its start-up.

Abstract: A thermodynamic system containing a working fluid is disclosed. The thermodynamic system comprises at least a working fluid collection vessel (11) adapted to contain a liquid phase and a gaseous phase of the working fluid in thermodynamic equilibrium. A chilling arrangement (51) is functionally coupled to the fluid collection vessel (11) and adapted to remove heat from the working fluid collected in the working fluid collection vessel (11) and thereby reduce pressure in said thermodynamic system. Also disclosed are methods for depressurizing a thermodynamic system containing a working fluid in liquid/gas equilibrium.

Abstract: A method for operating start-up of a compressor train is disclosed. The train includes a driver machine and at least a centrifugal compressor drivingly coupled to the driver machine. The centrifugal compressor in turn includes a plurality of compressor stages and at least a first set of variable inlet guide vanes at an inlet of one of the compressor stages. The method includes at least partly closing the first set of variable inlet guide vanes; when the first set of variable inlet guide vanes is at least partly closed, starting rotation of the centrifugal compressor and accelerating the centrifugal compressor up to a minimum operating speed; opening the at least one set of variable inlet guide vanes to increase the gas flow through the centrifugal compressor once the minimum operating speed has been achieved.

Abstract: A compression system comprises a compressor, an inlet duct, a throttling valve installed in the inlet duct, an outlet duct, an anti-surge valve fluidly coupling the outlet duct with a portion of the inlet duct downstream of the throttling valve and a recycle valve fluidly coupling the outlet duct with a portion of the inlet duct upstream of the throttling valve. Keeping the recycle valve open, the anti-surge valve closed and the throttling valve partially closed allows lowering the pressure of the flow entering the compressor during its start-up.

Abstract: A compressor system is described, including: at least a first compressor having a suction side and a delivery side; an anti-surge line; an anti-surge valve arranged along the anti-surge line and controlled for recirculating a gas flow from the delivery side back to the suction side of the compressor; a heat removal arrangement between the anti-surge valve and the suction side of the compressor.

Abstract: A method of determining a liquid volume fraction in a multi-phase gas is disclosed. The method includes: a) measuring a first compressor operating parameter; b) selecting a tentative liquid volume fraction of the gas processed by the compressor; c) based on stored data representing a compressor operative curve for the tentative liquid volume fraction, determining an estimated value of a second compressor operating parameter, as a function of the first compressor operating parameter; d) measuring an actual value of the second compressor operating parameter; e) comparing the actual value of the second compressor operating parameter to the estimated value of the second compressor operating parameter and determining an error therefrom; f) based on the error, selecting a different tentative liquid volume fraction and repeating (c) to (e) until an error value equal to or lower than an error threshold is obtained.

Abstract: A thermodynamic system containing a working fluid is disclosed. The thermodynamic system comprises at least a working fluid collection vessel (11) adapted to contain a liquid phase and a gaseous phase of the working fluid in thermodynamic equilibrium. A chilling arrangement (51) is functionally coupled to the fluid collection vessel (11) and adapted to remove heat from the working fluid collected in the working fluid collection vessel (11) and thereby reduce pressure in said thermodynamic system. Also disclosed are methods for depressurizing a thermodynamic system containing a working fluid in liquid/gas equilibrium.

Abstract: A compressor system including: a first compressor having a compressor suction side and a compressor delivery side; an anti-surge line having an inlet and an outlet; an anti-surge valve arranged along the anti-surge line and controlled for recirculating a gas flow from the compressor delivery side back to the compressor suction side; a gas temperature manipulation arrangement, functionally connected to the inlet of the anti-surge line, configured to reduce or prevent liquid phase in the anti-surge line when the anti-surge valve is open.

Abstract: Methods and systems (100) for modeling operations of a physical plant (110) are presented. For instance, a system (100) includes at least a first component (111) and a second component (112). The first and second components (111), (112) have at least one physical connection (130a). First and second model operational parameters of the physical connection are received from first and second models 121, 122, respectively. The first and second models (121), (122) are updated with the second and first model operational parameters, respectively. In one example, the first and second models (121), (122) run on different computer systems. In another example, real-time operational data is received from the first and second components (111), (112), and the first and second models (121), (122) are updated with the real-time operational data received from the second and first components, respectively. In a further example, the system (100) may receive and process simulation input.

Abstract: A coupling guard for a rotating member comprising a shell surrounding the rotating member, a plenum disposed in the shell, at least an injection tube for injecting a cooling gas and an outlet for discharging the cooling gas, wherein the injection tube extends through the plenum from a first axial opening proximal to the shell to a second axial opening proximal to the rotating member, the injection tube having a leading edge which first contacts the gas circulating in the plenum and a trailing edge opposite to the leading edge, the second opening having a first portion orthogonal to the axis of the injection tube and a second portion across the trailing edge, adjacent to the first portion and parallel to the axis of the injection tube.

Abstract: A method of determining a liquid volume fraction in a multi-phase gas is disclosed. The method includes: a) measuring a first compressor operating parameter; b) selecting a tentative liquid volume fraction of the gas processed by the compressor; c) based on stored data representing a compressor operative curve for the tentative liquid volume fraction, determining an estimated value of a second compressor operating parameter, as a function of the first compressor operating parameter; d) measuring an actual value of the second compressor operating parameter; e) comparing the actual value of the second compressor operating parameter to the estimated value of the second compressor operating parameter and determining an error therefrom; f) based on the error, selecting a different tentative liquid volume fraction and repeating (c) to (e) until an error value equal to or lower than an error threshold is obtained.

Abstract: A compressor system including: a first compressor having a compressor suction side and a compressor delivery side; an anti-surge line having an inlet and an outlet; an anti-surge valve arranged along the anti-surge line and controlled for recirculating a gas flow from the compressor delivery side back to the compressor suction side; a gas temperature manipulation arrangement, functionally connected to the inlet of the anti-surge line, configured to reduce or prevent liquid phase in the anti-surge line when the anti-surge valve is open.

Abstract: Control system arranged for a rotary compressor driven by a rotary engine, and includes: a first control subsystem, a second control subsystem and a selector; the first control subsystem is arranged to provide a first control signal as a function of the performance and the speed of the compressor; the second control subsystem is arranged to provide a second control signal as a function of the performance of the compressor; the selector is arranged to select the first control signal or the second control signal as a third control signal to be provided to a power control input of the engine.

Abstract: Control system arranged for a rotary compressor driven by a rotary engine, and includes: a first control subsystem, a second control subsystem and a selector; the first control subsystem is arranged to provide a first control signal as a function of the performance of the compressor; the second control subsystem is arranged to provide a second control signal as a function of the speed of the compressor; the selector is arranged to select the first control signal or the second control signal as a third control signal to be provided to a power control input of the engine.

Abstract: A method for operating start-up of a compressor train is disclosed. The train includes a driver machine and at least a centrifugal compressor drivingly coupled to the driver machine. The centrifugal compressor in turn includes a plurality of compressor stages and at least a first set of variable inlet guide vanes at an inlet of one of the compressor stages. The method includes at least partly closing the first set of variable inlet guide vanes; when the first set of variable inlet guide vanes is at least partly closed, starting rotation of the centrifugal compressor and accelerating the centrifugal compressor up to a minimum operating speed; opening the at least one set of variable inlet guide vanes to increase the gas flow through the centrifugal compressor once the minimum operating speed has been achieved.

Abstract: A compressor system is described, comprising: at least a first compressor having a suction side) and a delivery side); an anti-surge line; an anti-surge valve arranged along the anti-surge line and controlled for recirculating a gas flow from the delivery side back to the suction side of the compressor; a heat removal arrangement between the anti-surge valve and the suction side of the compressor.

Abstract: Actuator devices useable to change orientation of one or more vanes, including an actuator rod and an actuator device body configured to allow the actuator rod to move along the axis inside the actuator device body, and having an inlet flange configured to allow a third fluid to enter a space between the actuator device body and the actuator rod, and an outlet flange configured to allow the third fluid to exit the actuator device body. Besides providing a fluid seal between the first fluid and the second fluid, the third fluid may also heat the actuator rod thereby preventing ice formation.

Abstract: A coupling guard for a rotating member comprising a shell surrounding the rotating member, a plenum disposed in the shell, at least an injection tube for injecting a cooling gas and an outlet for discharging the cooling gas, wherein the injection tube extends through the plenum from a first axial opening proximal to the shell to a second axial opening proximal to the rotating member, the injection tube having a leading edge which first contacts the gas circulating in the plenum and a trailing edge opposite to the leading edge, the second opening having a first portion orthogonal to the axis of the injection tube and a second portion across the trailing edge, adjacent to the first portion and parallel to the axis of the injection tube.

Abstract: An actuation system includes a driving ring configured to rotate and having a groove on an internal face facing a central point of the driving ring; at least a linkage attached with a first end to an inside of the groove; and at least a lever arm attached to a second end of the at least a linkage. At least a portion of the at least a linkage stays inside the groove when the driving ring rotates.

Abstract: Heat exchanger device for a gas seal (1) for centrifugal compressors equipped with a fluid heat exchanger (3) positioned between the gas seal (1) and the housing wall of the seal to keep the temperature of the seal (1) low in the case of high temperatures of the wall and/or compressed gas.