Page 34 - Compression Machinery for Oil and Gas

24 SECTION I Fundamentals of Compression

The highest impact operator and maintenance activities for gas turbine and cen-
trifugal compressors include:

1. active fluids and mechanical analysis program,
2. ensuring the fuel system is free from contamination that will lead to nozzle
or torch plugging,
3. the most common sources of contamination are: liquids, iron sulfide, and
glycol,
4. clean inlet combustion air supply,
5. regular detergent washing of the combustion air compressor/air inlet turbine
section of the package, and
6. eliminate frequent starts and stops.

Service Life
The key to extended service life of gas compressors and prime power movers is
developing and maintaining a sound compressor maintenance program which
includes:
1. regular original equipment manufacturer (OEM) recommended preventive
maintenance (varies with the type and age of equipment),
2. load factor, use factor, and operating environment,
3. spare parts availability and maintenance,
4. personnel and training requirements, and
5. monitoring and inspection techniques.

Maintenance scheduling is determined by company policy or OEM recommen-
dations and can be formed on the basis of fixed intervals or predictive failures.
Emergency maintenance is performed after a failure or major breakdown has
occurred and usually only the component which has failed will be repaired
or replaced. Maintenance and repair of compressor station equipment should
be performed by fully trained and qualified company and contracted personnel.
Prime power movers of the connected gas compressor section of a compres-
sor equipment package can be divided into three major divisions: internal com-
bustion gas fueled engines, gas fueled power turbines, and electric motors. All
three prime mover types can be protected from catastrophic failures and main-
tained at top operating and fuel efficiency by installing extensive monitoring/
shutdown/alarm devices and adopting a robust preventative and predictive
maintenance program.
A condition monitoring plan that utilizes machine-type specific data analyt-
ics to move toward a predictive maintenance program is a worthwhile undertak-
ing for all prime movers to preserve and extend service life of the equipment.
The application of a good condition monitoring plan can yield such benefits as
preemptive repairs, reduced maintenance, increased unit availability, reduced