An ethylene plant has a number of very large, very critical compressors which will cause the entire plant to shutdown if they ever trip. The cracked gas compressor increases the entire cold-side feed from around 3 psig to ~475 psig, typically through 5 stages. The two refrigeration compressors are the next biggest compressors that can also shut down the entire plant if they trip.
Given the possible harm to the equipment, a special surge prevention algorithm is required to efficiently protect the compressor. The controller response time also must be higher than for majority of other control loops. The Emerson DeltaV PK controller is a good example of fast-acting controller for compressor antisurge control.
Some of the most perennially popular posts (say that fast 10 times!) here on the blog involve axial or centrifugal compressor surge control, or better stated—anti-surge control. In a paper presented at this year's AIChE Spring Meeting, Emerson's Greg McMillan—a member...
Centrifugal and axial compressors are at the heart of many production processes. Effective compressor automation and turbomachinery control not only impacts efficiency, but also safety, reliability, production throughput and energy usage. A complete turbomachinery control system consists of measurement devices, high speed controllers, control valves, guide vane drives, turbine governors and more.
In this 2:50 YouTube video, Optimized Anti Surge Control Simulator, Emerson’s Tom Bass and CCC’s Rick Fausel describe the Innovation Center simulator setup. The purpose is to show the control strategies working with the control valve to meet the application requirements for surge protection.
Some of our most consistently popular posts here at Emerson Process Experts center on anti-surge control for centrifugal compressors. I had the opportunity to catch up with Emerson's Ashish Patki when he was in town last month. Ashish shared a story where a national...
Update: Greg has published a post, Checklist for Compressor Surge Control Tips which should give you some things to consider for your centrifugal and axial compressors. Orginal post: It's great to questions from automation professionals from some of my posts built up...
Recent YouTube video email notifications are letting me know that the Emerson Process Management divisions are using this visual medium to share unique capabilities in their products. I'll highlight three examples from the Micro Motion Coriolis flow and density...
Greg McMillan will be conducting his 8th demo/seminar (a.k.a. deminar) tomorrow, August 25. The topic will be PID Control of Runaway Processes. It will be on-line and live across the internet at 10:00 am CDT / 15:00 UTC. Runaway processes are found in highly...
A recent Wall Street Journal article, U.S. Expects Steady Climb in Energy Prices opens: Energy prices are undergoing a long, slow march higher as major economies shake off the effects of last year's recession, the U.S. Energy Information Administration said Tuesday in...
Before the holidays, ModelingAndControl.comControl Talk blog's Greg McMillan had another set of eBooks, Centrifugal and Axial Compressor Control Student Text and Instructor's Guide. These books were originally published in 1983 and the copyrights were returned to...
We invite you to follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and YouTube to keep up to date on all the latest news, events and innovations to help you take on and solve your toughest challenges.
Please do, Just link back to the post and send us a quick note so we can share your work. Thanks!
Our Global Community
The opinions expressed here are the personal opinions of the authors. Content published here is not read or approved by Emerson before it is posted and does not necessarily represent the views and opinions of Emerson.