The scope of this project can be broken down into three distinct sub-projects. One is focused on reducing the amplitude of the compressor's vibrations by at least 50%, while running at capacity. The second sub-project is characterizing the thermosyphoning cooling system which is utilized when an electric pump-driven system is not desired. To achieve this we must update the current instrumentation in place and output a design tool, which will allow Dresser-Rand to input parameters for varying compressor types and environments. The third sub-project falls under the category of health monitoring. The piston's rider rings in a reciprocating compressor are a teflon wearable component. The wear must be monitored, so metal on metal contact does not occur in the cylinder. By sensing the position of the horizontal connecting rod that goes from the crankshaft rod to the piston, we will be able to monitor its health without putting sensors in the high pressure compression chamber.

Below are previous senior design projects that have been performed on the Dresser-Rand compressor.

P11452 installed for the compressor system which incorporated ten 1000lb LORD dampers to dampen the vibrations that the floor would encounter due to the basement beneath the test cell. While the floor vibrations were minimized, the longitudinal motion is still very notable.

P11452 designed an electric driven pump coolant system to circulate coolant through the water jackets around the cylinder.

P12452 redesigned the coolant system to eliminate the need for the electric pump. They accomplished this by designing a thermosyphoning system that uses the thermodynamic properties of water and convective energy flow to replace the need for the electric coolant pump, thus reducing the need for an electrical hook-up for the compressor system.

P12452 designed and fabricated a vibration dampening system. Their system relied on shock absorbers mounted to the floor through two bulkheads to dissipate the kinetic energy. The floor mounts were approved by a professional engineer. P12452 attempted to use automotive shock absorbers and electro-magnetic dampeners to reduce the vibration but the dampening was not sufficient. .

Project Name

Reciprocating Compressor Subsystem Instrumentation and Characterization

Project Number

P13452

Project Family

*

Start Term

AY2012-2

End Term

AY2012-3

Faculty Guide

Bill Nowak, William.nowak@xerox.com, 585.422.4822

Primary Customer

Jason R. Kolodziej, jrkeme@rit.edu, 585.475.4313

Sponsor (financial support) :

James Sorokes, jsorokes@dresser-rand.com

Scott Delmotte, sdelmotte@dresser-rand.com

Photo Gallery

Planning & Execution

Systems Design

Detailed Design

Project Review

Weekly Minutes

Build, Test, Document

Final Presentation

MSDII Poster

Technical Paper

Thermal Fluid Model

Overall Weekly Minutes

Lessons Learned