Session: 37-02 Radial Turbomachinery Design

Paper Number: 153975

High Temperature Multistage Centrifugal Compressor Design Challenges 

In the framework of climate change, a more environmentally sustainable approach for energy production is required; this call to action towards a zero emission and zero waste future is declined into energy transition path. To reach this goal, Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM) are increasingly investing in technologies to operate in segments like waste heat recovery system and power technology plant with inherent carbon capture.

Centrifugal compressors already play an historical role in some of Carbon Capture Utilization and Storage (CCUS) applications, however in recent years an increasing interest in technologies related to CO₂ Capture and CO₂ Utilization segments is registered. CO₂ capture segment is mainly linked to combustion processes, which may be coupled to multiple technologies that allow to prevent CO₂ emission to environment. Some examples of these methods are Hot Potassium Carbonate, which enables to chemically strip CO₂ from flue gas, and oxyfuel combustion, where CO₂ is the main component of the exhaust gas. Both of these two methodologies require centrifugal compressors in their cycles, adding a new technical challenge with their higher operating temperatures compared to standard centrifugal compressors applications. In addition to this, also waste heat recovery is subjected to similar critical temperatures for the centrifugal compressors working downstream heat pumps for process heating and district heating.

Working with higher temperatures (higher than 270°C) brings to the table new technical challenges for centrifugal compressors design, which result in new mechanical configuration features.

High temperature issues are related to components temperature design limit (such as sealing systems) and thermal expansion, which is critical for clearance sizing and impellers shrink fit connection.

In order to overcome these challenges, new features are presented in this paper; the proposed solutions are related to material selection and thermal barrier design, clearance optimization and usage of elastic elements, optimized impellers dressing and operability validation.  

This paper presents how these design variations are validated with ad hoc secondary flow design and thermomechanical analysis, leveraging methodologies and component features from steam and gas turbines.

Presenting Author: Alice Foschini Baker Hughes

Presenting Author Biography: Mechanical Design Engineer working for new energy transition product development.
Holds a MSc in Mechanical Engineering from Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna.
Working in Baker Hughes for three years in Centrifugal compressors R&D team, focusing on machine design configuration, mechanical and termomechanical analysis.

Authors:

Alice Foschini Baker Hughes
Rossella Freschi Baker Hughes
Dario Matina Baker Hughes
Ernani Fulvio Bellobuono Baker Hughes