(89a) Reducing Risk through Improved Compressor Control Design and Simulation

This session will focus on how process control and compressor train control systems interaction can cause the overall system to be unstable and increase the risk of compressor surge. Integration of antisurge control and process control can improve the protection of both the compressor and process. An overview of proper antisurge control system design, including instrumentation and piping will be given along with surge detection methods and how it ties into the antisurge control and safety systems. In addition, control methods for load-sharing and load-balancing between parallel refrigeration compressors will be discussed. With today’s more complex compressor train configurations such as split shaft units, common shaft units and parallel units, more complex simulation scenarios are needed than just the traditional compressor train trip and startup scenarios. In addition, the compressor control system along with process control system needs to be accurately model otherwise incorrect conclusions can be made which lead to difficulties during commissioning and potentially throughout operation.