(48d) A Novel Approach to Large C3 Compressor Configuration

As C3 Refrigeration (C3R) demands grow due to increasing plant capacities and the heavier feedstock weights in modern ethylene crackers, there is a corresponding need for compressors with greater power and volume flow rates. Traditionally, this demand has been met with increasingly larger single-body compressors. However, recent projects have surpassed the capacity limits of single-body compressors, necessitating a new configuration approach. This paper explores an alternative design involving a dual-flow low-pressure compressor with sideloads, coupled with a multi-section high-pressure compressor. The paper examines industry trends in C3R demands, comparing the performance, efficiency, lead time, and maintainability of large single-body C3 compressors against a two-body configuration with smaller frames. Key advantages of the two-body configuration, such as reduced lead times, enhanced operational efficiency, and simplified maintenance, are highlighted