The Design, Selection, and Application of Oil-Injected Screw Compressors for Fuel Gas Service

Abstract

Fuel gas compressors installed in cogeneration systems must be highly reliable and efficient machines, like the other main components, such as gas turbines, gas engines, etc. In the range of gas flow rate and pressure conditions generally required for such systems, the oil-injected screw compressor is often the most suitable compressor type for these requirements. Advantages of oil injected screw compressors are: improved compression efficiency; low discharge gas temperature; high reliability; simple mechanical construction; which all result from injection of lubricant into the compressor. Injected lubricant is discharged together with compressed gas on the high-pressure side but the oil is separated by a fine oil separation system down to a level that causes no problems for the downstream combustion equipment. The oil-injected screw compressor is equipped with an integral stepless capacity control by means of a slide valve, which makes part-load operation possible with reduced power consumption and improves overall system efficiency. As cogeneration systems, which are energy efficient and environmentally sound, are now increasing in number, so oil-injected screw compressors are expected to be used more widely.