Compressor Thermodynamics

Methods and Alternatives

Background
Calculating Volume, SI
The basic equation is =
Where
Z=Compression factor, (no units)
T=Absolute Temperature
R=0.083145, m3 bar/(mol K) (Volume Units)
P=Absolute pressure, bar
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General Energy Balance

Work
Mixture @ Pi,Ti

Output Fluid @ Po,To

Process

Heat
1st Law DH=Q+W/e
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General Energy Balance

Work=??

Process

Pi= 35 bar
Ti= 30 oC

Po= 110 bar

To= ??

Efficiency = 80%

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Calculating Discharge Conditions:

Ideal Gas Single Phase
Step 1

Note Inlet Pi, Ti

Calculate Volume (Vi), and Cp, Cv and k=Cp/Cv

Estimate To

Step 2

Estimate Ideal Work

Step 3

1 = 8.3145 /

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Example: First Calculating Mol Wt

=

Component
Water
H2S
CO2
N2
Methane
Ethane
Propane
i-Butane
n-Butane
i-Pentane
n-Pentane
Benzene
Toluene
e-Benzene
o-Xylene
m-Xylene
p-Xylene
Hexane
Heptane
Octane
Nonane
Decane

Feed
mol%
0.00
0.00
0.95
8.85
78.96
7.75
2.51
0.30
0.49
0.08
0.07
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.02
0.01
0.00
0.00
0.00
100.00

Component MW Zi*mwi

mw
84.40
92.60
105.20
117.70
171.50

Density
kg/m3
670
734
760
781
800

18.02
34.08
28.01
44.01
16.04
30.07
44.10
58.12
58.12
72.15
72.15
78.11
92.14
106.17
106.17
106.17
106.17
84.40
92.60
105.20
117.70
171.50
Stream MW, S

0.00
0.00
26.61
389.56
1266.70
233.11
110.78
17.35
28.50
5.84
5.07
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
1.70
1.08
0.47
0.14
0.05
20.87

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Calculating Ideal Gas Version

Step 1

efficiency
Pi
Zi

Step 2

bar
-

Vi
m /kmol
Po
bar
Ideal Work

0.80

mw

kg/kmol

35.00
0.95

Ti
Hi

C
J/mol

0.76
110.00
178.4

19.64
60.00
10516.77

k=Cpi/Cvi To
C

1.33
169.35
info

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Compressor Modeling
L
The Polytropic Analysis of Centrifugal Compressors
John M. Schultz, Trans. Of the ASME, ASME J. of Engineering for Power, Jan 1962 pp 69-82
The real-gas equations of polytropic analysis are derived in terms of compressibility functions X and Y which
supplement the familiar compressibility factor, Z. A polytropic head factor, f, is introduced to adjust test results
for deviations from perfect-gas behavior. Functions X and Y are generalized and plotted for gases in
corresponding states.
The thermodynamic design and test evaluation of centrifugal compressors is frequently based upon a
polytropic analysis employing perfect-gas relations. In many instances real-gas relations would be more
accurate, but these are virtually unknown. The purpose of this paper is to derive the real-gas equations of
polytropic analysis and to show their application to centrifugal compressor testing and design.

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The problem in 1962

Needed a convenient model for the fluid

Little General Access to Process Simulation Tools

Limitations in Equations of State Methods
BWR 1940, complex solution
RK 1949, limited application to mixtures
NGA 1958, Equilibrium Ratio Data for Computers

Needed an alternative which could be handled using a slide rule

Ie: Simple log-log relationships
Utilize Corresponding States Models

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Classic Algorithm
Flange to Flange
Inputs
Efficiency
Composition

Feed at
P,T

Outputs

Flash at
Pi,Ti

Hi,Si,ri,CPi,Cvi
V/F

Isentropic
Flash at Po

Hos,Sos,Tos

Ho=Hi+(Hos-His)/h

Isenthalpic
Flash at Po

Ho,So,To,W
V/F
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Schultz Algorithm: Wheel by Wheel

Inputs
Efficiency
Composition

Feed at
P,T

Outputs

Flash at
Pi,Ti

Hi,Si,Vi,CPi,Cvi
V/F,X,Y,n,m,

Calculate
To,Po,Vo

To

Done

Ho,So,To,W

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Compressor Modeling
Classic Compressor Algorithm: Polytropic
=

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Schultz shortcut: Linearization

hp= polytropic efficiency

h =
=

1 Z-Factor Charts
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Schultz Calculation Strategy:

Single Phase
Step 1

Note Inlet e, Pi, Ti

Calculate Volume (Vi), k= (Cp/Cv)
Estimate Outlet Temperature, To

Step 2

Estimate Average Pressure,

Step 3

+
2

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Example: Continue from Previous

Step 1

efficiency
Pi
Zi
Vi

Step 2
Step3

bar
-

0.80

mw

kg/kmol

35.00
0.95

Ti
Hi

C
J/mol

m /kmol
0.76
Pbar from Geometric Mean

Po
bar
Ideal Work
Pbar
bar

110.00
178.4
62.05

19.64
60.00
10516.77

k=Cpi/Cvi Pbar from Arithmetic Mean

To

1.33
169.35

info
Pbar

bar

72.50

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Schultz Calculation Strategy:

Single Phase
Estimate Average Temperature,

Step 4

+
2

Estimate Average Heat Capacity Ratio,

Step 5

+2, +
4

Estimate

Step 6

1 ,

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Next Steps: Same Example

Look at effect of averaging models

Pbar from Geometric Mean

Step 4
Step 5

Step 6

Pbar from Arithmetic Mean

Tbar
C
ko
ktbar,pbar kbar
-

114.68
1.30
1.31
1.32

ktbar,pbar kbar
-

dv/dt

m /kmol/bar

0.0016

dv/dt

m /kmol/bar

0.0014

T/V
Xbar

K*kmol/ m

770.23
0.22

T/V
Xbar

K*kmol/ m

902.98
0.25

1.33
1.32

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Schultz Calculation Strategy:

Single Phase
Estimate

Step 7

Estimate

Step 8

1
+

1+ 2

Estimate

Step 9

1+

1 1
+

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More Steps

Pbar from Geometric Mean

Step 7

dv/dp

m /kmol/K
bar*kmol/ m

Step 8
Step 9

P/V
Ybar
mbar
nbar

Pbar from Arithmetic Mean

-0.01

dv/dp

m /kmol/K

123.23
1.02
0.24
1.38

P/V
Ybar
mbar
nbar

bar*kmol/ m
-

-0.01
168.80
1.02
0.24
1.38

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Schultz Calculation Strategy:

Single Phase
Estimate To

Step 10

Estimate Vo

Step 11

Verify n from EOS

Step 12

ln

ln

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Closing Up First Iteration

Pbar from Geometric Mean

Pbar from Arithmetic Mean

Step 10

To

166.18

Step 11
Step 12

Vo calc
Zo EOS

m /kmol
-

0.33
0.99

m /kmol
-

0.33
0.99

Vo Eos
nbar

m /kmol
-

0.33
1.38

m /kmol
-

0.33
1.37

Previous Estimate

To

164.56

169.35
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Schultz Calculation Strategy:

Single Phase
Step 13

Compare n-values
Adjust To estimate or subdivide steps and return to step 4

Estimate Work

Step 14

Step 15

Done

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End of First Iteration

Both Schultz
Relations

Pbar from Geometric Mean

Step 13
Step 14

New To
Work
Work
Ho
Work

C
kJ/kg
kJ/kg
J/mol
kJ/kg

166.18
226.72
226.72
14942.93
225.38

Pbar from Arithmetic Mean

Work
Work
Ho

Classic

C
kJ/kg
kJ/kg
J/mol
kJ/kg

164.56
226.18
226.18
14857.41
221.03

Difference between Classic work and Predicted work is

related to effect of efficiency on Schultz temperature model

Slight difference between relations

Iterate Further to Close
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Next Iteration
Pbar from Geometric Mean

Step 2
Step 3

Po
Pbar

Step 4
Step 5

110.00
62.05

To
Pbar

Tbar
C
ko
ktbar,pbar kbar
-

112.68
1.31
1.32
1.32

ktbar,pbar kbar
-

dv/dt

m /kmol/bar

0.0016

dv/dt

m /kmol/bar

0.0014

T/V
Xbar

K*kmol/ m

771.12
0.23

T/V
Xbar

K*kmol/ m

904.17
0.26

Step 7

dv/dp

m /kmol/K

-0.01

dv/dp

m /kmol/K

-0.01

bar*kmol/ m

124.01
1.02
0.24
1.38

P/V
Ybar
mbar
nbar

bar*kmol/ m

Step 8
Step 9

P/V
Ybar
mbar
nbar

Step 10

To

Step 11
Step 12

Vo calc
Zo EOS

m /kmol
-

0.33
0.99

m /kmol
-

0.33
0.99

Vo Eos
nbar

m /kmol
-

0.33
1.38

m /kmol
-

0.33
1.37

New To
Work
Work
Ho
Work

C
kJ/kg
kJ/kg
J/mol
kJ/kg

Step 6

Step 13
Step 14

bar
bar

Pbar from Arithmetic Mean

166.46

166.46
226.81
226.81
14958.04
226.15

Previous Estimate

C
bar

165.37
72.50

1.33
1.33

Work
Work
Ho

C
kJ/kg
kJ/kg
J/mol
kJ/kg

To

169.90
1.02
0.24
1.39
164.81

164.81
226.27
226.27
14870.88
221.71

165.37
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After 3 Iterations (Direct Substitution)

Pbar from Geometric Mean

Step 2
Step 3

Po
Pbar

Step 4
Step 5

110.00
62.05

To
Pbar

Tbar
C
ko
ktbar,pbar kbar
-

112.82
1.31
1.32
1.32

ktbar,pbar kbar
-

dv/dt

m /kmol/bar

0.0016

dv/dt

m /kmol/bar

0.0014

T/V
Xbar

K*kmol/ m

771.06
0.23

T/V
Xbar

K*kmol/ m

904.09
0.26

Step 7

dv/dp

m /kmol/K

-0.01

dv/dp

m /kmol/K

-0.01

bar*kmol/ m

123.96
1.02
0.24
1.38

P/V
Ybar
mbar
nbar

bar*kmol/ m

Step 8
Step 9

P/V
Ybar
mbar
nbar

Step 10

To

Step 11
Step 12

Vo calc
Zo EOS

m /kmol
-

0.33
0.99

m /kmol
-

0.33
0.99

Vo Eos
nbar

m /kmol
-

0.33
1.38

m /kmol
-

0.33
1.37

New To
Work
Work
Ho
Work

C
kJ/kg
kJ/kg
J/mol
kJ/kg

Step 6

Step 13
Step 14

bar
bar

Pbar from Arithmetic Mean

166.44

166.44
226.81
226.81
14957.01
226.10

C
bar

1.33
1.33

Work
Work
Ho

165.64
72.50

C
kJ/kg
kJ/kg
J/mol
kJ/kg

169.82
1.02
0.24
1.39
164.80

164.80
226.26
226.26
14869.96
221.67
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Converged
Pbar from Geometric Mean

Step 13
Step 14

New To
Work
Work
Ho
Work

C
kJ/kg
kJ/kg
J/mol
kJ/kg

166.44
226.81
226.81
14957.07
226.10

Pbar from Arithmetic Mean

Work
Work
Ho

C
kJ/kg
kJ/kg
J/mol
kJ/kg

164.80
226.26
226.26
14870.01
221.67

Rigorous Model
To=164.1oC
W=219.7kJ/kg

Arithmetic mean seems to agree better

with rigorous model, but all are within
modeling accuracy.
Note that enthalpy match is important for
process simulators
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If I Integrate Through the Compressor

Choose 7 wheels

Inlet T
o
C
1
2
3
4
5
6
7

60.00
73.76
87.92
102.48
117.43
132.77
148.49

Inlet P
bar
35.00
41.22
48.55
57.19
67.35
79.33
93.43

Discharge P Discharge T
o
C
bar
41.22
73.8
48.55
87.9
57.19
102.5
67.35
117.4
79.33
132.8
93.43
148.5
110.00
164.5

Gas Rate
m3/d
31.5
27.9
24.7
21.9
19.5
17.3
15.4

Gas
Compressibility Gas Density Gas Mol Wt
Z
Tf c ,Pf c
Tf c ,Pf c
0.95
26.11
19.64
0.96
29.47
19.64
0.96
33.24
19.64
0.96
37.49
19.64
0.97
42.24
19.64
0.97
47.56
19.64
0.98
53.49
19.64

Gas Cp/Cv
Tf c ,Pf c
1.33
1.33
1.32
1.32
1.32
1.32
1.31
Sum=

Enthalpy
Change
27.28
28.60
29.97
31.42
32.94
34.55
36.18
220.95

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