PROFESSIONAL COURSE IN ENGLISH

“PROCESS TECHNOLOGY. EQUIPMENT AND SYSTEMS”

Unit 1. Introduction to Process Equipment

Research Associate, Candidate of Engineering Sciences

Belinskaya Nataliya Segeevna

2019
Outline

1. Driven Equipment
 Pumps and compressors
2. Stationary Equipment
 Piping
 Storage Tanks
 Valves

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Introduction

The chemical processing industry is composed of refineries

and plants for petrochemical, paper, power generation, and
food processing.
Process technicians
 inspect and maintain equipment
 place and remove equipment from service
 control documentation
 respond to emergencies
 Troubleshoot system problems
Process technicians must have a thorough understanding of
equipment and systems.

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Introduction

Equipment can be classified as

 rotary equipment
 stationary equipment
Rotary equipment
Pumps transfer liquids from place to place.
Compressors are designed to accelerate or compress gases.
Stationary equipment
Tanks and pipes are stationary equipment designed to store
and contain fluids.
Valves are devices used to control the flow of fluids.

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1. Rotary equipment

1.1. Pumps and compressors

Figure 1. Classification of pumps

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1. Rotary equipment

1.1.1. Positive Displacement Pumps

Positive displacement pumps displace a specific volume of
fluid on each stroke or rotation and can be classified as
 rotary pumps
 reciprocating pumps
Rotary pumps displace fluids by means of rotating screws,
gears, vanes, or lobes.
Reciprocating pumps move fluids by drawing them into a
chamber on the intake stroke and displacing them by means
of a piston, diaphragm, or plunger on the discharge stroke.
Reciprocating pumps are characterized by a back-and-forth
motion.

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1. Rotary equipment

1.1.2. Centrifugal Pumps

Centrifugal pumps are devices that move fluids by centrifugal
force.
Centrifugal force is the force exerted by a rotating object
away from its center of rotation.
The primary principle involves spinning the fluid in a circular
motion that propels it outward and into a discharge chute
known as a volute.

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1. Rotary equipment

1.1.3. Dynamic Compressors

Dynamic compressors operate by accelerating gas and
converting kinetic energy (the energy of movement) to
pressure.
Dynamic compressors are classified as
 centrifugal compressors
 Axial compressors
Centrifugal compressors use the principles of centrifugal force. Gases are
drawn into a suction eye, accelerated in the impeller, and discharged out
the volute. Gases move in a rotary motion from the center of the
compressor to the discharge outlet.
Axial compressors do not use centrifugal force to increase gas velocity.
Air is moved axially along the shaft.

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2. Stationary equipment

2.1. Piping
Industrial piping comes in a variety of shapes, designs, and
metals to safely contain and transport chemicals.
The engineering designer carefully selects the types of
materials that are compatible with the chemicals and
operational conditions.
Piping can be composed of stainless steel, carbon steel, iron,
plastic, or specialty metals.
The various types of fittings include
couplings, unions, elbows, tees,
nipples, plugs, caps, and bushings.

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2. Stationary equipment

Figure 2. Pipe Fittings

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2. Stationary equipment

2.2. Storage Tanks

The chemical processing industry uses tanks, drums, bins,
and spheres to store chemicals.
The materials used in these designs include carbon steel,
stainless steel, iron, specialty metals, and plastic.

Figure 3. Storage tanks

a) a dome roof tank b) a horizontal cylindrical vessel

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2. Stationary equipment

Figure 4. Various tank designs

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2. Stationary equipment

Process technicians often inspect the equipment using the

following methods: listen, touch, look smell.

 An experienced technician can identify a problem by

listening for abnormal sounds and vibrations.
 Touching the equipment allows a technician to identify
unusual heat patterns.
 Visually inspecting tank and sump levels allows a
technician to look at and determine corrective action.
 An odor might indicate a leakage problem.

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2. Stationary equipment

2.3. Valves
Valves are used to stop, start, restrict (throttle), or direct the
flow of fluids.
A globe valve places a
movable metal disc in the
path of a process flow.
Ball valves take their
name from the ball-
shaped, movable element
in the center of the valve.
A gate valve places a
movable gate in the path
of a process flow in a
Figure 5. Valves
pipeline.

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Revision

1. What is the difference between rotary and stationary

equipment?
2. What is the purpose of pumps and compressors?
3. Name the primary difference between a pump and a
compressor.
4. What is the purpose of tanks?
5. Give some examples of storage tank designs.
6. Describe the function of industrial valves.
7. Name types of valves.
8. List four methods process technicians use to inspect
equipment.

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