Development of Hydrocarbon Gas Compressor With Integral Motor and Foil Bearing

Abstract Turbo compressors are important equipment in oil & gas industry. Despite of advantages in size and efficiency, turbo compressors could not be widely applied for small capacity compressions due to high equipment cost and difficulties in highspeed rotor system design compared with reciprocating and screw compressors. By incorporating technologies developed from other disciplines of industry, simplified and efficient turbo compressor solutions have been derived, which may lower the capacity limit of centrifugal compressors and extend to traditional reciprocating compressor range. In addition, explosion protection technologies required for the hydrocarbon gas compressor design have been developed through studies and investigations on relevant industrial regulations. In this paper, hydrocarbon gas compressor design, tests, and applications are introduced. The compressors have been tested with several gases for oil and gas industry and refrigeration systems. Through tests with flammable hydrocarbon gases, soundness of foil bearing with high-speed integral motor and compliance in hazardous area applications have been demonstrated. Contrary to most traditional gas compressors, no gas is leaked to the atmosphere from the rotating shaft and coupling due to gas-tight design. The compressor can be used for natural gas compression, propane and natural gas liquefaction, and hydrocarbon base refrigeration systems, and it would contribute to the industry with less material and less polluting to the environment.