LectureThis paper describes experimental testing of a Rotating Centrifugal Separator (RCS) integrated within the casing of a centrifugal compressor. This unique combination of rotary gasliquid separation and centrifugal compression technologies represents a new class of turbomachinery and leads to increased system compactness by eliminating the need for large external gravity based separation/scrubbing vessels often used on traditional compressor trains. The OEM’s closed-loop, multiphase flow test facility was used for measuring aero/thermodynamic and liquid separation performance of the system. The test loop utilized inert gas as the vapor phase component and a commercially available, stabilized liquid hydrocarbon based solvent as the liquid phase component. The phase of the test program discussed in the paper extends the separation performance data previously obtained for the RCS stage to more challenging separation conditions. The paper also discusses the application of this technology in two production type machines, and illustrates the intimate relationship that can exist between the processing side and the rotating equipment side of the oil and gas business
