Dear Forum members,
Currently I have involved in a project and we have centrifugal compressors(integral geared type).
When I look at the whole compressor system, I could find the compressor's suction and discharge shutdown valves operated automatically by logics and those will be closed whenever the coimpressor is tripped at any reason. The thing is this configuration is typical ang general practice and I never had any doubt on this.
However, I recently found that some compressor system hasn't got these shutdown valves(this compressor is also integral geared compressor) and I came to think if these valves are really necessary.
Are those valves are really necessary?
What are beneficial of those shutdown valves to the system and compressor itself?
Somethig came into my mind are as following;
1) When there is seal failure, by isolating the compressor system, seal leakage can be minimized.
2) When there is fire, by isolating the system, depressuring can be done and/or feeding the fire can be avoided.
Are there any other reasons for the compressor system to have suction and discharge shutdown valves?
And importantly, what if we don't have those valves, what kind of adverse impacts on compressor or process system will there be?
Thanks in advance.