Dear Sir/ Madam
I have reciprocating compressor Dresser-Rand
- 2 stages
- Double acting
- Gas: atmospheric air
- Design press ratio 1st stage 1 : 3.4
- Design press ratio 2nd stage 3 : 9.2
A months ago discharge temperature at 1st stage is 131 C (measure with thermogun in discharge lane). It's happen for years. There is a spacer that is added between cylinder and outer head to increase volume so and decrease compression ratio, but it seems give no effect.
The suspect of high discharge temperature at 1st is:
1. Fouling at jacket cooling water
2. High compression ratio
I want to know, What possibly the cause of high compression ratio?
Last month there is noise in 1st stage. So, 1 suction valve is removed (without blank), and the noise is gone for a while. Currently, 1st stage running as single acting mode but the 2nd stage run as double acting mode. The flow may be become one-half but it'is no problem. And because of this operating condition, the high discharge temperature problem is gone, the discharge temperature at 1st stage is about 82 C now.
My concern is, What will possibly happen in long term to the recip comp (to the parts, driver, etc) that operated in that operating condition (with 1 suction valve removed)?
Thanks and regards
Roland