Physical modelling of industrial multistage centrifugal compressors for monitoring and simulation

Abstract

Currently, industrial applications to monitoring, simulation and optimization of compressors employ empirical models that are either data-driven or based on the manufacturer performance maps. This paper proposes the use of one-dimensional aerodynamic models for industrial applications such as simulation and monitoring. The physical model establishes causality relationships among input and output variables that are tuned to match the real compressor by using operation data. The application of the method is shown using data from an industrial multistage centrifugal compressor with interstage coolers and variable inlet guide vanes. This is a more complex but more relevant case study for process industry, as opposed to the single-stage variable speed compressors, which is the common example in the literature.