Work

Beware of gas compressor designs with sub-atmospheric suction pressures

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Electrification of the chemical industry has become a popular topic in recent years with green electricity from wind and solar sources claimed to become more abundant. An important component of this technology is the use of vapor recompression in process units to substitute electricity, driving compressors, for larger amounts of thermal energy. Vapor recompression in distillation columns has become more widely studied. Gas compressor design principles recommend avoiding low suction pressures because of the strong effect of suction pressure on compressor capital cost. This paper presents a recently published example of when this wisdom is not applied, resulting in a design with unrealistic compressor capital costs.

Source: Chemical Engineering Science

DOI: 10.1016/j.ces.2025.122831

Author: William L. Luyben

Institution: Lehigh University

Language: English

Topic: Process Optimization and Integration

Subfield: Control and Systems Engineering

Field: Engineering

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDG: Affordable and clean energy

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $4,050