The Dresser-Rand DATUM line of centrifugal compressors sets the standard for modular design and high-efficiency performance. As a direct result of their serviceability, these compressors have reduced downtime and lowered life cycle costs. More than 1,000 DATUM units have been sold to clients in more than 40 countries for virtually every type of critical gas compression application.
Building on the successful experience of the DATUM line of compressors, Dresser-Rand developed a new compression concept—the DATUM integrated compression system (ICS). The compression system includes gas/liquid centrifugal separation technology incorporated on the compressor rotor to provide an efficient, compact solution to compression system design. The DATUM ICS system is designed for onshore, offshore and subsea applications.
Versatile and Efficient
Features of the DATUM ICS system include the high-efficiency DATUM centrifugal compressor technology (a DATUM I compressor); Dresser-Rand’s proprietary centrifugal separation technology; a high-speed, close-coupled, gas-cooled electric motor; robust, fault-tolerant, magnetic bearing-supported rotor system; dedicated unit controls; process coolers, valves, instrumentation and interconnecting piping—all packaged in a compact module design. Conventional drivers and oil lubricated bearings can also be used for applications that do not require an oil-free, hermetically sealed compression train.
The DATUM ICS system is a complete compression system that can be applied to all markets—upstream, midstream and downstream—with a small footprint, reduced weight and at the lowest total cost. The Dresser-Rand approach to compact compression could result in typically 50 percent less space and 50 percent less weight when compared to traditional compression modules.
Each DATUM ICS can be factory-tested with wet gas and provided as a fully assembled module(s). As a result, installation and start-up times are reduced and production could begin sooner than otherwise possible with traditional modules.
Configuration Flexibility
The DATUM ICS is a product platform, where several technologies are used as building blocks to tailor the resulting compression solution to the specific needs of the client, allowing Dresser-Rand to optimize the solution. Main family member designations are DATUM C compressor, DATUM I compressor and the DATUM ICS.
The integrated separator technology and the resulting compact process equipment packaging benefits can be applied to seal-less, oil-free, hermetically sealed compression trains or to more conventional compression systems using dry gas seals and oil lubricated bearings. This makes the ICS solution independent of the type of driver selected for the compression application.
Advanced Technology
The DATUM ICS system provides an efficient and compact method of gas-liquid separation that uses enhanced inertial forces to separate the liquids from the gas in a multi-phase stream. The separation process protects the compression flow path from potential damage due to liquids and reduces the fouling potential. In addition, oil and gas operators benefit from the overall size and weight reduction of production facilities, platforms and subsea modules because of the smaller footprint of the DATUM ICS.
Uniquely Suited for Subsea
The DATUM ICS separator / compression system product development follows industry standards supporting technology qualification programs which readies the product for intended applications. The same features that provide value for topside applications are enhanced in a subsea environment. For hermetically sealed applications, in addition to protecting the compressor, the centrifugal separator provides the motor and magnetic bearing cooling system with cleaner and dryer gas when compared to other solutions employing raw process gas as a cooling medium. With higher system reliability and extended intervention intervals, associated operating costs are reduced.
Technological advantages
Improved Efficiencies
Depending on application requirements and configuration, DATUM compressors often operate at efficiencies that are two to five percent greater than competitive turbomachinery, thereby reducing fuel consumption or increasing throughput per installed horsepower. In addition, the improved aerodynamic design and larger shaft diameter enable DATUM compressors to handle greater flows and pressure ratios than standard designs for a given frame size. In some cases, a single DATUM compressor can deliver pressure ratios that previously required multiple bodies.
Reduced Emissions
The superior efficiency of the DATUM compressor reduces driver fuel consumption, which can result in a decrease in harmful CO2 and NOX emissions—more important than ever as environmental regulations tighten. D-R is committed to addressing critical environmental concerns while continuing to improve operational efficiencies. Incorporating D-R dry gas seals further reduces emissions by eliminating the need for processing sour seal oil.
Reduced Noise
The most significant development in our efforts to design quieter machines has been the introduction of D-R duct resonator arrays. This patented feature can be designed into new equipment and revamps, including other brands of equipment.
Extensive testing on D-R duct resonator arrays was performed at our test facility in Olean, New York. The results demonstrated that the overall noise level of a 60 PDI (axial inlet single-stage overhung pipeline booster) compressor could be reduced by 10 dB with no adverse effect on compressor performance. In some instances, field noise level reductions have been measured in excess of 20 dB for PDI compressors and 10 dB and higher in multi-stage DATUM compressors. D-R duct resonator arrays have been used in more than 300 DATUM compressors to date.
Easier, Faster Maintenance
Even a single lost day of production can translate into losses of hundreds of thousands of dollars, so we made easy maintenance a priority throughout the design process. One way we dramatically reduced maintenance time was by combining the rotor, diaphragms and other stationary flow path components, bearings, seals, and instrumentation—almost everything but the casing—into a module. This module can be completely preassembled outside of the casing (in the controlled environmental conditions of a shop, for example), then installed as a complete assembly. Critical dimensions, fits and clearances can be checked much more easily. By storing a spare module on site, turnaround times can be reduced to a few hours.
Standardization
To improve reliability and reduce cost, we standardized DATUM compressor components wherever possible, maximizing the use of proven designs. The DATUM line consists of 15 standard frame sizes that are scaled from the median size frame. The impellers, diaphragms, inlets, volutes, and shafts are all directly scaled; the bearings and seals are not directly scaled, in order to take advantage of outside vendors’ standard sizes. Further standardization was achieved by using the same internal components in both the radially split and axially split versions.
DATUM centrifugal compressors are available for discharge pressures ranging up to more than 15,000 psig (1,000 bar), maximum flow rates from 5,400 cfm (9,200 m3/h) to 700,000 cfm (1,200,000 m3/h), and power ratings to more than 120,000 bhp (90 MW).