REVERSE ROTATION IN CO2 COMPRESSOR

Author
Prem Baboo
Sr. Manager (Prod)
National Fertilizers Ltd., Vijaipur, India

Reverse rotation phenomenon in CO2 Compressors during stopping of turbine was

observed in 1997. In our unit Vijaipur unit CO2 Compressors were installed for four
streams of urea plant namely (11, 21, 31, and 41). CO2 Compressors are of BHEL (India)
design. Urea line-I plant (11, 21 streams) were commissioned in 1987 whereas line-II
urea (31, 41 streams) were commissioned in 1997. Reverse rotation is an unwanted
phenomenon as it is always associated with severe radial vibration and axial
displacement of the rotor which may lead to damage of the bearings and rubbing of
seals with the stationary components. This article describes how the reverse rotation of
CO2 compressor trains provided in line-II urea plants at Vijaipur was diagnosed by the
analysis of post trip data picked up by Data recorder event Manager in house approach
to find the solution.
Description of CO2 Compressor Urea Plant
Both the Urea line-I & Line-II plants CO2 compressor were supplied by BHEL,
Hyderabad, India. Line I Compressor turbine operating pressure are 40 ata and that of
line-II turbine 100 ata steam pressure. The CO2 supplied by Ammonia plant at the
pressure of 0.55 kg/cm2.The compressor having four stages. The low pressure casing is
horizontally split having two stages 1st discharge at 5.5 kg/cm2, Temperature 1900C and
2nd discharge 22.5 kg/cm2, Temperature 1850C the high pressure casing is barrel type,
the speed of high pressure side is stepped up from 8400 to 12600 rpm by a speed
increasing gear. The pressure of third discharge is 88 kg/cm2 Temperature 1800C and
that of final discharge is 162 kg/cm2 and final discharge temperature is 1150C, Flow
diagram as shown in the figure- 1, and Lube oil circuit for compressor train as shown in
figure-2.
The speed of the steam turbine is controlled by an electronic governor (Woodward,
505E).in line-II where as urea line-I there is no electronic governor. The antisurge
control system is supplied by Compressor Control Corporation (CCC) U.S.A. which
operates the control valve (Antisurge valve HV-62) to recycle gas from 4th discharge to
1st section. In addition to this, there are following recycle valves and vent valves to keep
each stage out of surge limit at different speed and pressure ratio:
1. Manual recycle valve from 1st discharge to 1st suction.
2. Manual vent valve at 1st discharge.
3. Recycle control valve from 2nd discharge to 1st suction (HV-63).
4. Vent control valve at 2nd discharge (HV-61).
5. Vent control valve at 4th discharge (PV-3).

An emergency shutdown system trips the machine in case of any abnormality with
simultaneous opening of the vent control valve at 2nd stage discharge (HV-61) and
recycle control valve connecting 4th stage discharge and 1st stage suction (HV-62).

Fig-1
Reverse rotation was observed in 31/41 Unit CO2 Compressors. Following were
observations:
1. During stopping it was observed that in 8-10 seconds time speed comes down
and then it again increases to around 2900 rpm. Then after 20-150 seconds the
speed comes down to minimum.
2. It had been physically observed that shaft rotates in reverse rotation as observed
from turbine rear side.
3. The Chart of rpm Vs Time as shown in the fig-3

Fig-2

Reason for reverse rotation in CO2 Compressor and their harms

When centrifugal compressor tripped the higher pressure existing at the discharge side
of the centrifugal compressor is allowed to overcome the lower pressure that is always
present at the suction side of the compressor. This is a situation that is possible of
reverse flow some plants reported reverse rotation phenomena in CO2 centrifugal
compressor. Reverse rotation is an unwanted phenomenon in a centrifugal machine as
it is always associated with severe radial vibration and axial displacement which may
lead to damage of the bearings and rubbing of seals with the stationary components.
Bearing failure is a definite possibility Seals were not rated for this rotational speed.
Internal compressor components may become dislodged. High possibility of damaging
vibration at just reverse position. Coupling is rated for the rotational speed as long as
the train does not become energized. Rotor over speed can cause overstressing in
bearing (journal/thrust) causing fits to loosen or parts to even be thrown low damped
critical speeds not normally of interest in rotor analysis may cause damage during
runaway event. Seals this case has packing less boxes Throttle sleeve pushed off the fit
and welded to throat Throttle sleeve thrust rings.
1. Standard face seals may be adversely affected by over speed.
2. Pumping rings may be rotation sensitive.

9000
8000

REVERSE ROTATION OF CO2 COMPRESSOR

RPM Vs Time

8250

7000

RPM

6000
5000
4000
3000

2908

2000
1000
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
110
120
130
140
150
160
170
180

Time in Sec
Fig-3
Compressor internals
1. Slow roll in either direction can damage wear parts.
2. Reverse flow creates internal differential pressures that were not considered in the
compressor design. Sleeves and wear parts can be displaced.
High runaway rotational speed
1. Balance issues.
2. Impeller stresses can be exceeded.

To safeguard against reverse rotation in CO2 Compressors following changes have

been affected.
1. During shutdown Antis urge valve (HV-62) provided from 4th discharge to 1st
suction opens and also 2nd Stage vent (HV-61) provided from 2nd discharge to
atmosphere opens. In addition to these HV-63 provided from 2nd discharge to 1st
suction logic is changed and now this opens through solenoid during tripping.
Further the timing of opening of HV-61 has been decreased. This change has
been done in 21/31/41 units.
2. In addition to above in 21 unit CO2 Compressor, the final discharge vent (PV-3)
logic changed to open it during tripping of machine.
It was being observed that these machines rotate in reverse direction as & when these
were tripped or emergency shutdown was taken at full load. Matter was brought in the
notice of M/s BHEL. All the four compressors suction is interconnected via
interconnection between CO2 line from Ammonia to Urea Plants
Matter had been studied in-house and experience shared with other Indian Urea
manufactures. In the process, it had come to be known that reverse rotation of CO2

compressors under similar conditions had also been observed at IFFCO, Aonla &
Phulpur plants, whereas similar phenomenon is not observed at NFCL, Kakinada(AP)
and BACL, Shahjahanpur(U.P.) During reverse rotation, shaft of the machine has been
physically observed to rotate in reverse direction (as observed from turbine rear side).
The rise & fall of inter stage pressures as observed and recorded does not indicate
malfunctioning of any control valve or NRV in interconnecting pipeline of Low pressure
Casing (MCL) & high pressure Casing (BCL).
As per the original trip interlock, various loading/vent valves provided in the surge
protection system of the compressor used to operate in following manner:

With the implementation of above changes improvement was observed in speed charts
in 31/41 units range of speed has come down. In our CO2 Compressors NRV is installed
in between low pressure side (MCL) and high pressure side (BCL). Also a final stage
discharge knock out drum (MV-8) with upstream / downstream NRV is provided just
before the entry point of CO2 into the urea reactor. From CO2 Compressors platform
final discharge line to MV-8 length is around 100 meters.

AFTER MODIFICATIONS RPM Vs Time

8250

RPM

9000
8000
7000
6000
5000
4000
3000
2000
1000
0

Time in Sec
Fig-4

The efforts however have been able to prevent reverse rotation of 31/41TK-1/K-1.
It is with this intent to prevent reverse rotation in 31/41 CO2 compressors that we
attract your kind attention to this problem.

Conclusion
A simple modification of the trip interlock to include the post trip opening of second
discharge recycle control valve permitted the recycle of high pressure gas to save the
whole train from rotating in reverse direction. The total net effect of the above
modification was in the form of drastic reduction in reverse gas flow torque on the LP
rotor immediately after trip due to sudden increase in first suction pressure together
with simultaneous increase in quantity of gas released from second stage discharge.
Although the gas reversal through the third stage remained Unchanged, the reverse
torque generated on the whole train due to reversal of gas through MCL and BCL
combined together substantially reduced due to reduction of gas reversal through MCL.
As a result, at any point of time during coast down, the residual forward torque of the
whole train due to inertia of rotation in the forward direction prevailed over the reverse
torque created due to reversal of gas through both BCL & MCL and the resultant
forward torque forced the rotor train to continue rotation in forward direction.

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