ARIEL UPS TRAINING TEACHING THE FUTURE MIRATECH’S BEAST

NEW LEARNING CENTER HIGH DEMAND FOR GRADS NEW CATALYST VIA MERGER

JULY 2018
A KHL Group publication

Panama CanaLNG:
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A New (Common) Sight

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JULY 2018

ARIEL UPS TRAINING TEACHING THE FUTURE MIRATECH’S BEAST

NEW LEARNING CENTER HIGH DEMAND FOR GRADS NEW CATALYST VIA MERGER

JULY 2018
A KHL Group publication

COMPRESSORtech2 is the premier resource for gas compression news and information.

LNG Technology
14 A New (Common) Sight
On The Waterway

Panama CanaLNG: Partners In Training

BSCR
UBS IBE
CRIB

A New (Common) Sight

M/ SU
/S

22 Demand Rising
2C
CH2.
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CO

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RTE
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NEA’S STRATEGY 2020
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22 Training Programs
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32 Ariel Levels Up Training Space

COMPRESSORtech2 (ISSN 1085-2468) Volume

23, No. 6 — Published 10 issues/year (January-
Company Outlook
February, March, April, May, June, July, August- 20 NEA Forecasts Diversified,
September, October, November, December) by Digital Future
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Product Focus 36
www.compressortech2.com 46 Miratech Rolls Out The Beast

Follow @COMPRESSORtech2 on: Departments

44
6 The LNG Cometh
9 The Ups And Downs
Of Tree Sitting
11 Gas Lines
12 Events & Meetings
43 Prime Movers 36
MEMBER OF … 47 Scheduled Downtime
47 Marketplace
50 Cornerstones of Compression
– The White Hat Specials

46
COMPRESSORtech2 JULY 2018 5
 EDITORIAL
PUBLICATION STAFF
comment FROM THE EDITOR
Publisher:
Associate Publisher ................... Mark Thayer
Michael J. Brezonick
Senior Editor ................................... DJ Slater
[email protected]
Senior Editor ................. Michael J. Brezonick
Tel: +1 262-754-4112
Associate Editor ........................... Klinton Silvey
Cell: +1 262-366-9452
Associate Editor ............................... Jack Burke
Senior Editor:
The LNG Cometh
Associate Editor ............................Chad Elmore
DJ Slater
Copy Editor ............................... Jerry Karpowicz
[email protected]
Digital Publishing Manager ........... Paul Damon
Senior Editor:

T
Advertising Manager .................. Katie Bivens here’s no going back. The LNG floodgates have burst open and everyone
Jack Burke
Circulation Manager ...................... Sue Smith
[email protected] seems to be getting into the mix.
Graphic Artist ...........................Brenda Burbach The United States, Russia and Australia added a combined 3.4 Bcfd
PRODUCTION
Graphic Artist .................................Carla Lemke
Production & Circulation Director: (96.2 X 106 m3/d) of LNG capacity via five new liquefaction trains, according to
Graphic Artist ............................... Alyssa Loope
Saara Rootes the U.S. Energy Information Administration. LNG is also coming out of Malaysia
PUBLICATION HEADQUARTERS
[email protected] thanks to Petronas’ floating liquefied natural gas (PFLNG) Satu vessel. Canada,
20855 Watertown
Production Manager Road, - KHL SuiteGroup: 220
RossWaukesha,
Dickson Wisconsin 53186-1873 Russia and East Africa also are looking to enter the fray, according to IHS Markit,
[email protected]
Tel: (262) 754-4100 Fax: (262) 754-4175 an analytics company that serves multiple industries.
Production Manager - KHL Americas: The thirst for this resource comes west of the United States, specifically Japan
CONTRIBUTING EDITORS
Brenda Burbach
Norm Shade – Cambridge, Ohio and Asia. Those suppliers appear plentiful, and with the expanded Panama
[email protected]
Mauro Belo Schneider – Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil Canal, countries like the United States can now send LNG tankers through
Design Manager:
Patrick Crow – Austin, Texas
Jeff Gilbert the locks.
HOUSTON, USA The United States took advantage of the Panamanian gateway. Last year, the
CIRCULATION
Mark Thayer, Associate Publisher
Subscriptions: United States exported 14.7 million tons of LNG, with 6.9 million tons passing
Tel: +1 (281) 890-5287
[email protected] through the Panama Canal, according to IHS Markit.
9597 Jones Road #924
Circulation & Data Manager:
Houston, TX 77065-4818
Helen Knight
The United States doesn’t look like it will be slowing down anytime soon.
[email protected]
GERMANY According to the EIA, U.S. exports of natural gas, including LNG, were up 8% in
Office Manager: Advertising Manager
Lisa Hochkofler, the first quarter of 2018 compared to the same period last year. Exports averaged
May HydeTel: +49 711 5062 4982 9.6 Bcfd (0.27 X 109 m3/d) in the first quarter this year or 0.7 Bcfd (19.8 X 106
[email protected]
Gabriele Dinsel, Advertising Manager
m3/d) more than the same time frame in 2017, and 3.8 Bcfd (0.10 X 109 m3/d)
SALES Tel: +49 711 3416 7471
more than the first quarter of 2016.
Vice President, Sales
Niemöllerstr. 9
Alister 73760
Williams Ostfildern, Germany Demand is also poised to remain strong. In 2017, global LNG imports reached
Tel: +1 843 637 4127 289.8 million tons, increasing by 9.9% (or 26.2 million tons) compared to 2016.
UNITED KINGDOM
Cell: +1 312-860-6775
Ian Cameron, Regional Manager/Editor It’s the strongest growth rate since 2010, according to a new annual report from
[email protected]
Linda
Katie Cameron, Advertising Manager
Bivens the International Group of Liquefied Natural Gas Importers (GIIGNL).
Regional Tel: +44
Sales 20 31 79 29 79
Manager What I wonder is how all of this will play out in the years to come. The United
40 Premier Avenue
Tel: +1 262-754-4130 States won’t be reclaiming its import status anytime soon (if ever again) for LNG.
Cell: +1 262-327-4899
Ashbourne, Derbyshire,
[email protected]
DE6 1LH, United Kingdom But with all these suppliers coming online now and in the near future, will the
Gabriele Dinsel United States be able to retain its share of the LNG pie?
ITALY
Regional Sales Manager The Panama Canal helps, but will it be able to handle the increasing supply
Roberta Prandi, Regional Manager/Editor
Tel: +49 711 3416 74 71
Tel: +39 0464 014421
[email protected]
of LNG through its locks? The immediate term could cause
Linda Cameron Via Cerere 18 problems, especially when LNG takes up a small
Regional Sales38062 Arco, Italy
Manager percentage of its overall vessel traffic. Would the
Tel: +44 20 31 79 29 79
SWEDEN Panama Canal Authority sacrifice some of its prime
[email protected]
Bo Svensson, Field Editor/Business Manager
vessel traffic to accommodate more LNG tankers?
Tel: +46EXECUTIVE
CHIEF 70 2405369 Fax: +46 122 14787
OFFICER
James King
Dunderbacksvagen 20
It’s clear they’re taking the matter seriously as talks
of another expansion are already taking place. No
CHIEF 612-46 Finspong, Sweden
FINANCIAL OFFICER
Paul Baker JAPAN matter how this breaks, there is an absolute. More
Akiyoshi Ojima,
PRESIDENT Branch
& CHIEF Manager
OPERATING LNG is coming. Where it all goes and how it gets there
Tel: +81
OFFICER 45 624 3502 Fax: +81 45 624 3503 is the mystery.
51-16-301
Trevor Honmoku Sannotani, Naka-ku
Pease Get your popcorn ready. CT2
Yokohama, 231-0824 Japan

KOREA
D. S. Chai, Sales Manager
Dongmyung Communications Inc.
Tel: +82 2 391 4254 Fax: +82 2 391 4255
KHL GROUP AMERICAS LLC
82 Pyeongchangmunhwa-ro, Jongno-gu DJ Slater
3726 E. Ember Glow Way,
Seoul, 03011 Korea
Phoenix, AZ 85050 USA senior editor
KHL GROUP AMERICAS LL
e-mail: [email protected] [email protected]
President & CEO .................... Michael J. Osenga
Executive Vice President ....Michael J. Brezonick
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Monitoring Government

The Ups and Downs

of Tree Sitting
Federal courts asked to resolve
Appalachian pipeline disputes

BY PATRICK CROW
pponents of Mountain Valley Pipeline (MVP) took and sometimes blatantly misleading.”

O their objections to new heights this spring.

In a few locations, tree sitters obstructed MVP’s
efforts to clear the right-of-way for a 303 mile (487 km)
In Giles County, West Virginia, objectors erected a pole
in the middle of a gravel road in Jefferson National Forest.
A platform was attached 30 ft. (9.1 m) high and a woman
pipeline from northern West Virginia to a connection with took occupancy – all to prevent construction vehicles from
Transcontinental Gas Pipeline in southern Virginia. using the road.
The US$3.5-billion-plus project, which is due completion Cheerleaders for the unidentified woman dubbed her
later this year, would move 2 Bcfd (56.6 x 106 m3/d) of “Nutty,” supposedly because her pod reminded them of a
Marcellus and Utica shale gas. The 42 in. (1 m) diameter large nut in a tree. Of course, there could have been other
pipeline would require three West Virginia compressor reasons.
stations totaling 171,600 hp (128 MW).
MVP had obtained full legal rights to begin clearing the Lots Of Lawsuits
pipeline route across national forest and private lands. Apart from the tree sitters, federal courts have received a
Some of its most vocal opponents had lost lawsuits half-dozen lawsuits involving MVP, most of them smelling
challenging MVP’s exercise of eminent domain. of sour grapes. The lawsuits questioned government
At various times, perhaps eight people built and occupied decisions about impacts on streams, the crossing of forest
platforms in trees that were due to be cut on the right-of- lands, the temporary closure of a road, the use of eminent
way. All but two of them declined to give their names. Some domain, and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
wore masks. (FERC) finding that the pipeline was in the public interest.
The most publicized of the “tree huggers” were a mother Pipeline objectors complain that they face a regulatory
and daughter who lived for a month atop separate trees on conundrum: The Natural Gas Act prohibits lawsuits from
family property in Roanoke County, Virgina. being filed in federal court challenging FERC’s approval of
Teresa “Red” Terry, 61, and her daughter Minor Terry, a pipeline until the agency has time to consider requests for
30, finally abandoned their arboreal abodes after U.S. a rehearing.
Dist. Judge Elizabeth Dillon threatened them with fines Since FERC allows pipelines to proceed with construction
of US$1000/day. Judge Dillon ordered Teresa Terry’s while it reviews rehearing requests, opponents say “the
husband, Cole Terry III, to pay US$2000 for sustaining their damage could be done” by the time rehearings are denied
demonstration. and lawsuits can be filed.
Their civil disobedience cost much more than that. MVP Although FERC approved a record 2739 miles (4408 km)
lawyers told the judge that the Terrys’ protest had cost of interstate pipelines last year, it is not unsympathetic to
the pipeline more than US$40,000. Also, law enforcement public complaints. It has observed “increased concerns”
agencies spent nearly US$84,000 to maintain order. of landowners and communities affected by proposed
In a separate case, Judge Dillon fined landowners Ian projects.
and Carolyn Reilly US$1000 each for supporting, or at The commission currently is reconsidering its
least abetting, anonymous tree sitters on their property pipeline certification procedure, with an emphasis on
in Franklin County, Virginia. The judge said the Reillys’ landowner concerns and the justification for projects
testimony about the activity had been “purposefully evasive (CompressorTech2, January-February 2018, p. 6).
FERC may find it difficult to allow third parties more
Patrick Crow is an Austin, Texas, writer and a former COMPRESSORtech2 opportunity to challenge proposed pipelines earlier in the
editor. He has reported for oil and gas publications since 1967 and has process. It also is under a mandate to expedite its system,
written extensively about energy issues before Congress, federal agencies thanks to a directive form President Donald Trump. CT2
and the courts.

COMPRESSORtech2 JULY 2018 9

Gas Lines
Baker Hughes Rig Count
Egypt Boosting Natural Gas Production
1400
In Hopes Of Exporting Again 1200
he latest report on Egypt from the U.S. Energy Information 1000

T Administration (EIA) notes that although the country

became a net importer of natural gas in 2015, substantial
natural gas discoveries may potentially boost production and
800
600
400
allow Egypt to become a net exporter again in the medium term. 200
The Egyptian government has fast-tracked the development of 0
the Zohr and Atoll fields and the West Nile Delta (WND) project. May-16 May-17 May-18
Discovered in August 2015 and labeled as the largest offshore North America International
natural gas field in the Mediterranean, the Zohr gas field has an Source: Baker Hughes

estimated reserve of 30 Tcf (849.5 X 109 m3) and is currently

producing 0.4 Bcfd (11.3 X 106 m3/d).
Henry Hub Natural Gas
Natural gas production began in 2017 and peak plateau
Spot Price (US$/MMBtu)
production is estimated at 2.7 Bcfd (76.5 X 106 m3/d) and
is expected to be reached by the end of 2019. Natural gas $5.00
production at the Atoll field also began in February 2018 and is
currently producing 0.35 Bcfd (9.9 X 106 m3/d) of natural gas and $4.00

10,000 b/d of condensate. Developed as two separate projects

$3.00
to speed up development, the WND project started producing
natural gas in March 2017; the two projects are expected to be $2.00
fully online in 2019, producing close to 1.5 Bcfd (42.5 X 106 m3/d)
to feed into Egypt’s national electricity grid. The government $1.00
hopes the new discoveries will allow the country to resume natural May-16 May-17 May-18
gas exports. CT2 Source: EIA

Brent Crude Oil Price

(US$/Barrel)

$80.00

$70.00

$60.00

$50.00

$40.00
May-16 May-17 May-18
Source: EIA

US Natural Gas Storage (Bcf)

5000

4000

3000

2000

1000

0
January December
2018 Five-Year High Five-Year Low
Source: EIA
Graphics: Egypt Natural Gas Production, consumption

COMPRESSORtech2 JULY 2018 11

 Don’t replace.

Events & Meetings

Boldface indicates shows and conferences in which COMPRESSORtech2 is participating

JUNE July 30-Aug. 1 Sept. 18-20

June 25–29 SGA Operating Conference Turbomachinery and Pump
World Gas Conference Tampa, Florida Symposium
Washington D.C. +1 (972) 620-8505 Houston, Texas
+44 20 7978 0019 southerngas.org +1 (979) 845-7417
wgc2018.com
tps.tamu.edu
SEPTEMBER
June 26–28
Sept. 11-13 Sept. 18–20
Sensor + Test
Nürnberg, Germany
Southwest Energy Institute Gas Compressor Short Course
+49 (0) 5033 9639-0 Short Course Industry Training University of Oklahoma
sensor-test.de Liberal, Kansas +1 (405) 325-0673
+1 (620) 417-1170 pacs.ou.edu/gas-compressor
June 26-28 swenergyinstitute.org
Sensors Expo & Conference Sept. 18–20
San Jose, California Sept. 12–14 Power-Gen Asia
+1 (617) 219-8300 EFRC Jakarta, Indonesia
sensorsexpo.com
Madrid, Spain +1 (918) 831-9160
recip.org asiapowerweek.com
JULY
July 2-5
Sept. 17–20 Sept. 30–Oct. 3
Nigeria Oil & Gas Conference &
Exhibition Gastech Exhibition & Conference Gas Machinery Conference
Abuja, Nigeria Barcelona, Spain Kansas City, Missouri
+44 20 7978 0083 +44 (0) 203 615 5914 +1 (972) 620-4026
cwcnog.com gastechevent.com gmrc.org

12 JULY 2018 COMPRESSORtech2

Rebuild.
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gives you the ability to fully rebuild spark plug leads in the field.
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FYUFOTJPOTGPSUIF$BUFSQJMMBSBOEFOHJOFT NVMUJQMF %JTUSJCVUPS³TJOWFOUPSZPSZPVSPXO
XJSFTUZMFT BSBOHFPGQSJNBSZBOETFDPOEBSZDPOOFDUJPOT BOE 5IJTTZTUFNPGGFSTBDDFTTJCJMJUZ SFMJBCJMJUZ BOEUIFQFSGPSNBODF
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Find a distributor near you at www.altronic-llc.com

For a complete listing of upcoming events, please visit our website at www.compressortech2.com/events/

OCTOBER DECEMBER +1 (620) 417-1170

Oct. 23-24 Dec. 4-6 swenergyinstitute.org
Black Sea Oil & Gas Power-Gen International
Bucharest, Romania Orlando, Florida March 13-15
+44 845 868 8234 +1-888-299-8016 Australasian Oil & Gas Exhibition &
globuc.com/blackseaoilgas power-gen.com Conference
Perth, Australia
Oct. 28–30 2019 +61 3 9261 4500
Syngas Technologies Conference aogexpo.com.au
Colorado Springs, Colorado FEBRUARY
+1 (703) 276-0110 Feb. 11-13 March 19-22
globalsyngas.org Egypt Petroleum Show GCA Expo & Conference
Cairo, Egypt Galveston, Texas
NOVEMBER +971 4 445 3781 +1 (972) 518-0019
Nov. 12–15 egyps.com gascompressor.org
ADIPEC
Abu Dhabi, U.A.E. Feb. 25-28 March 26-28
+971 2 444 4909 Laurance Reid Gas Conditioning International Petroleum
adipec.com Conference Technology Conference
Norman, Oklahoma Beijing, China
Nov. 14–16 +1 (405) 325-4414 +60 3 2182 3030
20th Korea Rotating Machinery https://pacs.ou.edu/lrgcc iptcnet.org
Symposium
Seoul, South Korea MARCH March 27-29
+82-2-579-6271 March 5-7 OMC 2019
krmea.or.kr/engmain/main.php Southwest Energy Institute Ravenna, Italy
+1 (918) 831-9160 Short Course Industry Training +39 0544 219418
asiapowerweek.com Liberal, Kansas omc2019.it

COMPRESSORtech2 JULY 2018 13

LNG Technology

■ As of March 2018, 134 LNG vessels have used the

Panama Canal in fiscal year 2018. The prior fiscal year
saw 163 LNG tankers pass through the locks.

Expanded
Panama Canal
accommodating
increasing LNG
vessel traffic

A New (Common) Sight On The Waterway

BY DJ SLATER
he Panama Canal Authority discussion, said Silvia de Marucci, Pass in Louisiana and Cove Point in

T didn’t have the United States

on its radar 17 years ago when
it began researching the feasibility of
the executive manager, economic
analysis and market research division,
Panama Canal Authority.
Maryland – with several more on the
horizon.
What once seemed like an
LNG tankers passing through its future “We decided to delete LNG from unexpected scenario has now become
expanded waterway. the forecast,” she said. “We didn’t the reality. The United States is primed
LNG and the United States weren’t include it because we thought that to be an energy exporter, with LNG
commonly used together back in 2001. traffic wouldn’t come. Maybe 10 as one of its primary resources and
At the time, the United States imported transits a year. We decided to have a the Panama Canal as its gateway to
the liquefied resource from Qatar conservative forecast for LNG through several energy hungry nations.
and other middle eastern countries. the new canal.” “I remember going to conferences
Trinidad and Tobago, as well as Peru, The LNG community knows what and people would laugh at the
were potential users, but the volumes happened next. The United States engineers and CEOs whenever they
weren’t large enough to warrant much unlocked its natural gas flow, which had a presentation about an LNG
in turn allowed the country to consider terminal (out of the U.S.) that they
dabbling in the LNG trade. Now, 17 were converting,” de Marucci said. “It
years later, the United States has two was so nice when they finally got their
operational LNG terminals – Sabine permits and they moved forward with
their project.
■ Panama Canal Authority associates “Nobody saw this coming,” she said.
pose with the LNG Sakura tanker as “I belong to a very very large group
it passes through the new locks. The of people who did not see the U.S.
authority has had as many as three LNG becoming a net exporter of gas until
vessels transit the locks in a day. recently.”

14 JULY 2018 COMPRESSORtech2

 LNG Technology

■ The new expanded

Panama Canal locks can
accommodate much larger vessels
(Neopanamax), including LNG tankers.
Photos by The Panama Canal Authority.

MODULAR
RELIABLE
EFFICIENT
■ The United In an economy where it is important to reduce operational
Importer to exporter States’ shift from costs, the ZVI unloader does so by reducing down time, reducing
The United States’ shift from LNG LNG importer to maintenance costs and improving efficiency. The ZVI piston-style
importer to exporter didn’t happen exporter is aided unloader valve can be used in all brands of compressors, at any
instantaneously. In fact, a common by the expanded
speed, for both lubricated and non-lubricated applications
fear in the early 2000s was a natural Panama Canal.
gas shortfall, a move that lead to the
construction of several LNG import
terminals, said Andres Rojas, a director
with IHS Markit, an analytics company
that serves multiple industries.
“The view was the U.S. would be
short on domestic gas and prices
would skyrocket,” Rojas said.
But the answer to the United States’ WWW.ZAHROOFVALVES.COM
continued on page 16 [email protected]
COMPRESSORtech2 +1 713.554.2678
LNG Technology

looming energy problem was beneath “In the mid-2000s, increasing shale
everyone’s feet the entire time. The gas production eventually caused
issue was extracting it, a problem that prices to drop,” Rojas said. “LNG
was soon solved by “The Father of imports weren’t needed anymore
Fracking” George Mitchell. To access outside of New England, but a few
the natural gas in the continent’s shale people had the idea to start exporting
formations, Mitchell merged horizontal LNG.”
drilling and fracking, a combination The shift had begun, one that put
that shifted the conversation from the United States on a firm path to ■ Container vessels make up 48%
energy crisis to energy boom. LNG exporter. Jumping to 2017, global of the expanded Panama Canal’s
traffic, with LNG traffic accounting
for 11% based on 2018 figures.
Photo by Jason Anderson.

Quality www.klsummit.com
LNG trade has increased to 38.2 Bcfd
Products (1.08 X 109 m3/d), a 10% increase from
2016 numbers, with the United States
You Can Trust and Australia accounting for three-
quarters (2.7 Bcfd [76.4 X 106 m3/d])
of that increased supply, according
to the U.S. Energy Information
Administration (EIA).
Collectively, the United States,
Australia and Russia added five new
liquefaction trains (combined 3.4
Bcfd [96.2 X 106 m3/d]). The Petronas
floating liquefied natural gas (PFLNG)
Satu vessel also started producing
LNG from Malaysia’s gas reserves
on Dec. 5, 2016. Based on last year’s
data, there are 19 LNG-exporting
countries and 40 LNG-importing
countries, the EIA said.
Asia was the top LNG importer in
2017, accounting for 74% or 2.6 Bcfd
(73.6 X 106 m3/d) of the increase. The
largest import market for LNG is Japan,
but China had the largest growth in
LNG imports globally, increasing its
intake by 1.5 Bcfd (42.5 X 106 m3/d)
or 46% from 2016 to 2017, according
to the EIA. China also overtook South
Protect your Equipment with Korea as the world’s second largest
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Klüber Lubrication NA LP
end of 2017,” said Matthew Shruhan,
800.749.5823 // [email protected] a senior LNG analyst at IHS Markit.

16 JULY 2018 COMPRESSORtech2

 LNG Technology

transiting the expanded canal for Gatun Lake.

almost two years, the Panama Canal These restrictions, however, were
Authority is still getting comfortable imposed for LNG vessels when the
processing these vessels through new locks opened in 2016, de Marucci
the locks. The authority has several said, adding that they will likely be
restrictions in place for LNG tankers, eased as the Panama Canal Authority
which include only allowing day time becomes more familiar with this type
transits and having a tugboat escort. of traffic.
LNG tankers also can’t pass other That comfort level seems to be
vessels in the Culebra Cut or dock in improving. At first, the Panama Canal
continued on page 18

Increasing LNG traffic

The surge of LNG imports in Asian
markets coupled with the United
States’ newfound export capabilities
worked out well for the Panama Canal
Authority, which opened the new locks
on June 26, 2016.
The first LNG vessel, the Maran Gas
Apollonia chartered by Shell, passed
through the expanded waterway
nearly a month later on July 25, 2016.
It was the first of 17 LNG tankers,
which totaled 550,000 tons, to make
the trek in the fiscal year of 2016. The
Panama Canal Authority compiles its
transit data in fiscal years, which run
from October 1 to September 30. For
example, fiscal year 2016 starts on
Oct. 1, 2015 and ends on Sept. 30,
2016.
LNG transits jumped to 163 in fiscal
year 2017, totaling 6.3 million tons.
Fiscal year 2018 is already on pace
to top those figures, with 134 LNG
vessels navigating the expanded
canal from October 2017 to March
2018, according to the Panama Canal
Authority.
The United States hasn’t been shy
about using the expanded canal for
its LNG exports. In 2017, the United
States exported 14.7 million tons of
LNG. Of that amount, 6.9 million tons
passed through the Panama Canal,
with 4.7 million tons going to Asia,
according to IHS Markit.
“The Panama Canal (with the
expansion) opens up the whole market
for U.S. LNG,” Rojas said.
While LNG tankers have been

COMPRESSORtech2 JULY 2018 17

LNG Technology

Authority only allowed one LNG vessel year 2017, 11,992 vessels used the
per day but have authorized as many Panama Canal. Of that amount, 163
as three in a day since that time, were LNG tankers or about 1.4% of
Rojas said. The expanded Panama the total traffic.
Canal averages 6.4 vessels per But LNG seems to be vying for
day, according to the Panama Canal its share of the transit pie. Based
Authority. on the most current fiscal year 2018
“This is still a new type of tanker for numbers, LNG makes up 11% of the
them,” Rojas said. “They are handling vessels that have used the expanded
this as carefully as they can.” locks from October 2017 to March
2018. When factoring in all of the
LNG’s place amongst the transits transits through the Panama Canal
Despite LNG vessels gaining a spot in in the same time period (7101), LNG
the Panama Canal Authority’s transit traffic makes up 1.9%.
logs, they only take up a small portion While those percentages are
of the canal’s traffic. Container ships small now, there is an abundance of Gibraltar, Philippines, Ghana and
are the primary users of the expanded liquefaction capacity coming online Bahrain. Bangladesh already joined
Panama Canal, making up 48% of the in the United States in the next few the importing pool in April 2018.
transits, de Marucci said. LPG vessels years, Shruhan said. Additionally, “Beyond what’s already existing
follow with 25%, while LNG tankers the EIA forecasts that six countries and under construction in the U.S.,
account for 11%. are expected to start importing LNG there are a lot of proposals vying to be
That’s only the vessels passing in the next two years, a move that part of the second wave of U.S. LNG,”
through the new locks. When factoring would add 2.1 Bcfd (59.4 X 106 Shruhan said. “It’s likely that their
in the original and expanded Panama m3/d) of new regasification import customers will want to use the canal
Canal locks, LNG transits make up capacity to the marketplace. Those for a portion of their sales, but how
an even smaller amount. In fiscal six countries are Panama, Russia, much at this point is uncertain.”
 LNG Technology

as three LNG vessels a day, but that The decision won’t take long if the
might not cut it in the future, Rojas demand is there for another expansion.
said. de Marucci, however, didn’t want to
“There’s a limited number of slots put an exact timetable on it as multiple
per day right now,” he said. “LNG is factors, not just market considerations,
competing against other tankers … must be reviewed before authorizing
and there’s a lot of LNG coming. another set of locks.
■ With more LNG “If those future volumes are heading While nothing is official yet, the
operations coming online, to Northeast Asia, more LNG transits Panama Canal Authority left plenty of
LNG traffic is expected to will need to be accommodated,” Rojas room on the west side of the Pacific
increase, especially through said. locks and on the east side of the
the expanded Panama Canal. de Marucci expects that the Panama Atlantic locks for the expansion.
Photo by Jason Anderson. Canal will see three to five LNG LNG traffic, however, continues
transits per day in the coming years, to increase, which could force the
possibly as early as 2020 or 2021. Panama Canal Authority to add more
Another expansion? Currently, about 90% of LNG transits LNG slots.
With an LNG-hungry world, especially come out of the United States to the One certainty, though, is the
in Asia, the big mystery is where will Asian markets, she said, with the other Panama Canal Authority won’t let
the United States’ LNG go. Logically, 10% going from Peru to Europe or the opportunity of accommodating
it would appear to be headed to Asia Trinidad and Tobago to Chile. increasing traffic pass by. The authority
and other soon-to-be LNG importers. The might work in the short term, saw the need for an expansion in the
But it’s not that simple, Shruhan said. but de Marucci and the Panama Canal early 2000s and it appears to be in a
“That’s the billion-dollar question,” Authority are already looking well into similar spot nearly two years into the
Shruhan said. “U.S. projects are the future – in the form of another opening of its new locks.
competing with others around the expansion. “We don’t rule out anything,” de
world, some of which are much closer “We are studying the possibility,” Marucci said. “We are always looking
to Asia.” she said. “We have requested a at ways to keep our position as a
The top four importers of LNG in long-term advance study and have preferred transit route and we always
2017 were Japan, China, South Korea been working with a consultant for six look to strengthen that position.” CT2
and India. Of those four, their top months.
suppliers west of the Panama Canal “We are looking at the opinion
included Australia, Malaysia, Qatar, of the market from an independent
Nigeria and Oman, according to data consultant,” de Marucci said. “We
from IHS Markit. Several other areas, want to know if there will be demand
such as Canada, Russia and East in the long term for a new set of locks.”
Africa, are also seeking to become
major LNG suppliers. ■ Panama Canal Authority associates
“U.S. LNG exports to Asia will review the Panama Canal’s lock and
increase as more projects come online, water-saving basin operations.
but the amount will depend on prices,
who the customers are and how many
new projects move forward,” Shruhan
said. “U.S. LNG is destination-flexible,
so companies can optimize their
portfolios and send cargoes to where
margins are highest.”
Competing with others suppliers
isn’t the only challenge for the United
States, however. The second comes
in the form of how many LNG vessels
can the Panama Canal accommodate
amongst its more popular cargo
carriers.
So far, the Panama Canal Authority
has found a way to process as many

COMPRESSORtech2 JULY 2018 19

Company Outlook

NEA Forecasts Diversified,

Digital Future
Alexander and Stefanie Peters, managing
partners of Neuman & Esser, discuss their
company, growth strategies, new challenges

BY ROBERTA PRANDI
euman & Esser in Aachen, The expansion of our two other

N Germany (NEA), is a privately

owned company since 1830,
when it was founded by Johann
divisions – Mechanical Processing
Technology and Sealing Technology
– are essential for our future as well.” ■ NEA’s production site at the
Leonhard Neuman. A year later, (see COMPRESSORtech2, May 2018, company’s headquarters in Übach-
brother-in-law Theodor Esser joined p. 39). Palenberg, Germany.
the company. In 1891, Oscar Peters
acquired the company, and the Peters Hofer’s Influence suitable for high-purity, explosive,
family – now in the fourth generation The NEA Group has 1050 employees toxic or expensive gases such as
– is still leading the company with in 11 countries worldwide, with hydrogen, helium, argon, ethylene
siblings Alexander and Stefanie 700 people based in four German fluorine, hydrogen sulphide, chlorine,
Peters as managing partners. production sites. Although the key monosilane or nitrogen trifluoride,”
Alexander Peters said the company activity for the group is gas compressor said Klaus Hoff, managing director
is on a path to internationalization technology, the company specializes of Andreas Hofer Hochdrücktechnik
along with the expansion of its core not only in the conventional oil & gas GmbH.
business: compressor technology. business, but also in process and He added: “Hofer is a specialist
“Our Strategy 2020 plan includes technical gases, such as hydrogen for in hydrogen compression and this
the extension of technological petrochemicals and refineries; oxygen; is a very promising market for the
leadership, profitable growth, quality mobile solutions with biogas, pipeline future, thanks to the increase from
in products and processes, and evacuation and seismic exploration; automotive applications. The smaller
cost savings via intelligent designs,” and CO2 including Carbon Capture hydrogen filling stations use hydraulic
Peters said. “One key pillar of our and Storage (CCS) solutions. compressors, but the bigger ones
strategy is digital technology, with the One of NEA’s significant integration utilize diaphgram compressors.
launch of a new business unit NEA-X. efforts came after the acquisition of “For even larger filling stations, we
Hofer in 2015, another family-owned have launched an hybrid compressor
German manufacturer of diaphgram concept, composed of a leakage-free
compressors for the abrasion-free diaphgram head on a conventional
compression of gases and gas gas-tight reciprocating crankcase by
mixtures and dry-running piston Neuman & Esser.”
compressors. As for digital technology, the new
“Our diaphgram compressors company NEA-X, founded in Aachen
operate leakage-free and are in July 2017, represents the foundation
for internal digital transformation, but
■ Alexander and Stefanie also offers digital services, such as
Peters, managing partners condition management and customer
of Neuman & Esser, platforms to third parties.
said their company Stefanie Peters, member of the
is moving toward board of NEA-X, explained that the
internationalization, company – independent from the rest
as well as expanding of the NEA Group – wants to position
its compressor itself as a condition management
technology consultant, highlighting the difference
business. from conventional suppliers of

20 JULY 2018 COMPRESSORtech2

 Company Outlook

emphasized by Alexander Peters smaller machines thus requiring

who estimates that the downstream more engineering efforts,” Peters
business in the oil & gas industry will said. “For the future, we expect more
drive future additional growth. But revamping business in Europe and a
positive signals come also from other positive outlook in Asia, in particular
applications: “The overall market in in South-East Asia, Korea, China
2017 has been positive if not brilliant, and India, which is doing quite well
thanks also to the contribution of in the refineries business. Forecasts
new applications. The previous are quite good for North America
years had seen a trend towards as well.” CT2

O P OF
condition monitoring systems. T !
“Our condition-based maintenance
strategy is founded on compressor
CLASS
technology, process know-how and
expertise in diagnosis and service,
something we believe only OEM
can reliably provide,“ she said. “Our
philosophy is centered on the work
of service technicians, who directy
take actions after measurements and
evaluations and take charge of the
efficiency of the whole process. Our
solution is meant to be as minimally
invasive as possible, while assuring
maximum level of effectiveness with
the final target of keeping downtimes
as short as possible.“

Digital Offerings
Thanks to the expertise of NEA with
a number of different technical gases,
the solutions of NEA X are available
for all types of gases, such as in oil &
gas applications, renewable energies,
mobility and more. #1 in Emissions Testing & Tuning
“The digital solutions from NEA-X
• Most dependable
are being implemented at NEA and
Portable Emission Analyzers
can be adapted to any specification of
thirs parties. It is a big challenge for a
Unmatched...
• Specifically for rich / lean burn
compressor manufacturer to go digital
as digitalization is not a common topic
inengines and applications
Emission Testing
• Longest calibration stability
in mechanical and plant engineering
• Best network / combustion
• Emission tuning
industries yet,“ Stefanie Peters said.
for training and support
“But we believe in its potential and • State and Federal compliance testing
think it is time for the big leap. With • TECsoft Software
• O2, CO, NOx, SO2, HC, H2S, CO2
NEA X we have the pragmatic solution for Compliance Reporting
provider in-house.“
According to NEA, the market Fi d out more at www.testo350.com
Find m
outlook looks promising, as

COMPRESSORtech2 JULY 2018 21

Partners In Training

Demand Rising for

Compression School Grads
Fewer students available in the
education pipeline
BY PATRICK CROW
lthough college-based alone program a couple years ago.

A compression training schools

are still feeling the pain of the
last gas industry downturn, they are
Geography appears to be a factor.
The community colleges that offer
compression training are localized.
bullish about the future. They draw students from nearby areas
Educators said compression and their graduates prefer nearby
companies are snapping up their new jobs. Low demand for compressor
graduates, yet there is concern about professionals in a region directly
declining enrollment in their programs. affects school enrollment.
Poor numbers forced two schools Another factor is that compression
to fold their compression programs, training schools ride the same boom-
while a third school put its program to and-bust cycle as the overall gas
declare a hiatus. industry with a long time delay.
Zane State College at Cambridge, The industry rebounded from the
Ohio, and Westmoreland County downturn of three years ago and its
Community College at Mount demand for compression professionals
Pleasant, Pennsylvania, ended seems to be growing. size in North America is greater than
their programs. Western Wyoming Major publicly traded companies, 10 million hp (7457 MW) today and
Community College at Rock in recent briefings for stockholders, expect approximately another 1 million
Springs, Wyoming, has indefinitely were ebullient about prospects for the hp (7.4 MW) will be added through
suspended its offerings. San Juan compression sector. 2018 and 2019.”
College at Farmington, New Mexico, CSI Compressco said, “We estimate Archrock said, “The Energy
discontinued compression as a stand- that the overall compression fleet Information Agency (EIA) is forecasting

Training Programs Atlas Copco

Atlas Copco Gas and Process
offers a variety of comprehensive
Partners In Training showcases colleges, companies and organizations training programs for turbomachinery
with compressor training programs that participate in our annual equipment users worldwide. The
Compression Technology Sourcing Supplement (CTSS). These programs training programs, dedicated
make the CTSS, the industry’s leading reference source for purchasers, to integrally-geared centrifugal
packagers and training providers, available as part of their course material. compressors, radial inflow
More information on the companies below and the colleges mentioned turboexpanders, non-geared
elsewhere in this issue can be found at ctssnet.net. centrifugal compressors, and positive
displacement compressors, are
Ariel Corp. available. Classroom courses focus
Ariel offers product training as a facilities in Australia, Canada, China, on specific disciplines to support
value-added service exclusively to Russia and the United Arab Emirates. management, planning, operations
Ariel industry partners and customers Ariel also offers remote training and maintenance. Training with live
worldwide who own, lease or courses throughout the U.S. at the demonstration is available at Atlas
service Ariel equipment. Training customer’s request. Training courses Copco locations. Also, training on
is conducted at Ariel’s new training are available online at arielcorp.com/ customer sites can be scheduled by
center in Mount Vernon, Ohio, and training. special request.

22 JULY 2018 COMPRESSORtech2

 Partners In Training

■ OSU Institute of Technology students

train and learn on equipment donated by
Targa Midstream Services and Spartan
Controls.

We think the future is extremely rosy

for the compression business due to
associated gas short term and then
dry gas intermediate and longer term
in the future.”
Those optimistic views have not yet
filtered down to mechanically inclined
high school graduates who are
weighing their career options.

New Pennsylvania
compression program
The Central Pennsylvania Institute
of Science and Technology (CPI)
has launched the first new college
gas compression program in several
years.
Located at the center of the state
in Pleasant Gap, CPI began offering
a two-year specialized technology
continued on page 26
that U.S. natural gas production will
be 7.5 Bcfd (212 x 106 m3/d) higher
in 2018 than it was in 2017, with
additional growth throughout at least
([SHULHQFH5HOLDELOLW\,QWHJULW\
2022.”
USA Compression said, “The drivers
for demand are all moving upward.

Borsig
Borsig offers a training program
that is specially designed for
customers’ operating and
maintenance staff. Courses include
safe operation and professional
maintenance of BORSIG ZM
compressors, introduction into
machine-specific features,
professional handling of particular
components and new technologies
and innovations.

Burckhardt Compression
Customized training from The AXH manufacturing complex consists of
Burckhardt is designed for six plants, totaling 559,100 SF on 67 acres.
newcomers to experienced
participants who want to learn
how to optimize the efficiency
)D[ZZZD[KFRP

COMPRESSORtech2 JULY 2018 23

Metallic Plates|Thermoplastics|Springs|Buttons|Poppets|Kits|Center Bolts|Pins|Lift Washers|O-Rings
 24
7hrs

days

www.kbdelta.com
800-632-3994
310-530-1539

Torrance, California USA

[email protected]
[email protected]
 Partners In Training

degree last year with an emphasis expected in the fall. totaled US$71,602.
on Caterpillar and Ariel equipment. “We’re finding that the employment In addition to its two-year Natural
The 95-credit hour Natural Gas market looks really good,” Taylor said. Gas Compression program, OSUIT’s
Compressor Technician Program School of Energy Technologies offers
provides an array of electrical, Oklahoma program still two-year programs in Pipeline Integrity
mechanical, process control and the largest and in Power Plant Technology. The
safety training. The Oklahoma State University pipeline course covers safety, damage
Cleveland Brothers Equipment Institute of Technology (OSUIT) and risk control, corrosion control,
Co. (the largest Cat dealer in operates the nation’s longest design and integrity management.
Pennsylvania), Ariel and other gas established and largest compression OSUIT has the largest compression
industry partners will review students’ program at Okmulgee, Oklahoma. training facilities of all the schools. A
academic performance at the end of Enrollment still reflects the industry dedicated center has five classrooms,
their first term. If they select a student downturn. Six students graduated this 17 equipment bays and a variety of
for pre-employment, the scholar could spring with an Associate of Applied machinery.
receive US$7500/year (US$15,000 Science (AAS) degree, compared to
total) in company sponsored tuition 20 a year ago.
reimbursements. The compression program had 35
The two companies will provide students following spring graduation.
students “externships” midway Six were due to graduate in August
through the program and possibly after completing their “capstone”
give them full time employment in summer internships, 19 more will
Pennsylvania or the northeastern U.S. begin internships next January and
after they graduate. the final 10 next summer.
CPI said its partnership with All six graduates this spring, like
Cleveland Brothers and Ariel ensures the 20 last year, were immediately
that its students “will always have the employed.
current technology available to use as “We’re in the nice position of having
training aids on the newest equipment companies waiting to hire all of our
industry has to offer.” graduates, Instructor Brad Smith said.
Todd Taylor, vice president of “We don’t have enough of them to
post-secondary education, said nine meet the demand.”
students were enrolled in the program Every OSUIT student was offered
during the spring term, with 16 a scholarship last spring. The grants

23 > and performance of reciprocating Elliott Group get the most from its engine control
compressors. In-house experts teach Elliott Group offers training programs products. A required, introductory
of the complete range of compressors on steam turbines, centrifugal and Engine Basics class provides
up to the maximum pressure of axial compressors, expanders, and participants with a strong base
50,763 psi (3500 bar). lube and seal systems. Our trainers while topic-specific classes include
are full-time instructors who are IntelliSpark Ignition Training; AFR
Dresser-Rand, knowledgeable, personable and Operations; and EICS Operations.
A Siemens Business engaging. We conduct training at our Training includes classroom and
Dresser-Rand, a Siemens Business, facilities, on-site at customer locations hands-on learning.
offers professional online and around the world and online. Backed
in-person training around the by over 100 years of turbomachinery Gas Compressor
world for a wide range of client experience, we pride ourselves Association Expo &
operations, maintenance and on building relationships with our Conference (GCA)
reliability engineering personnel. customers and customizing our The GCA, a professional trade
Training programs cover a range of training to meet their specific needs. organization dedicated to the
products including hot gas expanders, enrichment of its members and
centrifugal compressors, reciprocating FW Murphy the industry, hosts an annual
compressors, steam turbines and FW Murphy Production Controls education and network-based
related control systems. offers in-depth training to help users event in Galveston, Texas, each

26 JULY 2018 COMPRESSORtech2

 Partners In Training

Last year, Phillips 66 donated and engine. Training Center in Center, Texas.
US$50,000 to the School of Energy “The new equipment gives students The School of Energy has about
Technologies, plus a lifetime supply of another element to be trained on 120 students, down from 185 a year
lubricating oil and coolants. before they go out into the field,” said ago. Only one person graduated with a
Targa Midstream Services and Instructor Matt Salas. compression degree this spring.
Spartan Controls donated two Upon completion of a two-year
programmable logic controller panels Panola College adds program, students can receive an AAS
(PLCs) and the software to operate flexibility degree in Petroleum Technology. In
them, a gift valued at US$137,000. In eastern Texas, Panola College the second year, they can concentrate
One of the PLCs will be used as is also seeing strong demand for on gas compression.
a monitoring station to simulate the compression technicians. “This is a new wrinkle for us,” Hall
remote control of a pipeline station. David Hall, chairman of the said. “Now students can begin work
The other will be connected to an School of Energy, said a large West toward their oil and gas degree and
older model natural gas compressor Texas gas company recently visited then focus on compression in their
Panola seeking 10 to12 compression final year, graduating with a dual
mechanics for immediate openings. major.”
“Other companies are offering He predicted that about 15 to 20
to take our petroleum technology of the 120 students in the energy
graduates and train them to be program might shift to compression
compressor mechanics,” Hall said. during the next academic year.
“That’s a really positive sign. We’re Hall said oil and gas companies
back on the upsurge again.” have donated six compressors to
Panola’s main campus is at the college, four of which are used
Carthage, Texas, but the School of for teardowns and rebuilds. Panola
Energy is at the Shelby Regional has a five-year plan that calls for
continued on page 28
■ Central
Pennsylvania
Institute of Science
and Technology E8500 PLUS
(CPI) students
work on an Ariel Emissions Analyzer
compressor.
Now with VOC Sensor

spring. Attendees benefit from this conference by O , CO, NO, NO

participating in educational sessions, exploring new Total NOx
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in networking events. For more information, please visit:
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Up to 9 Gas Sensors
GE
GE’s Power Services Training offers a variety of training
solutions for gas, steam and aero product lines (heavy
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COMPRESSORtech2 JULY 2018 27

 Partners In Training

construction of a building to house the

School of Energy.

Cabot backs Lackawanna

College
At New Milford, Pennsylvania,
Lackawanna College is focused on
supplying technicians for companies
that are developing Marcellus shale
gas.
Gary Leber, an instructor in the
School of Petroleum and Natural Gas,
said, “Demand for graduates is pretty
good right now. The industry is really
looking for people with a two-year
degree. A minimum of 95% of our first-
year students are getting internships.”
The two-year AAS degree spring. Roughly 30 to 40% of those and student interactive experiences
program in Petroleum and Natural students are compression students and internships.
Gas Industrial Mechanics prepares and we are steadily increasing those “Cabot’s guidance, support, and
students to become compressor numbers each year,” the northeastern access to industry leaders have
station, pipeline or midstream Pennsylvania college said. enabled us to create a world-class
operations technicians. Courses Last spring, Cabot Oil & Gas Corp. program that prepares our graduates
teach them to monitor, maintain and completed the final tranche of its using state-of-the art equipment to
troubleshoot compressors, engines US$2.5 million endowment to the ensure that they are job ready and
or prime movers, pipelines and School of Petroleum & Natural Gas. fully qualified to meet the needs of the
dehydration facilities. The donation, first announced in industry,” said Lackawanna President
Lackawanna officials lacked exact 2014, is the largest in the history of Mark Volk.
numbers on enrollment in their Lackawanna College.
compression program. About US$1 million went for student Kansas School graduates
“Each year we bring in between programs and scholarships. The female technician
60 to 80 students total and we balance was used for equipment, In southwestern Kansas, the Seward
graduate about 45 students each training, staff and faculty development, County Community College Area

27 > well-trained facility personnel are be arranged at customers’ sites LMF

of utmost importance and GEA’s or at GEA facilities, though is it LMF’s customized training programs
programs are designed to provide recommended to conduct project- for plant engineers or service
attendees with the knowledge specific/system-specific training at technicians help to ensure optimal
needed to optimize the efficiency customers’ facilities. operation of customers’ plants.
and reliability of critical, compressor- Whether the training need is on an oil
based systems. Howden platform offshore, testing pipelines in
Introductory process refrigeration Focused on compressor Siberia or working on a refinery in the
and booster gas compression training maintenance, Howden’s training desert — they tailor the training to the
as well as customized, project- courses cover compressor technology specific application.
specific operational and maintenance and operation. Howden holds open
training for newly installed GEA generic courses on different types Man Diesel & Turbo
systems is available. Topics include of compressors on a yearly basis at PrimeServ Academies conducts
introduction to refrigeration, process each of its worldwide offices. Howden professional qualification courses
fluids, system operation (compressor will arrange bespoke courses where using full-scale machinery and
and components), control system, the duration, content and language of simulators. Participants are guided
design data/technical features of the training can be tailored to the needs through hands-on exercises in
main components, troubleshooting and preferences of the individual operation, maintenance and
and maintenance. Training may customer. troubleshooting.

28 JULY 2018 COMPRESSORtech2

 Partners In Training

Compression Technology program for compression courses, but not

awarded 10 graduates with one-year enough to schedule the classes,” said
certificates and two with AAS degrees. Joe Uriarte, associate professor of
About 16 current students will continue compression technology.
their studies in the fall, augmented by He said the Rocky Mountains region
new enrollees. “is still in the throes of the industry
Regional gas production, pipeline downturn.” Otherwise, he was at a
and service companies have helped loss to explain the declining interest in
■ CPI’s Seward County Community College gas compression education.
compression shape its program to best fit local “It could be because there are
program focuses employment needs. The companies fewer jobs now,” he said. “It could be
on Ariel-Caterpillar offer students internships at the end because applicants think there will be
combinations. of their studies for more hands-on few jobs by the time they graduate. It’s
compressor. experience. probably a bit of both.”
A key addition to the college’s The Rock Springs college has
training equipment this year was a three energy related programs that
large forklift to move engines and offer two-year AAS degrees and
Technical School has graduated compressors, some of which weigh up one-year certificates: Electrical and
another female compressor technician. to 15,000 lb (6800 kg). Instrumentation Technology, Oil and
Reyn Slatten received a two-year Gas Production Technology and
AAS degree and began work as an Wyoming College Natural Gas Compression Technology.
intern for a midstream pipeline. The suspends training Uriarte said that half a dozen
Liberal, Kansas, college graduated Western Wyoming Community College students graduated from the general
two other women from its compression cancelled its spring gas compression oil and gas program last May. About
program during the past seven years. offerings. as many are expected to apply in the
In May, the college’s Natural Gas “We had some students sign up fall.
continued on page 31
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 Partners In Training

A dozen students enrolled in the certificates in Lease Operations and (GCA) contributes to college gas
gas compression program when it was in Compressor Station Operations, compression programs with revenues
launched in 2007-2008. both of them focusing on technologies from its annual exposition and
used in the Appalachian Basin. Peak conference in Galveston, Texas.
Ohio College ends enrollment was 30 students four This year, GCA provided financial
compression courses years ago. support to five colleges: OSUIT,
Zane State College has deactivated its One student graduated from Panola, San Juan, Western Wyoming
compression training program. the program last December. Four and Zane State.
“The main issue was low enrollment graduated at the end of the spring Since 1992, the association has
in the program,” said Assistant semester – two from a dual oil and gas/ disbursed more than US$400,000
Professor Paul Pasley. “It wasn’t due compression technology program and to its college partners. Also, GCA
to the lack of effort to find candidates.” two from the oil and gas technology member companies have donated
Pasley said that oil and gas program. equipment, instructional support and
industry employment has been brisk Pasley has accepted a position on guidance.
in Ohio. “People were getting decent the engineering faculty at Marietta The association has encouraged
jobs without much training, so they College in southern Ohio. the colleges to adopt standardized
didn’t see the need to take formal compression and pipeline technology
courses.” Gas Compressor curriculums, based on best industry
The college’s Oil & Gas Engineering Association support practices and input from the midstream
Technology program offered one-year The Gas Compressor Association and upstream sectors. CT2

29 > Motortech and network with other customers to related to the design and development
Motortech’s current seminars offer exchange experiences. of fluid machinery. These include
know-how and realistic solutions for mathematical modeling, experimental
today’s challenges for professionals SwRI investigation of positive displacement
in the gas engine industry. Modules Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) screw compressors and expanders,
include Introduction into Gas Engine offers free, hour-long webinars on the design and analysis both of
Technologies; MIC – Ignition Control; various subjects, such as thermal screw machines and turbomachinery,
VariFuel2 Mixture Control; EmCon5; stress analysis, turbomachinery root energy systems and the utilization
Emission Control; Speed Control with cause failure analysis, transient surge of recovered waste heat. Some of
ITB Throttle Body Series; and All-in- analysis and torsional analyses. these courses form part of the formal
One CHP Gas Engine Control. The The webinars are offered on a bi- undergraduate and postgraduate
training system features a modular monthly basis, with being developed. studies, while others can be specially
structure. Courses are offered in the SwRI also holds short courses prepared to meet industrial needs.
Training Center in Celle, Germany on a fee basis at its headquarters The latter include short courses to last
and New Orleans, Louisiana or in- in San Antonio, Texas, several from a few days to several months, or
house at a customer site. They can times per year. The courses cover as part of full- or part-time master or
also be offered on an individual basis turbomachinery design, pulsations doctoral degree studies.
to cover specific learning needs. and vibrations in piping systems,
gas turbine and compressor training, Windrock Inc.
Neuman & Esser lateral and torsional rotordynamics, Windrock offers courses to meet the
NEAC Compressor Service and an annual oil and gas lecture needs of mechanics, operators and
offers reciprocating compressor series on various subjects. engineers at every level, from basic
training seminars for reciprocating instruction for beginners to advanced
compressors. The training sessions University Of London training for seasoned analysts.
can be held either in the NEAC Centre for Compressor Our instructors conducts classes
Training Center located at the Technology at the Windrock training center, at
Neuman & Esser headquarters The Centre for Compressor various U.S. locations or at customer
close to Aachen, Germany, or at Technology at City, University of locations. This year, Windrock has
the customer’s location. During the London, is part of its Thermo-Fluids begun hosting classes internationally.
open courses held at the Training Research Centre. Its activities include For a location near you, visit us at:
Center, the participants can interact training in a wide variety of topics www.windrock.com/training.

COMPRESSORtech2 JULY 2018 31

Partners In Training

Ariel Levels Up
Training Space
New training center features interactive
atrium, classrooms, labs
BY DJ SLATER
riel Corp. knew its former, ■ Students sit in one of Ariel’s 12
A 20-year-old training space
wasn’t going to cut it when its
ambitions grew well beyond helping
education and meetings rooms, which is
part of the Ariel’s new training center.

customers and employees become

better versed on its machinery.
That’s why the Mount Vernon,
Ohio-based compressor manufacturer
traded in its modest lab and conference
room for a dedicated training center
in the heart of its main campus. Ariel
broke ground on the facility in 2015
and opened its doors for training in
July 2017.
“The original training area was
established in the late 1990s,” said are always evolving to fit the needs of The Customer Training Lab also
Kent Dubbe, Ariel’s vice president of today’s workforce, Dubbe said. includes a fully assembled and
Human Resources and Organizational operational compression package.
Development. “We realized we had to Training Options The skid consists of an Ariel JGA
take training and development to the The Basic Product Training School two-throw compressor that processes
next level.” takes place quarterly for distributors nitrogen in a closed loop.
The new training center features and end users. It is designed for In the lab, instructors can program
12 A/V-equipped classrooms and customers new to the gas compression real-world faults into the compressor
meeting rooms, three training labs, a world, with instructors using audio and package to give students hands-on
large theater and an interactive atrium video technology. This course serves maintenance experience with issues
capable of accommodating more than as a prerequisite for the Mechanics they may encounter in the field.
600 people. It serves as a multi-use School, a week-long course held Ariel’s Technical School teaches
facility on Ariel’s campus, housing throughout the year. engineers how to apply Ariel
the company’s human resources, The Mechanics School provides in- compressors efficiently for any
IT and training and development depth, hands-on training in the proper application where compression is
departments. Its primary focus, maintenance of Ariel compressors required. Held several times a year,
however, is providing training for Ariel operating in the field. Classes are instructors often customize the
compressor owners (end users and typically comprised of mechanics, curriculum to suit the needs of each
distributors) as well as employees. operators and service technicians. attendee.
“We would like to offer our Dubbe said the new training center The training center isn’t only
customers, end users and distributors greatly enhances the effectiveness of for professionals outside of Ariel’s
the best support and commitment to the course. In the old training center, campus. The company has a
developing their skills for today and students would spend 70% of their variety of resources available to its
the future,” Dubbe said. time in the classroom and 30% in the more than 2000 employees and
Ariel’s training center curriculum, lab practicing on the equipment. contractors. Two come in the form of
which is offered year round, includes “We flipped that,” Dubbe said, laboratories – the machining lab and
Ariel’s Basic Product Training School, referring to the course in the new the assembly lab. Students begin
Mechanics School, Technical School training center. “With plenty of with basic manual machining to
and customized product schools. While compressor stations, they can get understand the fundamentals of how
the courses have set parameters, they plenty of hands-on experience.” metal is cut before they move onto

32 JULY 2018 COMPRESSORtech2

 Partners In Training

students require very little ramp up

time once they begin their actual work
assignments.
The employee-based courses also
come with an extra caveat – college
credits. Ariel has partnered with two
local universities – Zane State College
and Stark State College – to give its
employees the ability to earn a two-
year Associate degree through its
training curriculum. ■ Ariel’s new training center features an
“This give us the ability to grow interactive atrium that can hold more than
■ An Ariel instructor teaches people from the roots,” Dubbe said. 600 people for networking events and
customers about the operators of The training center also features safety meetings.
one of the company’s compressors. an open, sizable atrium designed
to resemble a compressor frame’s reflection of Ariel’s history, but also
interior. Ariel’s history, as well as as a gathering area for quarterly
the complexities of programming and product information, are presented on safety meetings for Ariel staff, Dubbe
operating modern CNC machines, interactive displays within the atrium. said. It also works as a cafeteria and
Dubbe said. Additional aspects of Ariel’s history, collaboration area.
“This lab contains all the equipment including its Serial # 3 compressor “This (training center) supports
need to take someone through the full (manufactured in 1970) and its 1921 our business and our customers in a
cycle,” he said. Lucas horizontal boring mill used by significant way,” Dubbe said. “It’s one
The assembly lab, which includes Ariel Founder Jim Buchwald and the of those things that we have as a tool
eight Ariel compressors, duplicates company’s first machinists. to stay up to the requirements of the
Ariel’s actual assembly areas so The atrium serves not only as a industry.” CT2

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 tech

corner
High-Performance
Flexible Element
Couplings For Centrifugal
Compressor Trains
Close coordination needed when
selecting couplings
BY NEETIN GHAISAS AND CHUCK SAKERS
■ Figure 13 – Torque overload failure
in a disc coupling. furnished) and machinery engineers reduced moment design becomes
from the owner and engineering con- essential for rotordynamic reasons.
Introduction
tractor. Selection of the right coupling Disc couplings include two flexible
ouplings are the vital ele- undoubtedly contributes to long-term disc packs installed one on each end

C ments in machinery trains.

Very often, engineering con-
tractors and owner companies pay
reliability and availability of process
plant machinery trains.
The subject tutorial focusses on two
of the spacer tube or center section.
Each disc pack consists of multiple
thin metal membranes, between 0.005
little attention to specifying the tur- most widely used types of high per- in. to 0.025 in. (0.127 mm to 0.635
bomachinery couplings. Some users formance non-lubricated couplings in mm) thick depending on the applica-
select couplings based only on the modern centrifugal compressor trains; tion requirements. Typical materials of
application speed, torque, factor of metal diaphragm and disc pack. membrane include series 300 stain-
safety, and shaft size. These parame- Standard coupling selection method, less steels, precipitation-hardened
ters together with several other factors is also discussed in the following text. stainless steels, Inconel, and Monel
such as the combined steady-state (see Table 3). Depending on the oper-
and cyclic stresses, angular mis- Disc Couplings ating environment, membranes are
alignment rating, torsional stiffness, Disc couplings are defined as a cou- coated to provide protection from cor-
axial deflection capability, axial natu- pling that transmits torque from driving rosion and fretting. Many of the coating
ral frequencies, expected peak and to a driven bolt tangentially on a com- materials are sacrificial in nature.
momentary torques and lateral and mon bolt circle. Torque is transmitted Membranes are made in different
torsional critical speeds must be eval- between the bolts through a series of shapes such as scalloped, circular and
uated before the choice and the type thin discs. Misalignment is accommo- polygon. Scalloped and polygon mem-
of a coupling is finalized. dated by the deforming of the discs. branes are most common. Coupling
This review process should involve Disc couplings find their applications designers optimize the membrane pro-
the vendor with the unit responsibil- particularly in high-speed turboma- files to manage uniform distribution of
ity, sub-vendors for driver and gear (if chinery trains when a low weight stress and low reaction forces on the
bearings of the connected machines.
Neetin Ghaisas is senior fellow – Rotating Equipment at Fluor. Ghaisas has 36 years Disc pack design involves the num-
of professional background with extensive experience in the specification, selection, ber of bolts required, the bolt circle
application and troubleshooting of rotating equipment. He is the task force chairman
of API 612 standard, task force vice-chairman of API 672 standard and is a member of ■ Figure 1 – Reduced
the Machinery Function Team in Process Industry Practices (PIP). Moment Disc Coupling.
Chuck Sakers is the coupling technology leader for Kop-Flex, a Regal Power
Transmission Solutions brand. During his 22 years in the turbomachinery coupling
business, Sakers has led global engineering teams focused on design of new
products, advanced analysis, as well as proposal and order execution. He is currently
a member of the API 671 task force.

36 JULY 2018 COMPRESSORtech2

 CV AND KN SERIES
INDICATOR VALVES
CV-72

KN-22-90

■ Figure 2 – Common disc

pack membrane profiles.

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■ Figure 3 – Disc pack fasteners. fast operation. Safety locking handle option
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diameter, the size of bolts and the number of membranes

needed. Figures 1 and 2 show a reduced moment type disc
pack coupling and several types of membranes used in the
disc pack coupling. Each membrane has either six or eight ®
or 10 holes (driving and driven total). The lesser the number
of holes, the lesser is the torque transmission capacity and
greater is the membrane flexibility. Figure 3 shows disc pack
fasteners.
For a given diameter, the torque rating and misalignment
capacity of a disc coupling can be considered a function of
the number of disc pack bolts used in its design. As seen in
Figure 2, a three-bolt disc has long links between bolt holes
thereby increasing the effective bend length which decreases
the stiffness and increases misalignment capacity of the cou-
pling. A five-bolt disc pack design increases torque capacity
since the bolts evenly distribute the torque, but the shorter
link length increases the angular stiffness and decreases the
misalignment capacity. As a rule, three-bolt designs provide CLEAN COOL
high misalignment capacity, but low torque capacity while
five-bolt designs provide high torque capacity, but low mis- QUIET SAFE
alignment capability. A four-bolt design balances both torque
and misalignment and is the most common configuration,
operating successfully on a wide variety of applications from
pumps to centrifugal compressors.
The diameter of the bolt hole circle indicates the amount
of torque a disc coupling can transmit. The misalignment GAS PROCESSING MADE EASY
capability is related to the chord length between bolts and STEEL BUILDINGS • ENGINEERING • ENVIRONMENTAL
the thickness of the disc or disc pack. Once the disc pack is 1120 Washington Road/Rt 19, Washington, PA 15301 724.225.2202
designed and built at the factory, the pieces should not be
www.steelnation.com
continued on page 38

COMPRESSORtech2 JULY 2018 37

 disassembled. Piloted disc packs or diaphragm couplings are available load torque at corresponding mis-
factory assembled packs help ensure in single element contoured (plate alignment and axial deflection. The
against balance issues and fatigue and flanged) and multiple convoluted minimum thickness of a single ele-
failure. diaphragm styles. Another variation ment contoured metal diaphragm is
High performance flexible-element includes multiple straight diaphragms. approximately 0.020 in. (0.508 mm).
couplings have many advantages over Depending on the requirement for Torque is transmitted from outer
lubricated couplings. These include: ultimate tensile strength, diaphragms diameter to inner diameter in all
■ Little to no need for maintenance are machined from vacuum-melted diaphragm couplings. For a given
■ Infinite life—no wearing alloy steel or vacuum-melted stainless diameter, a thicker diaphragm pro-
components steel solid disks. There are some spe- vides higher torque capability but
■ Lower reaction forces on con- cial processes that diaphragms can makes the coupling less flexible in
nected equipment, 20-30% in receive such as shot peening which terms of angular and axial misalign-
bending, 10% in axial helps to reduce the residual stresses ments. On the contrary, a thinner
■ Lower repeatable unbalance (no imposed during machining as well as
radial clearances) to prevent development of surface
■ Unbalance level does not change crack initiation points.
over time A conventional single element
■ No lock up or spool cracking contoured diaphragm is thicker at
■ Reduced risk of hub-to-shaft the inner diameter and thinner at the
fretting outer diameter. A gradual reduction in
■ Field interchangeable components its thickness (contour) allows nearly
uniform torsional shear stress across
Diaphragm Couplings the diaphragm’s profile and results ■ Figure 4 – Single element contoured
Conventional high performance in low-stress level when transmitting diaphragm coupling.

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 includes a bolted connection between Each uniform thickness diaphragm
the flex element and the spacer piece is machined to be thinner in the flex-
which allows greater design flexibility ing area, eliminating the possibility of
and easier replacement if required. fretting.
Single element plate diaphragms can Multiple separated diaphragms
be radially and axially electron beam also provide a “progressive failure”
welded at each end of the spacer safety feature. The stresses in each
tube to form a flexible unit. Together diaphragm are unequal due to the
with two rigids or adapter flanges, this offset stress. If a fatigue failure were
■ Figure 5 – Single element contoured design constitutes a simple coupling to occur due to misalignment, the
diaphragm profile. assembly in that the number of con- outer diaphragms fail first. The next
nections are kept to a minimum. A diaphragm has a lower combined
diaphragm transmits less torque but single element diaphragm can eas- alternating stress (similar to disc
permits higher misalignment. It is thus ily be custom engineered to suit the pack coupling). These couplings can
possible to optimize the design of a application. Since the diaphragm is operate until approximately one-half
diaphragm coupling through proper machined from a single piece of steel of the diaphragms have failed. Most
balance of maximum continuous it gives full flexibility to create an opti- turbomachinery today incorporates
torque, axial and angular deflection mal solution than can be delivered vibration monitoring equipment that
and rated speed, among other factors. quickly. can detect the unbalance caused by a
Figure 4 shows a single element Another design variation utilizes failed diaphragm.
contoured diaphragm coupling. Single thin stainless steel plates assembled Multiple convoluted diaphragm cou-
element contoured diaphragm profile in a pack. The pack is connected to plings have steel diaphragm packs
is displayed in Figure 5. an adapter piece using an interfer- on each end of the spacer tube. Each
A single element flanged diaphragm ence fit spine and threated clamp nut. pack is approximately 0.150 inch (3.8
continued on page 40

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mm) thick and consists of individual
thin flexing diaphragms or plates with
filler rings that separate each dia-
phragm on the inner diameter and
the outer diameter to avoid fretting.
End covers on the outer diameter and
clamping nut or bolt on the inner diam-
eter of convoluted diaphragms act
as one single unit when transmitting
torque.
Thin convoluted diaphragms pro-
duce lesser bending moment in
comparison to a single element con-
toured diaphragm when transmitting a
given torque. They also provide more
uniform axial stiffness throughout the
range of axial motion than a single ele-
ment contoured diaphragm.
In the case of multiple convoluted ■ Figure 6 – Fatigue diagram.
diaphragm coupling, fatigue failure
due to misalignment will cause the ■ Maximum continuous shaft power, minimum in steady-state condition
outermost diaphragm to fail first. If hp (kW) as per API 671, 4th Edition)
the connected equipment continues ■ Minimum, normal, rated, maximum 2 Interface data for connecting
to operate, the next outermost dia- continuous, and trip speeds, RPM shafts (driver and driven)
phragm will fail. Failure of remaining ■ Momentary torque (if applicable), ■ Distance between shaft ends, inch
diaphragms will be gradual as they lb-in (Nm) (mm)
would have lesser combined alternat- ■ Maximum transient torque or peak ■ Required pre-stretch or preload
ing stress due to reduced remaining torque, lb-in (Nm) (should account for equipment and
offset stress. Therefore, a multiple ■ Cyclic torque if applicable, lb-in coupling growth), inch (mm)
convoluted design provides safety fea- (Nm) ■ Bore diameter and type (keyless
ture i.e. “progressive failure”. ■ Service Factor (API 671, 4th tapered hydraulically fitted hub,
Edition stipulates that the minimum splined or keyed cylindrical)
Coupling Selection service factor shall be 1.5, and the ■ Diameter and thickness of integral
Coupling manufacturers select the reduced service factor based on flanged shaft end based on all
most appropriate size and type of cou- normal absorbed shaft power shall anticipated loads
pling for a given application using the not be less than 1.2.) ■ For taper shaft end – diameters
duty requirements. Accuracy and com- NOTE: API 671 defines Service of large end, and small end and
pleteness of the information provided Factor as “factor applied to the length of taper
are crucial in choosing the right cou- steady-state torque to allow for off- ■ Minimum and maximum diametral
pling product. As mentioned earlier, design conditions, cyclic and other interference, inch (mm)
the vendor with the unit responsibil- variations as well as equipment ■ Number of keys and keyway
ity, sub-vendors for driver and gear (if variations resulting in higher torque dimensions for keyed shaft ends
furnished) and machinery engineers than that at the equipment normal ■ Width and diameter of shaft end
from the owner and engineering con- operating point”. Factor of Safety locknut
tractor should be ideally involved in is explained in API 671 as “factor 3 Optional Information
specifying the service conditions and that is used to cover uncertainties ■ Service environment—for example,
establishing the type of coupling inter- in a coupling design.” marine, presence of chlorine or
face points. ■ Steady-state, and transient axial hydrogen sulfide. If specified, the
Service conditions required for displacements of driving and driven suitable protective coating can
selection and design of a coupling are machines, in (mm) be selected based on the service
summarized below: ■ Steady-state, and transient parallel environment
1 Operating Data: offsets, inch (mm) ■ Electrical insulation, if required
■ Normal absorbed shaft power, hp ■ Steady-state, and angular mis- ■ Torque measurement, if specified
(kW) alignments, degrees (0.2 degrees ■ Hardware such hydraulic

40 JULY 2018 COMPRESSORtech2

 installation tooling and moment d Verify the maximum hub bore
simulator, if specified capacity of the selected coupling. It
shall be greater than the specified
Based on the supplied data, the bores
coupling is usually selected in the fol- e Check that the specified maximum
lowing steps (order can vary between speed is within the coupling maxi-
coupling manufacturers). mum allowable speed
a Calculate normal continuous torque f Confirm that the selected coupling
(steady-state torque); meets the maximum specified angu-
b Calculate required minimum lar and offset misalignments and ■ Figure 10 – Disc failure due to severe
coupling rating (steady-state selec- can accommodate axial displace- misalignment.
tion torque) using the appropriate ments of the driving and driven
Fatigue Diagram
service factor (S.F). Consider peak shafts
torque and momentary torque g Verify that the required distance The stresses the coupling is exposed
requirements. Coupling ratings are between shaft ends is not less to during operation need to be ana-
generally shown in one or more val- than the minimum for the selected lyzed using a fatigue diagram. There
ues such as HP per 100 rpm (kW coupling are several acceptable methods to
per 100 rpm), maximum continuous h Check the dynamic balance perform this evaluation, but the all
torque and peak overload torque requirements rely on breaking down the stresses
c Use appropriate lower S.F to avoid in the steady state and alternating
selection of an unnecessary large The initial selection of coupling mem- components. For a typically applica-
coupling. If a grossly oversized brane type and size must be rechecked tion mean/steady state torque, axial
driver exists in the train. Review the during the process of coupling com- deflection, and speed are considered
torque capacity of the driven shaft ponent design. Application-specific mean stresses and cyclic torque and
and interference fit of the hydrauli- engineering considerations for weight, angular misalignment are considered
cally fitted coupling hub stress, lateral critical speed, torsional alternating stresses.
stiffness, maximum diameter, materi- The mean stress and combined
als, and cost can impact dimensions alternating stresses plotted on a mod-
of spacer tube, flanges, and fasten- ified Goodman diagram or equivalent
ers. Resulting changes will have to be fatigue diagram for the coupling mate-
accommodated in the final design of rial must have the plotted operating
membranes. Figure 6 shows the typi- point in the area below the safe work-
cal mass elastic data that is provided ing stress line. Typical coupling factor
by coupling manufacturers to the of safety (F.S) values range from 1.25
entity responsible for lateral analyses to 2.0 based on the location of the
as well as steady-state and transient operating point inside the acceptable
■ Figure 7 – Diaphragm coupling failure train torsional analyses. region. A modified Goodman diagram
caused by excessive axial misalignment. is shown in Figure 6.
■ Figure 9 – Diaphragm
and disc failures due to Coupling Failures
cyclic torque. In the general case of
a single element dia-
phragm fatigue failure
due to angular misalign-
ment a crack will initiate
in the diaphragm and then progress
circumferentially, with a correspond-
ing increase in imbalance, until the
remaining ligament can no longer
sustain the torque load. At this point
the diaphragm will rupture completely.
■ Figure 8 – Diaphragm coupling Other typical failures in high perfor-
failure caused by excessive angular mance flexible-element couplings
misalignment. have been attributed to causes such
continued on page 42

COMPRESSORtech2 JULY 2018 41

■ Figure 11a – Fretting as the torque overload, cyclic torsional
damage on uncoated discs. stresses and fretting. These failures
str
are shown in the following pictures.

Conclusion
Co
Two most commonly used high
performance flexible-element
coupling types, disc pack and
metal diaphragm, are discussed
in this
t tutorial. It emphasizes the need
for close coordination between the ■ Figure 12a – Coupling bolt failure due
specifying
spe engineers, owner, cou- to torque overload.
pling
p in vendor and vendors involved
pl
in the machinery train when select- ■ Figure 12b
ing the type of coupling(s) for the – Rippling on
given applications. Couplings are the diaphragm profile
vital components in machinery trains due to torque
and may be the weakest element in overload.
the chain. They contribute directly to
the reliability and availability of pro-
cess plant machinery and as such
■ Figure 11b – Facture at center of link deserve due attention in specification, Acknowledgement: All images in this
and fretting in link and at bolt hole, indica- selection and sizing, as much as the paper are provided by Kop-Flex (Regal
tive of torsional fatigue failure. connected machinery units. CT2 Beloit America).

42 JULY 2018 COMPRESSORtech2

Prime Movers
Westport Fuel Systems a production facility segment of the John Crane Group
Westport Fuel Systems Inc. will sell ■ Application development and produces hydrodynamic bearings
its compressed natural gas (CNG) qualification testing for customers used by customers in the energy and
compressor business, based in and partners plant engineering industries, primarily
Cherasco, Italy, to Snam S.p.A., a ■ Customer demos and training in high-performance applications
European gas utility company for The Cincinnati CSC will serve such as turbines, compressors and
€12.5 million. customers requiring asset and industrial pumps.
With the sale, Westport Fuel process performance improvements,
Systems will streamline its business quality assurance, parts validation Elliott Group
and product lines and focus on and repairs. Elliott Group said Nicholas Dorsch will
providing alternative fuel vehicle serve as vice president of Industrial
components and systems to the Miba Group Products.
transportation industry. Miba Group, a global supplier of Dorsch will lead the company’s
The sale is expected to close by engine bearings, said that the four industrial steam turbine line and the
the end of July. industrial bearings plants acquired power generation group, reporting to
from the John Crane Group will COO Michael Lordi.
Baker Hughes become part of Miba Bearing Group. Dorsch has 30 years of industry
Baker Hughes, a GE company, The four sites have 300 employees experience, including roles in global
opened its largest customer and are in Grafton, Wisconsin, operations, business
Solutions Center (CSC) globally for USA; Columbus, Nebraska, USA; strategy, process
its Inspection Technologies Business Houston/Deer Park, Texas, USA; improvement and
(IT) in Cincinnati, Ohio. and Göttingen, Lower Saxony, change management.
The Cincinnati CSC offers BHGE’s Germany. His most recent
most advanced non-destructive Miba’s industrial bearing sites will role was as senior
testing technologies under one roof become part of the newly formed director of operations
for the first time, the company said. Industrial Bearing Branch that is for Gardner Denver’s
The 26,000 sq. ft. Cincinnati CSC integrated in Miba Bearing Group Nash Division in Nicholas Dorsch
is a US$4 million investment and and led by Clemens Honeder as Bentleyville, Pennsylvania. With
was developed to better support managing director. the same company, he was also
customers for non-destructive testing With the acquisition of the four senior global director of product and
needs. The facility will provide a industrial bearing plants the company business strategy and director of
heightened experience for customers is now entering a new line of business: global operations.
in three specific areas: developing and producing industrial Before Gardner Denver, Dorsch
■ Inspection services at the scale of bearings. The industrial bearings spent 18 years with IDEX Corp. CT2

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Gears & Couplings

Diaphragm ■ Figure 1 –
A Voith turbo

Couplings For planetary gear

unit with
integrated
Retrofits diaphragm
coupling on the
Replacing existing couplings low-speed and
high-speed side.
with diaphragm couplings is beneficial
not only in high-speed critical drivetrains,
but also in slow-speed applications

etrofitting of prime movers, driven machinery and highly integrated solutions such as in combination with

R
declined.
related components has seen a surge in recent
years because the number of new plant projects has
planetary gears (Figure 1).
Changes in the drive train from fixed to variable speeds,
for example, always mean a different layout of the lateral and
To benefit from this change, Voith, a specialist in turbo torsional behavior. There may be the need to alter coupling
gears and variable speed drives, established a dedicated stiffness and weight to avoid changes in critical operational
retrofitting team and discovered that diaphragm couplings behavior. Voith said that the potential to use a tailor-made
are among components that often are used in retrofitting diaphragm coupling design to address the specific drive
projects to save space or transmit more power at higher train requirements related to space claim, misalignment
speeds. capabilities, stiffness and weight can be a real benefit for the
A diaphragm coupling is a flexible coupling component retrofit project in terms of time, cost and functional reliability.
used in drive trains to connect two units of rotating
equipment, while permitting some degree of misalignment Retrofit Projects
or shaft end movement (radial, axial) or both. One example of such retrofit projects is a pump drive train
In the case of functional changes such as fixed to variable where the modification from fixed speed to variable speed
speed or power enhancement, retrofit solutions must often was performed using a controlled hydrodynamic coupling.
be compact because of limited space and the need for cost In this application, a standard disc coupling was initially
effectiveness. The exchange of the connecting couplings applied. While performing a torsional analysis of the drive
is therefore often a key consideration within the overall train, the configuration showed an intersection of a critical
concept. Using diaphragm couplings, Voith is able to deliver frequency in the operating range and also high torques
during the startup process.
The analysis revealed that a change of the
disc coupling stiffness would end up in an
unallowable startup torque amplification, so
the engineers decided to use a diaphragm
coupling instead. By customizing the
diaphragm coupling, the intersection of the
critical frequency with the operation range
and the startup torque amplifications could be
safely avoided. The comparison of Campbell
diagrams and the shaft amplification charts
illustrate this (Figures 2 and 3).
The engineering process of the diaphragm
coupling utilized Voith’s specialized design

■ Figure 2 – Example torsional analysis with

standard disc coupling and diaphragm coupling.

44 JULY 2018 COMPRESSORtech2

 Gears & Couplings

tools that allow quick and reliable selection of the design

based on torque, shock load and speed.
The Voith portfolio for diaphragm couplings includes
plenty of options to realize customized designs when
special weight, stiffness and inertia constraints are required.
A feedback from the lateral and torsional rotor dynamic
analysis is incorporated in the design where appropriate.
Diaphragm couplings do not require lubrication and are
free from wear, thus they don’t need maintenance and can
be designed to operate from 1 to 80 000 rpm. The speed for
this coupling type is limited only by the bolt design.
Voith’s coupling misalignment capabilities, depending on
the particular diaphragm type, range from 0.2° to 0.5°.
Although the use of diaphragm couplings has become a
trend in some classic high-speed applications such as gas ■ Figure 3 – Shaft toque comparison of retrofitted
turbines and compressors, some retrofit customers for slow- diaphragm coupling versus original disc coupling.
speed applications like cement mills or agitators value the
robust and reliable capabilities of this coupling type in their BASF, one of Voith’s customers. “By installing the diaphragm
drive trains, Voith said. couplings, we were able to remedy these issues, and the
“At some point, we had some vibration issues caused by systems have been running without problems for 10 to 15
curved-tooth couplings on various machines, for example years now. Another advantage was that it was possible to
the residue combustion system, an ammonia compressor integrate the diaphragm couplings into the already existing
and a natural gas compressor, which led to damage to coupling casings.”
components such as the axial bearing of the compressor,” Voith installed so far about 3000 diaphragm couplings,
said Roland Schuhmann, diagnostics and monitoring at mostly in critical applications. CT2

COMPRESSORtech2 JULY 2018 45

Product Focus

Miratech Rolls Out ■ Miratech’s new MeC

and MeC-Beast (MeC-B)
catalysts feature Miratech’s

The Beast turbulent foil technology and

EmeraChem’s nano surface
technologies and precious
EmeraChem acquisition fuels metal formulations.
launch of new products
BY DJ SLATER
iratech seems to have a thing for its

M competitors. The Tulsa, Oklahoma-based

emission and acoustical products provider
tends to share the marketplace with similar companies
sed
vider
nies
at first, but as the years rolls by, those competitorss end
up under the Miratech umbrella.
In October 2017, Miratech added EmeraChem, a custom
catalyst manufacturer, to its portfolio, a move that has
allowed the company to bring a new set of catalyst products coat, Zenthoefer said.
to the gas compression industry. The MeC and MeC-B
Those products include the MeC and MeC-Beastt (Mec-B) catalysts are designed for
catalyst line, which combines Miratech turbulent ulent foil rich- and lean-burn four-stroke
technology with EmeraChem’s nano surface technologies hnologies natural gas engines. The MeC catalyst
and precious metal formulations. The MeC and d MeC-B
MeC B one-year
carries a one warranty, while the
year full performance warranty
catalysts replace all the legacy offerings from both MeC-B line extends that warranty period to three years.
companies, said David Zenthoefer, Miratech’s CEO. Other benefits with the new product line include a thermally
“The product line takes the best of both worlds,” he stabilized wash coat that provides greater resistance to
said. “We don’t want people to think that Miratech bought sintering during prolonged operation at high temperatures;
EmeraChem and its all the same products as before. a higher tolerance to contaminants found in engine exhaust,
These are new products with better performance and better lube oil and coolants; and an advanced form of platinum
warranties.” that improves service life and regenerative responsiveness
to catalyst washes.
Merging Technologies “We made the acquisition for further vertical integration
Miratech’s turbulent foil technology consists of zones within and market expansion,” Zenthoefer said. “This is our fourth
the catalyst that create turbulence in the exhaust stream. acquisition in the last four years.”
The mixing and swirling causes the pollutants in the exhaust, Prior to EmeraChem, Miratech bought Vaporphase, a
such as NOx, carbon monoxide, VOCs and formaldehyde, supplier of heat recovery systems for reciprocating engines
to make constant and repeated contact with the catalyst’s in the United States, in November 2016. Before that,
precious metals. The reactions between the metals and the Miratech obtained EM and Cowl, both of which specialized
pollutants makes for a much cleaner exhaust stream than in manufacturing silencers.
traditional catalysts, Zenthoefer said. With its most recent acquisition, Miratech also obtained
Before the acquisition, Miratech had the turbulent foils, EmeraChem’s catalyst service centers in Texas, Oklahoma,
but not the EmeraChem’s surface technology and metals. Wyoming, Tennessee and Pennsylvania. Those service
Combined, the two companies have developed catalyst centers include the Multi-Lambda Catalyst Testing System
product that can produce even better efficiency rates, (MLCTS), which analyzes catalysts to ensure proper function
Zenthoefer said. post chemical wash (see COMPRESSORtech2, November
The MeC and MeC-B catalysts are built on a turbulent 2016, p. 34). Washing stations and precious metal reclaim
substrate, which increases surface area and performance services are also part of Miratech’s latest offerings.
without increasing backpressure. The catalysts feature “We can work with any gas engine and provide what its
mechanical locking of flat to corrugated layers and needs,” Zenthoefer said. “We can supply and build it all.”
diffusion bonding. Round elements also weld every layer The new catalysts, Zenthoefer said, are just the beginning.
of foil to the core. Catalytic coatings have the equivalent He anticipates many more offerings to come going forward.
of 55 football fields of catalytic surface area in every cubic “We’re just coming out of the first quarter of a football
foot. That means the exhaust pollutants aren’t passing game,” he said. “We’re ready to push the accelerator
through the catalysts. Instead, they seep into the wash down.” CT2

46 JULY 2018 COMPRESSORtech2

 2
3 Scheduled Downtime DJ SLATER, PUZZLEMASTER

4 Visit www.compressortech2.com/scheduled-downtime/ for answers

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6
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Marketplace
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6DOHV#8QLYHUVDO6WDUWHUFRP engines, compressors, gears, couplings)
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To place an advertisment or for further information, please contact: Katie Bivens, Regional Sales Manager

Tel: +1 262-754-4140 E-mail: [email protected]

COMPRESSORtech2 JULY 2018 47

 Cornerstones Of Compression
Power Cylinders Compr. Cylinders
Allowable Rod Approximate
Rated Power Speed Bore Stroke Stroke Load Weight
Model hp (kW) rpm No. in. (mm) in. (mm) No. in. (mm) lbs. (kg) lbs. (kg)
C-30 30 (22) 525 1 7.5 (191) 10.0 (254) 1 8.0 (203) 8500 (3855) 7000 (3175)
C-42 42 (31) 525 1 8.5 (216) 10.0 (254) 1 8.0 (203) 11,000 (4989) 10,000 (4535)
DPC-60 60 (45) 475 1 9.5 (241) 12.0 (305) 1 8.0 (203) 11,000 (4989) 14,000 (4989)
DPC-81 81 (60) 475 1 10.5 (267) 12.0 (305) 1 8.0 (203) 14,000 (6349) 16,000 (7256)
DPC-80 80 (60) 400 1 11.0 (279) 14.0 (356) 1 11.0 (279) 17,600 (7982) 17,500 (7937)
DPC-105 105 (78) 425 1 12.0 (305) 14.0 (356) 1 11.0 (279) 20,000 (9070) 18,500 (8390)
DPC-115 115 (86) 360 1 13.25 (337) 16.0 (406) 1 11.0 (279) 22,000 (9977) 22,000 (9977)
DPC-140 140 (104) 400 1 13.25 (337) 16.0 (406) 1 11.0 (279) 25,000 (11,338) 24,500 (11,111)
DPC-120 120 (89) 475 2 9.5 (241) 12.0 (305) 2 8.0 (203) 11,000 (4989) 27,000 (12,245)
DPC-162 162 (121) 475 2 10.5 (267) 12.0 (305) 2 8.0 (203) 14,000 (6349) 28,000 (12,698)
DPC-180 180 (134) 400 1 15.0 (381) 16.0 (406) 1 11.0 (279) 30,000 (13,605) 25,000 (11,338)
DPC-230 230 (172) 360 2 13.25 (337) 16.0 (406) 2 11.0 (279) 22,000 (9977) 36,000 (16,327)
DPC-280 280 (209) 400 2 13.25 (337) 16.0 (406) 2 11.0 (279) 25,000 (11,338) 37,000 (16,780)
DPC-300 300 (224) 360 2 15.0 (381) 16.0 (406) 2 11.0 (279) 25,000 (11,338) 38,000 (17,234)
DPC-360 360 (268) 400 2 15.0 (381) 16.0 (406) 2 11.0 (279) 30,000 (13,605) 39,000 (17,687)
DPC-600 600 (447) 400 3 15.0 (381) 16.0 (406) 2 11.0 (279) 40,000 (18,141) 55,000 (24,943)
DPC-800 800 (597) 400 4 15.0 (381) 16.0 (406) 3 11.0 (279) 40,000 (18,141) 98,500 (44,671)

■ Standard Ajax White Hat Special gas engine-compressor digital controls; Class I, Group D, Division II wiring; ring
packages were first introduced in 1966. By 1985, the lineup gear starting; higher grade silencers and standard variable
included more than 200 standard packages covering a range of volume pockets. All products were offered in sweet and sour
30 to 800 hp (22 to 597 kW). gas configurations with pre-priced options to meet customer
requirements for a particular application.
stroke standard packages were introduced in 1970 as the
400 rpm DPC-180 single and 360 rpm DPC-300 twin. In DPC-800 introduction
1973, the 400 rpm DPC-360 twin, DPC-140 single and DPC- In the mid-1980s, the four power/three compressor cylinder
280 twin were added. The 140 and 280 engines had 13.25 DPC-800 was introduced, and three-stage standard
in. (336 mm) power cylinders, instead of 15.0 in. (381 mm) pre-engineered packages were added for all two-throw
in the 180 and 360. The 1976 addition of the three power compressor models. In addition, a massive engineering
cylinder DPC-600 rounded out the expansion of the Ajax effort, including analog studies of over 200 standard
White Hat line. The C-30 was added to the lineup in 1978, packages, resulted in optimization to reduce pulsations and
having the skid and foundation combined to minimize weight pressure losses as well as improving predicted package
and allow a single piece for transportation and setting on a performance over the wide operating range that the Ajax
pad at site. compressors are known for accommodating.
The design of the White Hats changed with market By the early 1990s, the 8 in. (203 mm) stroke models
demand, with Porta-Base options becoming the norm for all had been discontinued, and the 11 in. (279 mm) stroke
models by the mid-1970s. During this period, pre-engineering compressor models were uprated to 440 rpm. At the same
single- and two-stage packages were developed to cover time, a number of improvements resulted from reviews with
a very wide range of conditions, with a descriptive suffix customers, which included the major rental fleet companies.
added to the package model. For example, DPC-280-H-1 A number of new standard features were added including
and DPC-280-H-2 were single-stage and two-stage high an integral concrete base and skid, which reduced shipping
pressure packages, respectively. By the mid-1970s, the weight by several tons, and the patented tilt muffler allowing
Ajax offering included 16 power ratings, C-30 through DPC- shipment with one truck and installation on a sand base
600 with 210 pre-engineered standard packages. without using a crane.
Market, customer and environmental demands drove the In 1997, the Ajax business was focused in Oklahoma
continued evolution of the Ajax standard product in the early City, where the engines and packages continued to be
1980s, with the White Hat moniker supplanting all the other built until 2017. Production of bare frame Ajax engine-
designations. Significant changes driven during that period compressors continues today at a Baker Hughes GE plant in
were environmental containment; Altronic annunciators with Houston, Texas. CT2

COMPRESSORtech2 JULY 2018 49

 Cornerstones Of Compression

■ This 1976 brochure image shows

an Ajax White Hat Special single-
cylinder gas engine-compressor
package on an optional Porta-Base.

The White Hat Specials

Ajax packages provided oil and gas patch
with portable gas engine-compressors
BY NORM SHADE

A
jax’s history began with the 1877 founding of the complete packages. This enabled previously unheard of
Harmon, Gibbs & Co. in Corry, Pennsylvania. Right package delivery times of four to 12 weeks, depending on
in the heart of the nation’s original “oil country,” Corry the model and options.
sits 23 miles (37 km) from the world’s first successful oil well The Ajax integral gas engine-compressor lineup included
in 1859. The company produced steam drilling engines for two, 8 in. (203 mm) compressor stroke and four 11 in. (279
the nearby oil fields. Famously, its first steam engine was in mm) stroke compressors in 1966. The C-42 and DPC-60
continuous service from 1877 to 1968, accumulating about with 8 in. (203 mm) stroke had interchangeable compressor
550,000 hours without a major overhaul. cylinders, but different engine components. The single-
The company was incorporated as the Ajax Iron Works in cylinder DPC-80A and DPC-115, along with the two-cylinder
1892, with gas engines added to the product line in 1895. DCP-160 and DPC-230 (“twins”), had 11 in. (279 mm) stroke.
Over the years, Ajax evolved into a leading producer of These models had interchangeable engine and compressor
heavy-duty, two-cycle gas engines, including gas engines parts, except for the crankcase, crankshaft and flywheel.
specifically for secondary oil-recovery operations. In the Throughout the Ajax line, until the early 1990s, the model
1950s, it introduced vertical plunger pumps for oil-field use. number reflected the rated horsepower rating.
Gas engine production reached 2000 engines a year in the
1960s. Rise of the Porta-Base
In 1958, with the industry needing more portable field gas The first White Hat packages focused on two-stage offerings
compressors – high-speed separable compressors were with a maximum pressure rating of 1250 psig (86 bar). As
starting to emerge – Ajax introduced its first integral gas the market had not previously seen standardized packages
engine-compressor. These single-, two-, and three-stage to any degree, both the technical and environmental
compressors were widely used for gas gathering, boosting, demands were lower than today’s requirements. The units
lifting and repressuring. were designed with a two-skid concept, one for the engine-
Acquired by Cooper Industries in 1963, Ajax started compressor, crosshead guide mounted scrubbers close-
developing a pre-engineered and pre-packaged line of coupled to the bottles and a crosshead guide-mounted F.W.
gas engine-compressor packages. These packages were Murphy Tattletale panel, with a separate skid for the cooler.
called “White Hat Specials.” The moniker was inspired by Although most of the early packages were still installed
a popular 1960s Dodge automobile marketing program, on permanent foundations, the packages would soon
further reinforced by the old western movies, where the evolve to include a portable foundation (“Porta-Base”). The
good guys always wore white hats. packages were built both at Carson Machine in Oklahoma
City, Oklahoma and at the Ajax factory in Corry, although
Beyond marketing production soon defaulted to Carson, which was closer to
The White Hat standardization, introduced in 1966, was not most of the market.
just a marketing tool. Each package was pre-engineered. While the early White Hat offering included 42 to 230 hp
This was something new to the industry at the time, and (31 to 172 kW) units, other models and standard packages
it allowed pre-building inventory components as well as were under development. “Green Giant” 11 in. (279 mm)
continued on page 49

50 JULY 2018 COMPRESSORtech2

www.globalcompressorparts.com

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