Root Cause Identification of Vibration and Wear Due to Strainer Obstruction in Hydrocarbon Processing Compressors

Abstract

This study examines the root causes of vibration and wear in centrifugal compressors, particularly emphasising strainer obstruction in hydrocarbon processing environments. Strainer fouling is primarily driven by deposits from inlet gas compositions and deviations in operating conditions, which restrict flow, increase vibration, and accelerate component degradation. A combined methodology was applied to investigate these issues, including baroscopic inspection of compressor internals, chemical analysis of deposited materials, and evaluation of operational records against design specifications. Maintenance histories and strainer cleaning frequencies were also reviewed to establish links between performance decline and operating practices. The findings show that chemical cleaning is the most effective and cost-efficient solution, outperforming high-pressure water jet cleaning and full compressor overhauls by minimising downtime, restoring flow dynamics, and improving mechanical stability. Successful implementation across multiple compressors confirmed its scalability and reliability. This research validates chemical cleaning as a preferred maintenance strategy, delivering significant operational and economic benefits while extending compressor service life.

Keywords

Strainer blockage / Centrifugal compressors / Baroscopic inspection / Mechanical stress / Erosion / Wear

Author Contributions

Conceptualization, T.E.F.; Methodology, T.E.F. and J.N.A. Software, T.E.F.; Validation, T.E.F., J.N.A.; Formal Analysis, T.E.F.; Resources, T.E.F.; Data Curation, T.E.F., J.N.A.; Writing—Original Draft Preparation, T.E.F.; Writing—Review & Editing, T.E.F., J.N.A.; Visualization, T.E.F.; Supervision, J.N.A.; Project Administration, J.N.A.; Funding Acquisition, No any funding.

Ethics Statement

Not applicable.

Informed Consent Statement

Not applicable.

Data Availability Statement

All data generated or analyzed during this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

Funding

This research received no external funding.

Declaration of Competing Interest

The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.

Generative AI Statement

Statement of the Use of Generative AI and AI-assisted technologies in the Writing Process. During the preparation of this manuscript, the author(s) used Copilot in order to paraphrasing sentences. After using this tool/service, the author(s) reviewed and edited the content as needed and take(s) full responsibility for the content of the article.

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