CHARACTERISTIC CURVE OF CENTRIFUGAL COMPRESSOR

 

Characteristic curve or Performance curve

Character or performance of equipment represented in the form of curves or graph.

Characteristic curve of centrifugal compressor

Centrifugal Compressor Performance or characteristic curve is the curve between Polytrophic Head and Inlet Volume Flow.

Performance curve also known as compressor map.

Sample compressor map for centrifugal compressor is as shown below.

 

 Boundaries of a centrifugal compressor map are shown in below figure.

                       

Minimum speed and maximum speed are the limits maintained by the driver of the compressor.

Maximum flow limit of the curve is known as stone wall or choke. It occurs at high flow and low pressure.

Minimum flow limit of the curve is known as stone surge. It occurs at low flow and high pressure.

Both stonewall and surge effects are the unstable operating points of a compressor.

Compressor shall be operated between all the limits and that zone is called stable zone of operation.