Specifying and Purchasing Turboexpanders

This chapter highlights and summarizes considerations dealing with expander subsystems, materials, manufacture, installation, component design, equipment maintenance and repair that might assist users in developing or evaluating turboexpander specifications. 

A typical expander-compressor consists of three basic sections  

The expander section with inlet and outlet flanges. 

Standard turboexpander-compressor sets designed and manufactured by competent manufactureres embody many of the reliability improvement and maintenance cost reduction features inherent in API (American Petroleum Institute) standards for other turbomachines. To achieve close compliance, however, the owner/purchasers must know their specific needs or requirements. Nevertheless, it may not be practical, feasible, or economically justified to achieve full compliance with API specifications, which were generally devised without giving thought to the peculiarities of turboexpanders and their sometimes differing operating environments. 

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