Abstract

There is increasing interest within the petrochemical industry in the development of predictive maintenance algorithms for gas compressors and pipelines. To this end, this thesis outlines an analysis of the feasibility and design of a lifetime accelerator for poppet valves used in industrial gas compressors. First, we investigate the most common compressor and valve types. We then compare existing valve accelerators to determine the gap in current research on poppet valve lifetime accelerators. We demonstrate our design for a lifetime accelerator with the ability to actuate poppet valves at 100[Hz], which is more than 15 times higher than the normal operating rate of 6.4[Hz]. Based on preliminary calculations, the system will not operate near the resonant frequency, and the system will be able to safely hold 100[psig]. Further, an orifice-flow system model indicates the design will be able to transfer air through the system quickly enough to support desired valve actuation rate. Finally, our constructed system demonstrates that the system will be able to achieve and maintain pressures of up to 100[psig] safely and with the possibility to function beyond the initially designed parameters.

Library of Congress Subject Headings

Compressors--Valves--Testing; Compressors--Maintenance and repair

Publication Date

7-27-2023

Document Type

Thesis

Student Type

Graduate

Degree Name

Mechanical Engineering (MS)

Department, Program, or Center

Mechanical Engineering (KGCOE)

Advisor

Jason Kolodziej

Advisor/Committee Member

Agamemnon Crassidis

Advisor/Committee Member

Patricia Iglesias-Victoria

Campus

RIT – Main Campus

Plan Codes

MECE-MS

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