technical tuesday

Technical Tuesday: Engine/Compressor Weight

January 25, 2022

Well, that’s one way to spend the day screwing off. There are many things to consider while planning major engine/compressor work, but weights are pretty high on the list. Many of our heaviest components exceed the floor weight capacity on buildings with basements. Screw jacks or timbers can be used to shore the floor up prior to work beginning. Seriously… don’t get overloaded. For more tips and tricks, join us at the Eastern Gas Compression Roundtable on May 3-5, 2022 at the David Lawrence Convention Center in Pittsburgh.

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Technical Tuesday: Web Deflections

January 18, 2022

Web deflections sounds like an online security firm, but they have been around longer than Al Gore’s claim of inventing the internet. This picture shows the proper setup using a string-line gauge. By capturing the changes in this distance as the crankshaft is rotated, we can evaluate how much the crankshaft is deflecting. The data can then be used to interpret how the engine frame is aligned and expose potential issues. Want to know more? Join us at the Eastern Gas Compression Roundtable on May 3-5, 2022 at the David Lawrence Convention Center in Pittsburgh.

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Technical Tuesday: Freeze Plugs

January 11, 2022

For our next installment of “Name Shame,” we will cover freeze plugs. There is a general misconception that freeze plugs are made to pop out if the engine coolant freezes, keeping the block or head from cracking. While it seems logical, the real purpose of these casting holes is to remove the casting sand. There actually have been many a block cracked with the freeze plug still in place. These pictures are core plugs from a Cooper Bessemer engine—they are the equivalent of a freeze plug. Learn more at the Eastern Gas Compression Roundtable on May 3-5, 2022 at the David Lawrence Convention Center in Pittsburgh.

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Technical Tuesday: Reciprocating Compressors

January 4, 2022

We always wondered where George Lucas got the inspiration for the IT-O Interrogator droid. If you know, you know. Reciprocating compressors can come in all kinds of shapes and sizes. These 3 pictures are a small sample — the round compressor is from a small horsepower unit found in a machine shop. The rectangular body is common in high pressure applications like storage fields and process applications. And lastly, the old faithful is a sample of very large cylinder found in a “main-line” compressor station. Join us at the Eastern Gas Compression Roundtable on May 3-5, 2022 at the David Lawrence Convention Center in Pittsburgh.

Round compressor from a small horsepower unit

Large cylinder in mainline compressor station

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Technical Tuesday: Tail Shaft

December 21, 2021

Have you ever seen a unit wagging its tail? A tail shaft could be used to hook multiple compressors together, but why have one on a unit like this? Manufacturers use them to create rod reversal which lubricates the crosshead pin and bushing. Under certain speed and pressure conditions, a crosshead pin and bushing can fail to cycle and burn up. One of the main contributors to this is the difference in crank end versus head end pressure created by the smaller piston face surface area of the crank end due to the rod connection. An easy way to engineer that out? Put a tail rod in the head end side of the piston. That will even out the pressure and allow the pin and bushing to receive proper lubrication and live a long and happy life together. Join us at the Eastern Gas Compression Roundtable on May 3-5, 2022 at the David Lawrence Convention Center in Pittsburgh.

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Technical Tuesday: Hear-Here

December 14, 2021

This here is a Hear-Here. Back in the day before Scada and automation became king, station operators got a on conference call every hour to relay pressures to the gas controller who would then tell (not ask) them to make adjustments. You can still see the remnants of those practices in a few stations, the big clocks in the engine room, telephone booths, chart recorders, etc. Another fun fact, those operators gossiped like a sewing circle. So if you broke a taillight in Houma, LA, the crew in Newark, NJ, knew the whole story within the hour. Want to know more? Join us at the Eastern Gas Compression Roundtable on May 3-5, 2022 at the David Lawrence Convention Center in Pittsburgh.

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Technical Tuesday: Discharge Bottle Flange

December 7, 2021

What the what?!? Occasionally, we see things that just don’t seem right. If you take look at the discharge bottle flange in this picture, you will see a marvelous piece of ingenuity. Someone took a pipe cap and cut it down to fit the hole. The cap was then welded in place. That labor probably cost more than the blind flange, bolts, and gasket would have. Just because you can do something, doesn’t mean you should. Young technicians, don’t be afraid to ask when you see something that doesn’t look right. Want to know more? Join us at the Eastern Gas Compression Roundtable on May 3-5, 2022 at the David Lawrence Convention Center in Pittsburgh.

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Technical Tuesday: Over-pressure Protection Devices

November 30, 2021

Greenhouse Gas Leak Survey you say? Here is a nice place to start – these are over-pressure protection devices on valve bodies that can prevent integrity issues while the valve is closed. Think thermally related (sunshine for instance) pressure increase. It’s been said that these are better suited for liquid applications as the over-pressure potential is much higher with a liquid product when compared to a gas. So if one of these is leaking, talk to your valve people for guidance. Want to know more? Join us at the Eastern Gas Compression Roundtable on May 3-5, 2022 at the David Lawrence Convention Center in Pittsburgh.

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Technical Tuesday: Filter/Strainer Pot

November 23, 2021

Protect the Barrier… There are 2 distinct areas in a filter/strainer pot — the clean side and the dirty side. How do you drain a filter/strainer for maintenance? Many facilities have an air fitting in the filter bleed that technicians use to force the oil out via an air blanket. Is that an issue? It can be, depending on filter rating and air pressure. It can also lead to a false sense of security that influences the technician to pull the filter early, thereby contaminating the clean side of the filter/strainer housing. This is definitely a task where patience is a virtue. Want to know more? Join us at the Eastern Gas Compression Roundtable on May 3-5, 2022 at the David Lawrence Convention Center in Pittsburgh.

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Technical Tuesday: Inspecting a Master Rod Cap

November 16, 2021

Some folks say you never outgrow your first crush. We sure hope that is true with bearings. This is a master rod cap from a Cooper Bessemer 8V-250. Want to make sure you are looking for the right things when inspecting the cap? Would you also like to learn when and how to repair the fitment? We can help. Join us at the Eastern Gas Compression Roundtable on May 3-5, 2022 at the David Lawrence Convention Center in Pittsburgh.

Have a tip? Do you have a technical tip to share? Submit your tip, along with an associated image and we may include it in our Technical Tuesday social media posts, blog posts and emails.