ge introduces high-speed recip gh compressor

12 OCTOBER 2016 COMPRESSORtech2

BY MARK THAYER

As the oil and gas industry continues to struggle with low oil prices, GE Oil & Gas (GE) has shown a pattern of investment and bringing major new

products to market. GE’s Reciprocating Compression divi-sion recently launched its couple-free CFH and CFR com-pressor frames (see June 2016 COMPRESSORtech2), and has now announced the launch of a new frame, the GH, to round out its line of high-speed reciprocating compressors.

At a maximum speed of 1500 rpm, the GH frame is rat-ed at 2400 hp (1790 kW) with gas rod loads of 42,000 ft.lb (187 kN). This compressor is suited for gas gathering, gas lift, reinjection, fuel gas boosting and boil off gas recovery applications.

Compressor FeaturesWith 600 hp (447 kW) per throw, the GH is offered in ei-

ther two- or four-throw configurations with a 5 in. (127 mm) stroke. This compressor is a match with gas engines, such as the 1400 rpm CAT G3516 or G3520, or an electric motor at 1500 rpm.

The new model shares a wide range of FlexFlow lined, unlined, water and air-cooled cylinders with GE’s CFH/CFR, MH, WH and WG frames. With FlexFlow cylinders, the cylinder bore size can be easily increased or decreased through the use of liners, eliminating the need to change out the entire cylinder to accommodate changing field con-ditions, saving compressor down time and labor costs.

GE Introduces High-Speed Recip GH Compressor Field validation of customer-influenced design to begin early 2017

BY MARK THAYER

AAs the oil and gas industry continues to struggle with low oil prices, GE Oil & Gas (GE) has shown a pattern of investment and bringing major new a pattern of investment and bringing major new

products to market. GE’s Reciprocating Compression divi-sion recently launched its couple-free CFH and CFR com-pressor frames (see June 2016 COMPRESSORtech2COMPRESSORtech2COMPRESSORtech ), and 2), and 2

Compressor FeaturesWith 600 hp (447 kW) per throw, the GH is offered in ei-

ther two- or four-throw configurations with a 5 in. (127 mm) ther two- or four-throw configurations with a 5 in. (127 mm) stroke. This compressor is a match with gas engines, such as the 1400 rpm CAT G3516 or G3520, or an electric motor at 1500 rpm.

GE Introduces High-Speed Recip GH Compressor Field validation of customer-influenced design to begin early 2017

201610CTE2165_GEOil&Gas_GHCompressor.indd 1 9/20/16 12:13 PM

COMPRESSORtech2 OCTOBER 2016 13

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Initial Development“The development of the GH compressor frame was initi-

ated as a FastWorks project in the summer of 2015,” said Bhupinder Dayal, senior product manager for High Speed Reciprocating Compressors at GE Oil & Gas. FastWorks projects include seeking and implementing feedback from customers quickly to help guide the development team in determining product attributes. GE consulted with a range of packagers, rental fleet operators, and end users to un-derstand their pain points and collect input on the features which they most desired the compressor should have.

“FastWorks is a technique that helps us work in a simpler way where the focus is to drive impact for our customers. It

is a process of validating our design assumptions with our customers prior to major design efforts. This way, we learn quickly and provide customer-accepted products faster.”

The inputs from customers centered around product re-liability, safety and services: the need for wider operating conditions through improved design for crankpin, bearing and other key components; design for ease of service; and the need for machinery fully equipped with sensors for as-set performance monitoring to provide condition-based maintenance and early issue detection. Based on their inputs, the new design was developed and presented to customers in follow-up meetings to ensure the product ad-dressed their needs.

Initial Development“The development of the GH compressor frame was initi

ated as a FastWorks project in the summer of 2015,” said ated as a FastWorks project in the summer of 2015,” said Bhupinder Dayal, senior product manager for High Speed Reciprocating Compressors at GE Oil & Gas. FastWorks projects include seeking and implementing feedback from

The new crankshaft and bearing design features technology leveraged from GE’s

Nuovo Pignone compressor line.

Frame Series GH

GH52 GH54

No. Of Cylinder Throws 2 4

Maximum Speed (rpm) 1500

Maximum Power1200 hp (895 kW)

2400 hp (1790 kW)

Rated Power Per Throw 600 hp (447 kW)

Stroke 5 in. (127 mm)

Piston Speed At Max rpm 1250 fpm (6.35 m/s)

Gas Rod Loads

Tension (Mgrt) 42,000 ft.lb. (187 kN)

Compression (Mgrc) 42,000 ft.lb. (187 kN)

Total Peak To Peak 84,000 ft.lb. (374 kN)

Net Rod Load Allowed Max 35,000 ft.lb. (156 kN)

Frame Dry Weight4100 lb.

(1860 kg)8200 lb.

(3719 kg)

Frame Dimensions (Includes Guides)

Width 61 in. (155 cm) 61 in. (155 cm)

Length 58 in. (147 cm) 93 in. (236 cm)

Height 37 in. (94 cm) 37 in. (94 cm)

Spacing Between Throws 42 in. (107 cm) 42 in. (107 cm)

Crankshaft Material Forged Steel

Connecting Rod Material Forged Steel


Product InnovationsThe GE Oil & Gas Reciprocating Compression team

leveraged GE’s Global Research Centers to develop new technology and materials for key crosshead components. GE Global Research, with its eight global centers, is the hub of technology development for all of GE’s businesses.

A test rig was designed and built to test the new tech-nology under various field conditions such as compres-sor speeds and loads. The team developed sophisticated analytical models and performed numerous tests to under-stand failure modes and their root causes. The result is a new design that includes optimized geometry and materi-


n The bore size of GE’s FlexFlow cylinders can be easily increased or decreased through the use of liners, eliminating the need to change out the entire cylinder to accommodate changing field conditions.

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COMPRESSORtech2 OCTOBER 2016 15

als that provide sustained lubrication of high-wear component interfaces.

The GH compressor features crank-shaft journal bearing technology lev-eraged from GE’s Nuovo Pignone compressor line, known for its mix of high reliability and low maintenance. This new crankshaft and bearing de-sign provides higher minimum oil film thickness (MOFT) and lower peak oil film pressure (POFP), thus improving bearing performance and reliability, Dayal said.

To provide condition-based mainte-nance and early detection of poten-tial failures, the compressor has been equipped with numerous optional sensors, including oil chemistry, main bearing temperature, connecting rod bearing temperature and crosshead vibration. These sensors permit GE to offer health monitoring, reliability man-agement and maintenance optimization using Asset Performance Management (APM) based on GE’s Predix analytics platform. According to GE, APM helps increase reliability through early failure detection and predictive maintenance, and it helps increase availability and improve performance through diagnos-tics and recommendations.

The compressor is designed for ease of service and maintenance, the com-pany said. The oil header is integral to the frame, eliminating excess tubing and leak paths. Packaging is further simplified by mounting the tempera-ture control valve (TCV) and pressure relief valve (PRV) on the frame. Main-tenance is simplified through simplex or duplex filter solutions. Lastly, a 42 in. (107 cm) spacing between the throws provides plenty of room to work be-tween cylinders.

Design Features For Serviceability• Larger cross head doors for easier access.• 42 In. (107 Cm) throw spacing for easier accessibility between cylinders.• Pre-installed temperature control valve (tcv) and pressure relief valve (prv).• Additional oil heater connections to prevent oil degradation.• Internal oil header to eliminate leak paths.• Numerous optional sensors to provide compressor health monitoring and predictive maintenance.


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n GE tapped into its Global Research Centers to develop new technology and materials for key crosshead components.

Future Deployment To date, GE has completed detailed design work on the

GH compressor frame. The company said the first compres-sor would be ready for field validation in early 2017. The compressor fame and the cylinders are to be manufactured and assembled in GE’s Oklahoma City manufacturing facil-ity and delivered to end users globally through GE’s network of packagers.

“We continue to invest heavily to expand our product port-folio and bring innovative products to our customers,” said Christina Andersen, president of GE’s Reciprocating Com-pression business. “We are very excited about the launch of our new GH-series compressor and we will continue to leverage our Global Research Centers to bring innovative products to our customers.” CT2


ge introduces high-speed recip gh compressor

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