Improving the accuracy of reciprocating compressor performance prediction by considering real gas flow in the valve chambers and associated piping

Presented in the paper is the outline of a mathematical model describing unsteady real gas flow in a reciprocating compressor plant. A modified version bf the Lax-Wendroff algorithm is used to compute the real gas flow in the pipes, the former being connected to the boundaries by means of a real gas version of the method of characteristics. Pipe boundaries are modelled as generalized throttling elements. The interim results show that accounting for the real gas flow in the compressor attachments increases the accuracy of performance prediction, and helps optimizing the valves under more realistic conditions.