Investigation of API 618 process gas compressor failures with Fault Tree Analysis

Reciprocating compressor is in processes and production, especially in natural gas refineries plays the most critical and vital roles. If it is not available in the system, for a short time, leads to huge financial losses. Causing failures of compressor and perspicuity of root causes, basic factors and analyzing these failures one by one and using preventive strategies against damage, it leads to good and regular operation of our device and increased reliability and availability factors as well. In this study, investigation of API 618 process gas compressor failures with fault tree analysis include two parts. The first part deals with the five basic factors that be caused failure to the API 618 compressor. Major reason of each basic factors were determined and their probability values were calculated. With the help of the Open FTA program, MCS's are identified and the importance of the individual basic events is calculated to identifying the damage of the system. In the second part of this study, each basic factors (process failure, mechanical component failure, instrumentation and measuring instrument failure, auxiliary equipment failure and electrical failure) with keeping a top event in FTA, causing of the compressor failures was investigated one by one by using fault tree analysis carefully. By using the Open FTA program, their MCS's have been identified and the prospect of the individual basic events which is important for the system has been evaluated. Key Words : Natural Gas , Refinery, Reciprocating Compressor , FTA , Reliability Fault Tree Analysis, API 618 Process Gas Compressor