Technical Services Bulletin
KEY
ADVISORY
RECOMMENDED
MANDATORY
SAFETY
CREATED BY: Matt Down
(Customer Services Director)
APPROVED BY: Tony
McQuade (Technical
Support Manager)
REFERENCE – TSB042
REVISION - 1
DATE: 17/07/2020
PAGE: 1/2
RECOMMENDED
Improved life and performance of piston rings, rider
rings and piston rod packings
1. RELEVANT TO:
Peter Brotherhood Reciprocating Gas Compressors.
2. PURPOSE OF BULLETIN
To advise customers of the potential for increased component life and
consistency of performance of wear parts in reciprocating gas compressors. In
the context of this Technical Service Bulletin wear parts are piston rings, rider
rings and piston rod packings.
3. BACKGROUND
Peter Brotherhoods’ non-lubricated isobutene compressors were the first
compressors to be equipped with polymer alloy sealing components (wear parts)
in early 1985. These machines installed in a Scottish chemical plant, had originally
been supplied with carbon filled PTFE sealing components. In line with API 618
recommendations at the time.
8000 hour operating life in non-lubricated gas compressors was considered good
performance in 1985, with many non-lubricated gas compressors falling well
short of that and a number of customers considered changing their specification,
for new reciprocating compressors to lubricated design for the compression of
difficult gases.
This bulletin is submitted in confidence
and is to be used solely for the purpose of
which it has been made. The contents of
this bulletin are not to be reproduced,
transmitted or disclosed or used for any
other purpose without written
authorisation from Peter Brotherhood
Limited (PBL). This document has been
created to inform and support you as one
of its customers. However the final
decision for operating your plant in a
correct and safe manner rests entirely
with you. PBL, its employees, officers or
sub-contractors accept no responsibility
for, or should be taken as making any
representation or warranty (whether
expressed or implied) as to the accuracy or
completeness of such data or the
achievement of any projected
performance criteria where these are
indicated. PBL reserves the right to change
or revise this data at any time without
further notice.
Polymer alloys brought about a significant improvement for wear parts in nonlubricated compressor reliability and are now widely used in all non-lubricated
gas compressors. These products typically provide service lives well in excess of
8000 hours; however their specification has changed very little since they were
originally introduced in 1985.
4. GENERAL DESCRIPTION
Peter Brotherhood now offers wear parts made from second generation polymer
alloys for all of its existing and new reciprocating gas compressors. These polymer
alloys have been developed by our partner company Stasskol, specifically for the
reciprocating compressor industry.
They offer the potential to increase lives even further from those being
experienced with existing polymer alloys/ filled PTFES and because of the
improved processing system used by Stasskol, offer significantly better
consistency and unlike current polymer alloys are completely stress free.
Technical Services Bulletin
5. RECOMMENDATIONS
Peter Brotherhood offers a retro-fit service to supply and fit its second generation
polymer alloy piston rings, rider rings and piston rod packings for all existing
Peter Brotherhood Reciprocating Compressors. No changes of piston groove
dimensions or packing cup sizes will be required. Furthermore for enhanced
performance and monitoring we can also provide a complete new design of
piston rod packings with state-of-the art internals.
6. FURTHER INFORMATION
For further information regarding this bulletin or if you have any issues or
comments, please contact our Technical Support team. We will be pleased to
evaluate your correct sealing arrangement and select the appropriate Stasskol
material upgrade.
For worldwide 24/7 support ensuring operational
availability and efficiency please contact our
Technical Support Team on: +44 (0)1733 292292 or
techsupport@peterbrotherhood.com
Peter Brotherhood Limited, 85 Papyrus Road, Peterborough, PE4 5HG, United Kingdom
T: +44 (0)1733 292200 | F: +44 (0)1733 292300 | E: info@peterbrotherhood.com
www.peterbrotherhood.com