ER-56.03 (Skid Design and Fabrication)

The contents of this document are proprietary and confidential.
They are the

property of Ariel Corporation and may not be disclosed, reproduced, or used for
ENGINEERING REFERENCE manufacture in part or in whole without written permission from Ariel Corporation.
Skid Design and Fabrication

A skid/package mechanical analysis is required to provide a properly engineered system to
the end user. The Packager or a third party conducts the analysis for all unproven driver-
/compressor combinations. This is especially critical for projects such as:
• Any first of a driver and/or compressor combination.
• Any first of a frame class.
• Offshore platforms.
• FPSO installations.
• Pile-mounted skids.
NOTE: The Packager must retain any supporting calculations made by the Packager and/or
consultant. The Packager must consider dynamic as well as static forces. Combined Rod
Load and Unbalanced Forces and Couples data are available within the Ariel Performance
Program.
Package Design Requirements

1. The skid/pedestal should transmit shaking forces to the foundation and provide adequate structural
support with proper tie-down under piping, and other critical components.
2. Provide sufficient skid stiffness and strength so the compressor mounts flat without bending or twist-
ing the compressor frame, crosshead guide, or cylinder. All frame and crosshead guide mounting
points should be supported by full depth cross members.
3. When installing equipment to the skid, ensure all mounting points are flat and parallel to compressor
feet to avoid angular and parallel soft foot and facilitate ER-82 compliance. The mounting method
depends heavily on packager ability to duplicate skid flatness at installation. Methods to mount the
frame to the skid include:
• Grouted sole plates
• Grout chocks
• Careful rail or full bed grouting
• Welded steel chocks
NOTE: Flatness and parallelism can be difficult to achieve using this method. It is recom-
mended to machine steel chocks after welding to avoid angular soft foot, which requires
the use of step shims or re-machining in the field. Step shims create point loading and
will not provide adequate contact between the foot and chock.
• Threaded adjustable chocks
NOTE: Though threaded adjustable chocks have been used with success under smaller
frame classes, they are not permitted under JGC:D:F:Z:U:B:V and KBZ:U:B:V frames.
Keep in mind the compressor frame is to be the stationary component of the alignment
train.
4. Provide compressor hold down bolting in accordance with ER-26. Bolt lengths extending through
only the compressor foot and I-beam flange are typically insufficient to prevent loosening.
For the most recent edition of this document, visit www.arielcorp.com.

Page 3, "Head End Support Required Features", 4th bullet: "Attach the vertical support of the 14 018882 12-20-13
HES to a full depth skid beam flange so it is directly supported by the web of the beam. Gussets 13 019052 10-21-13
17 are required between the skid beam flanges directly beneath the HES vertical supports." was
"Attach the vertical support of the HES to the skid beam web section, not to the flange. Gussets
12
11
018694
015759
1-25-13
9-21-12
17
16
201600689
201600207
7-21-16
6-1-16
are required between the beam flanges." 10 016437 3-4-11 15 019638 12-8-14
VER. DESCRIPTION VER. ECN DATE VER. ECN DATE
Page 1 of 3 VER. 17 ER-56.03

The contents of this document are proprietary and confidential. They are the
5. Support crosshead guide feet not only to provide vertical support, but also to prevent horizontal
movement perpendicular to the piston rod. Attaching any support to the deck plate alone is insuf-
ficient. Ariel recommends A-frame supports attached directly to a full depth skid member. Ariel
offers crosshead guide supports for JGW and larger frames. Use of threaded adjustable chocks to
support the crosshead guides requires a careful mechanical study to validate their use.
6. JGH:E:K:T 2-throw frames with pipeline cylinders, all JGC:D and larger 2-throw frames,
and all JGF frames require a full width compressor pedestal (wide enough to include the
guide support mounting feet) to control unbalanced forces and couples. Ariel recommends
a reinforced concrete-filled pedestal of common height and use of Ariel crosshead guide supports.
7. Each crosshead guide deflects an amount relative to the weight of the cylinder mounted on that
throw. See the Ariel Performance Program for estimated crosshead guide foot deflection. This
estimate accounts only for cylinder weight. Account for the weight of attached bottles and piping if
correcting after bottle mounting. For JGR:J:W and smaller frames, cylinder weight will not deflect
the guide, but bottle weight still requires consideration. After mounting the frame and torquing the
frame mounting bolts, shim the crosshead guide to achieve zero deflection when the guide support
bolts are tightened. Loosen the guide support bolts, lift the cylinder, then add shims equaling the
deflection value as calculated by the Ariel Performance Program to the shim pack under the
crosshead guide to level it. Tighten guide support bolts per ER-63. Out of spec crosshead running
clearances may indicate incorrect guide shimming. Except for KBZ:U frames, shim crosshead
guides between the guide feet and the support; shim KBZ:U guides under the support. On JGZ:U
frames equipped with long two-compartment (L2) crosshead guide extensions, use the outboard
feet under the guide extension to support the guide. Leave feet under the guide unsupported.
8. Provide sufficient skid stiffness to prevent twisting due to torque reaction between the driver and
compressor. Provide enough stiffness so shipment or relocation minimally affects driver/compressor
alignment. Always check and correct coupling alignment after package relocation.
9. Every installed compressor package has several mechanical natural frequencies (MNF), usually in
scrubber/bottle/cylinder system groupings. Each frequency is a function of the stiffness and mass of
the entire system, including the foundation or deck.
If the system first MNF is within the operating speed range or twice the operating speed range of the
package, resonant vibration occurs. Ensure the first MNF of the skid package mounted on the user
foundation or deck is either less than 0.8 times the minimum compressor operating speed, or more
than 2.4 times the maximum operating speed. Coordinate with the foundation or deck designer.
Although not recommended, to tune a major cylinder MNF between 1 and 2 times the operating fre-
quency, maintain the cylinder MNF above 1.5 times operating frequency. The high excitation of 1
times compressor forces combined with low level amplification up to 1.5 times the operating fre-
quency can cause excessive vibration.
Forward maximum/minimum speed and normal operating speed range to the end user along with a
caution to examine off-skid structure, piping, instrumentation, and equipment for resonance.
10. Provide skid beams with gussets at anchor bolt locations. Anchor bolt locations should also be sup-
ported internally by cross members.
11. Well-designed crosshead guide supports provide high axial (parallel to the crankshaft) and vertical
stiffness that usually eliminate the need for head end cylinder supports (HES). If a mechanical ana-
lysis predicts interference with a cylinder/guide combination MNF in the operating speed range,
HES may be recommended. Use HES to supplement well-designed crosshead guide supports.
• The mechanical analysis provider should provide detail drawings of the cylinder support of appro-
priate stiffness to shift the MNF.
• It is a good practice to design provisions for HES into a skid, even if HES are not recommended. It
is relatively inexpensive to fabricate and correctly install HES if considered in the design phase.
Page 2 of 3 VER. 17 ER-56.03

The contents of this document are proprietary and confidential. They are the
• HES require careful adjustment and may hinder maintenance access. Improperly adjusted HES
can cause high stress on cylinders and fabricated process piping that can result in failure.
• HES are also recommended for vertical support of cylinders weighing over 10,000 lbs.
• Some cylinders have a small pad on the bottom of the head end of the cylinder. This can be used
when only vertical support is required.
• New pipeline and large bore cylinders have an external bolt circle specifically designed for mount-
ing HES. Consult the cylinder outline drawings for details. On cylinders without the external bolt
circle feature, Ariel recommends "clamp" style supports. Clamp style supports grip the flange of
the head end head or clearance pocket. For clamp style HES, it is critical to machine the inside dia-
meter of the clamp to a very tight tolerance to provide as much contact area as possible.
Head End Support Required Features

• HES must be adjustable to avoid cylinder stress. Adjust HES with the compressor at operating tem-
perature.
• HES must be very stiff vertically and as stiff as possible parallel with the crankshaft.
• HES must not be excessively stiff horizontally (parallel with the rod). They are not intended to restrain
rod load forces.
• Attach the vertical support of the HES to a full-depth skid beam flange so it is directly supported by the
web of the beam. Gussets are required between the skid beam flanges directly beneath the HES ver-
tical supports.
NOTE: Supports that use gas containment bolting to attach to the cylinder require Ariel
approval.
Head End Support Adjustment

Adjust the HES with the system heat-soaked and immediately after adjusting the bottle supports in
accordance with the start up checklist and the maintenance schedule. Shim or otherwise adjust the sup-
port to hold the current position of the cylinder.
NOTE: Piston rod runout and crosshead running clearance checks will confirm guide/cyl-
inder alignment has not been compromised.
Page 3 of 3 VER. 17 ER-56.03

ER-56.03 (Skid Design and Fabrication)

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What are the requirements for skid design and fabrication?

What are the package design requirements?

The contents of this document are proprietary and confidential.

They are the

Skid Design and Fabrication

Package Design Requirements

For the most recent edition of this document, visit www.arielcorp.com.

Page 1 of 3 VER. 17 ER-56.03

Page 2 of 3 VER. 17 ER-56.03

Head End Support Required Features

Head End Support Adjustment

Page 3 of 3 VER. 17 ER-56.03

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