RCM for Centrifugal Compressors

Traditional PM for centrifugal compressors typically follows OEM time-based intervals regardless of failure patterns. RCM analyzes whether each failure mode is age-related or random, then selects the task type accordingly. This often results in replacing many time-based tasks with condition monitoring while adding targeted inspections for failure modes that the original PM program did not address.

A full classical RCM analysis for a fleet of centrifugal compressors typically requires 30 to 60 hours of facilitated team sessions depending on equipment complexity. Streamlined RCM approaches can reduce this to 15 to 25 hours by focusing on high-criticality failure modes. The analysis team should include operations, maintenance, and engineering personnel with direct experience on centrifugal compressors.

A-criticality units (process-stopping or safety-critical) get the full RCM treatment at analysis asset-by-asset over months with detailed reports per asset. B-criticality units get screening at the same frequency but lighter reporting. C-criticality units get exception-based monitoring — a route check at lower frequency with full diagnostic only when something shifts. The split at most plants is 20% A, 50% B, 30% C of the Centrifugal Compressors population.

Strategy-level, depending on which failure mode is developing. Early-stage signatures on Centrifugal Compressors appear well before functional failure: rising axial position, shaft vibration drift. Catching the fault early means scheduling the repair into a planned outage — usually 6 to 16 hours of planned downtime instead of 24 to 72 hours of unplanned downtime when the asset fails on shift.