Design and Analysis of Compressor Base Frame for Weight Reduction

Abstract

The compressor base frame also known, as skid is required to carry its weight and the forces to which it is exposed. The work undertaken is for the compressor base frame (skid). The weight of existing base frame is much higher than the required, which means it is over designed. It was essential to reduce the weight ultimately reducing the cost of it. Hence, the work is focused on design and analysis of compressor base frame to reduce the weight. The weight of existing skid is 4100 Kg and weight of the assembly mounted on it is 9420 kg. The frame has been modified in four different way like I-beams have been replaced by C-channels, removed the C-channels at some places if not required, reduced the thickness of the plates used to mount the motor etc. The free vibration analysis has been carried out to check the occurrence of the resonance and also determined the natural frequencies experimentally using FFT analyzer to validate the results. Similarly, the stress analysis has been carried out and observed that all the modified frames are safe under the various loads acting on it. The weight upto 19 % would have been reduced.