Getting Started with Performance Testing

Performance Testing has some immediate benefits, but you'll get the most value from an ongoing Performance Testing program. So we encourage you to look at it as an ongoing process. In order to obtain the most benefit, you'll want to integrate the process with Gas Operations, and with system capacity planning.

People

Think about whether you want to create a knowledge center in your own company, or whether it's better for you to bring in the necessary expertise as needed.

Either way, we're here to help with advice, or connections with qualified consultants in the area.

Software

Our primary product for Performance Testing is our software.Check out our User's Guide for details on:

  • Setting up tests
  • Importing data values
  • Operational Testing
  • Generating Operating Maps
  • Determining compressor surge limits
  • Measuring compressor efficiency
  • Measuring anti-surge valve performance
  • Recalculculating test results with updated data, such a new gas analysis results

Hardware

If you don't already have a data acquisition system, we recommend National Instruments PXI hardware.

If you already have a data acquisition system for Performance Testing, we can generally create drivers for your current-generation hardware

Transducers

You will need to accurately measure temperatures, pressures, and differential pressures at a number of places in your system. It's common to use a combination of dedicated testing transducers, and the station instrumentation. We directly support most measurement devices.

Image ©Feb, 2006, John Heerema, All rights reserved —