Energy-Tech Magazine

Some problems are inherent in the design, and these fall squarely on the shoulders of the manufacturer.

As a rule of thumb, a problem that becomes evident during the first 12 months of operation will be covered under the manufacturer’s warranty.

As used here “manufacturer” also applies to the “packager.” The packager is a third party company that installs the compressor, driver (electric motor, gas engine, gas turbine or steam turbine), various vessels, valves, piping, lubrication system and controls on, or adjacent to, the main skid.

The packager, often referred to as the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM), has a pre-arrangement with the main component (compressor, driver) manufacturers to package his equipment. Usually this arrangement includes an exclusivity agreement and price discounts. In almost all cases the major equipment warranty is a “pass through” from the specific equipment manufacturer (compressor, driver, etc.).

There are exceptions, but once the unit has operated successfully for approximately

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12 months any problem that surfaces is usually not covered under the manufacturer’s warranty. When equipment has not operated successfully during the first 12 months of operation, it is imperative that the owner/operator and the OEM work together to identify and resolve the problem or problems.

 Reprinted by special permission of The Fairmont Press Inc., 700 Indian Trail, Lilburn, GA, (www.fairmontpress.com) from “Compressor Handbook: Principles and Practice,” by Tony Giampaolo. This segment was excerpted from Chapter 11, Detectable Problems.

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