ISO 10439-3:2015

Overview

ISO 10439-3:2015 specifies minimum requirements and recommendations for integrally geared centrifugal compressors used in the petroleum, petrochemical and natural gas industries. As Part 3 of the ISO 10439 series, it is intended to be used in conjunction with ISO 10439-1 (General requirements). The standard is based on API 617 and replaces prior editions of ISO 10439, providing an industry-aligned framework for design, materials, testing, inspection and supplier documentation for integrally geared process compressors and expander-compressors.

Key Topics

• Scope and applicability: Integrally geared centrifugal compressors for gas and process air in petroleum, petrochemical and natural gas plants.
• Design fundamentals: Basic design principles, performance expectations and unit responsibility (to be read with ISO 10439-1).
• Materials and casings: Requirements for pressure-containing casings, material inspection, casing repair and support structures.
• Rotating elements and dynamics: Guidance on rotor design, dynamic behavior and external forces and moments.
• Bearings and seals: Requirements for hydrodynamic radial and thrust bearings, bearing housings and shaft end seals.
• Integral gearing: Specific provisions for gear design, rating and contact checks; Annex G includes rating formulae for integral gearing.
• Accessories and auxiliaries: Drivers, couplings, lubrication/sealing systems, controls, instrumentation, piping and special tools.
• Inspection and testing: Mechanical running tests, gas leakage checks, gear contact verification and preparation for shipment.
• Supplier documentation: Datasheets, vendor data and drawing requirements (VDDR), inspector’s checklist and typical material recommendations.
• Normative vs informative annexes: Annex A and Annex G are normative; Annexes B–F provide informative guidance (VDDR, nomenclature, materials, checklists, external forces).

Applications and Users

ISO 10439-3:2015 is used to ensure safe, reliable and auditable specification, manufacture, testing and handover of integrally geared centrifugal compressors. Typical users include:

• Procurement and engineering teams in oil & gas, petrochemical and LNG facilities
• Compressor manufacturers and OEMs designing integrally geared machines
• Field and factory inspectors, testing contractors and third‑party certifiers
• Maintenance, reliability and rotating‑equipment engineers specifying repairs or upgrades

Practical uses: preparing technical specifications and purchase orders, defining acceptance tests, verifying gearbox and rotor integrity, and harmonizing supplier data for project handover.

Related Standards

• ISO 10439-1 (General requirements)
• ISO 10439-2, ISO 10439-4 (other compressor types)
• API 617 (basis for this standard)
• API 670 (machinery protection)
• ISO 5389, ISO 8068, ASME PTC 10, AGMA gear standards

Keywords: ISO 10439-3:2015, integrally geared centrifugal compressors, compressor standards, petroleum petrochemical natural gas, API 617, compressor testing, gearbox rating.