ISO 18740:2016

Overview

ISO 18740:2016 - Turbocompressors - Performance test code - Simplified acceptance test specifies a streamlined acceptance test procedure for fixed-speed, liquid-cooled, electrically driven packaged centrifugal air compressors. It applies to standard compressor packages sold against manufacturer performance data and defines the test conditions, measurement methods, correction factors and reporting needed to verify advertised performance at factory or site. Note: items shipped loose for site installation are not considered part of the packaged compressor.

Key topics and requirements

• Scope and applicability: Fixed (constant) speed, packaged centrifugal air compressors with electric drive; designed to draw ambient air at normal inlet pressure.
• Specified test conditions (two options): examples include inlet temperature (20 °C or 35 °C), coolant temperature (20 °C or 30 °C), ambient pressure (1 bara), relative humidity (0% or 60%), and gas constant values (287 or 291 J/kg·K).
• Test limitations: maximum permissible deviations such as speed ±0.5%, ambient pressure ±5%, inlet/coolant temperature ±8.5 °C, overall pressure ratio ±2%, external coolant flow ±5%.
• Measurements and methods: volume flow rate at the package discharge point, condensate determination and correction, packaged compressor electrical power input, and shaft speed measurement.
• Corrections and computations: factors for speed/temperature/pressure/humidity, condensate formation, inlet pressure, pressure ratio and cooling water temperature to produce corrected volume flow and specific power consumption.
• Acceptance criteria: performance acceptance allowances are defined for volume flow rate, specific power consumption and unloaded power consumption (the standard lists the allowable deviations to determine acceptability).
• Test reporting: procedural steps for preliminary tests, adjustments, readings and a required test report format; Annex A provides an example test report.

Applications and users

• Who uses ISO 18740:2016: compressor manufacturers, factory acceptance test (FAT) and third‑party test laboratories, commissioning engineers, procurement and QA teams, and end users validating performance/warranty claims.
• Practical uses:
  • Factory acceptance testing of packaged centrifugal air compressors.
  • Verifying performance data published in sales documentation.
  • Acceptance on delivery and commissioning checks.
  • Establishing objective comparison of compressor packages for procurement.
  • Supporting warranty and contractual performance claims.

Related standards

• ISO 5389 (dynamic compressor performance statements) - primary reference for contractual guarantees.
• ISO 1217 (acceptance tests for displacement compressors) - related testing methodology.
• ISO 3857-1/-2 (vocabulary), ISO 5167 and ISO 9300 (flow measurement methods) - referenced measurement standards.

Keywords: ISO 18740:2016, turbocompressors, performance test code, simplified acceptance test, packaged centrifugal air compressor, acceptance tests, specific power consumption, volume flow rate, test conditions, compressor performance.