Patent ID: 8647076

Claim:
A multistage compressor installation comprising: a plurality of compression stages, including at least four compression stages, to compress a gas and intercoolers positioned between the compression stages to remove heat of compression from the gas between compression stages; each of the compression stages comprising a centrifugal compressor and a driver configured to independently drive the centrifugal compressor of each of the compression stages, each of the centrifugal compressors having an inlet surrounded by a volute and the volute having an outlet oriented so as to discharge compressed gas at a right angle to the inlet; pairs of conduits connecting the intercoolers to the compression stages; the compression stages, the intercoolers and the pairs of conduits arranged such that an inlet of a successive stage of the compression stages is located opposite to an outlet of a preceding stage of the compression stages relative to each intercooler therebetween and conduits of each of the pairs of the conduits are substantially in an in-line relationship to inhibit pressure drops in the conduits; and the compression stages arranged in a helical-like configuration on at least two separate planes.