centrifugal compressors use a vaned rotating disk or impeller in a shaped housing to force the gas to the rim of the impeller, increasing the velocity of the gas. a diffuser (divergent duct) section converts the velocity energy to pressure energy. they are primarily used for continuous, stationary service in industries such as oil refineries, chemical and petrochemical plants and natural gas processing plants. their application can be from 100 hp (75 kw) to thousands of horsepower. with multiple staging, they can achieve extremely high output pressures greater than 10,000 psi (69 mpa).