This can never happen. Let $M$ be a von Neumann algebra with a nontrivial center $Z(M)$. Take two nonzero mutually orthogonal projections $p,q \in Z(M)$. Suppose these projections are comparable. Then w.l.o.g. we have a partial isometry $v \in M$ so that $vv^*=p$ and $v^*v \leq q$ is a projection. Since $p$ is a central projection and $pq=0$, $$0 \neq v^*v=v^*vv^*v$$ $$=vv^*v^*v=pv^*v=0.$$ Some intuition for von Neumann algebras with nontrivial centers can be gained from disintegration results. In the separable case any von Neumann algebra is the direct integral of factors over a compact Hausdorff space. A proof of this can be found in Dixmier's "von Neumann Algebras" or in Tomita Takesaki.

This can never happen. Let $M$ be a von Neumann algebra with a nontrivial center $Z(M)$. Take two nonzero mutually orthogonal projections $p,q \in Z(M)$. Suppose these projections are comparable. Then w.l.o.g. we have a partial isometry $v \in M$ so that $vv^*=p$ and $v^*v \leq q$ is a projection. Since $p$ is a central projection and $pq=0$, $$0 \neq v^*v=v^*vv^*v$$ $$=vv^*v^*v=pv^*v=0.$$ Some intuition for von Neumann algebras with nontrivial centers can be gained from disintegration results. In the separable case any von Neumann algebra is the direct integral of factors over a compact Hausdorff space. A proof of this can be found in Dixmier's "von Neumann Algebras" or in Takesaki.

This can never happen. Let $M$ be a von Neumann algebra with a nontrivial center $Z(M)$. Take two nonzero mutually orthogonal projections $p,q \in Z(M)$. Suppose these projections are comparable. Then we have a partial isometry $v \in M$ so that $vv^*=p$ and $v^*v \leq q$ is a projection. Since $p$ is a central projection and $pq=0$, $$0 \neq v^*v=v^*vv^*v$$ $$=vv^*v^*v=pv^*v=0.$$ Some intuition for von Neumann algebras with nontrivial centers can be gained from disintegration results. In the separable case any von Neumann algebra is the direct integral of factors over a compact Hausdorff space. A proof of this can be found in Dixmier's "von Neumann Algebras" or in Tomita Takesaki.

This can never happen. Let $M$ be a von Neumann algebra with a nontrivial center $Z(M)$. Take two nonzero mutually orthogonal projections $p,q \in Z(M)$. Suppose these projections are comparable. Then w.l.o.g. we have a partial isometry $v \in M$ so that $vv^*=p$ and $v^*v \leq q$ is a projection. Since $p$ is a central projection and $pq=0$, $$0 \neq v^*v=v^*vv^*v$$ $$=vv^*v^*v=pv^*v=0.$$ Some intuition for von Neumann algebras with nontrivial centers can be gained from disintegration results. In the separable case any von Neumann algebra is the direct integral of factors over a compact Hausdorff space. A proof of this can be found in Dixmier's "von Neumann Algebras" or in Tomita Takesaki.