What are the advantages of AERZEN compressor packages in the oil and gas sector? In order to give potential new customers from this sector an impression of the technology, AERZEN organised a tour to various reference plants in the EU. For process engineering reasons, the discharge temperature of these systems is kept constant with continuous water injection. Among the European operators visited were leading manufacturers of chemical raw materials such as soda, which is obtained from polystyrene (EPS) and synthetic rubber (SBR) using the Solvay process.
- Article Dry screw compressors for lime kiln and styrene gas have been operating reliably for decades
Reference report
When planning a pilot plant, it is primarily a matter of building trust and convincing oneself of the AERZEN performance promise in live operations. The compression of gases contaminated and enriched with CO2 using dry screw compressors has been one of AERZEN‘s key applications since the 1970s and still represents a core competence in Process Gas Business today.
The seven systems presented during the trip, which lasted several days, have been running for an average of 19 years to the complete satisfaction of the operators and maintenance staff. The response of the operators to the short-dated visits, which were undertaken before Christmas 2018, was accordingly open and constructive. Up to 35,000 operating hours, i.e. four-year maintenance intervals, are standard for lime kiln gas compressors, while styrene gas compression operations are generally shut down every two years as part of preventive cleaning and overhaul work on the entire plant.
A special highlight was the lime kiln gas compressor VKO 725S, built in 1976, which has already moved from a Czech coking plant and is still characterised by reliability and performance today. An impressive example of engineering know-how, proven technology and quality from AERZEN.
