Pressure Points Blog

That around 10% of the world’s energy is used for compressing gas is a remarkable fact, especially considering saving energy has never been more important, both to save money and CO2 emissions. Below are seven recommendations on cutting energy use when compressing air.

See how our AeroBlock™ standardized main air compressor helps you handle the pressure with improved efficiency and performance.

Atlas Copco Gas and Process now trains and supports customers and staff through extensive use of Virtual Reality and remote access tools, including hardware/software to reduce the need for on-site presence.

Atlas Copco Gas and Process, a leader in customized rotating equipment, has secured an order from Plug Power Inc. (NASDAQ: PLUG), a leading provider of turnkey solutions for the global green hydrogen economy, to provide compressors and expanders for two 15 tons per day (TPD) hydrogen liquefaction plants to be built in Texas, USA.

Supporting its goal of driving the decarbonization of hydrocarbon processes and the road to Net Zero Emissions, Atlas Copco Gas and Process will be supplying CO2 compression equipment to one of Europe’s most ambitious renewable biofuels plant projects.

Born in Herning, a town in central Denmark, Erik Aelmholdt grew up with an environmental consciousness. It is something he says was ingrained in him from his earliest days. Fast forward a few decades and it’s therefore easy to understand why Aelmholdt was delighted to take up the position of Environmental Coordinator to Site for Atlas Copco Mafi-Trench Company in 2022.

Atlas Copco Gas and Process integrally geared compressors (IGC) address many of the process challenges presented by CO2. The most recent example is in supercritical CO2 power generation and recovery, based on the Allam Cycle. This game-changing technology is being used for highly efficient and green power generation, with plants now entering commercialization.

At Atlas Copco Gas & Process, we’ve set out to help pave the way for an energy transformation. We’re using our decades of experience to provide the optimum answer and we are contributing to the global effort in using resources responsibly. We are here to provide solutions that can make a difference, today, tomorrow and the day after tomorrow.

In 2011, Atlas Copco Gas and Process introduced ECOTS (Expander-Compressor Off-The-Shelf), a collection of pre-engineered expander-compressor packages with custom optimized aerodynamic designs, into the natural gas processing marketplace. Skid-mounted, the original ECOTS standard had a lube-oil bearing system, plus the familiar controls and instrumentation, factory testing, and compressor anti-surge system. The latest addition is ECOTS Plus, designed with a keen eye on both current and future markets. Having achieved success in the USA domestic Gas Processing markets with the first generation of ECOTS equipment, Atlas Copco has refined ECOTS Plus for wider international acceptance. Key features include compatibility with either 50 or 60 Hz. power supplies, and compliance with IEC or NEC electrical design specifications.

New partnerships help us to bring solutions that help Cut The Carbon in our world. We, at Atlas Copco Energas GmbH have recently agreed on an extensive cooperation with turnkey supplier STRABAG Umwelttechnik GmbH in the area of industrial and high-performance heat pumps. This effectively enables us to develop highly efficient heat pump systems tailored and optimized to specific customer needs. We’re excited about the possibilities in this partnership for 2023 and beyond.

The industrialization of much of the world over the past few centuries has been predicated on an abundance of fossil fuels as energy sources. Today, however, there is a growing consensus that green sources of energy must urgently replace fossil fuels if we are to effectively combat climate change. On the back of this, the potential of heat pumps has been gathering greater attention. A major advantage of heat pumps is that they generate much more usable heat from the same amount of electricity compared to other technologies. Moreover, if green electricity from the sun, wind, water, nuclear power, or other low-carbon sources is used, no CO₂ is emitted.

Atlas Copco has been committed to driving development and delivering breakthrough innovations to customers around the world in countless industries for 150 years. The company has an additional long-standing commitment to investing in resources that improve the lives of people and families. This was illuminated with the recent announcement that it has teamed up with The Manufacturing Institute, the US workforce development and education partner of the National Association of Manufacturers.

The demand for hydrogen (H2) is expected to increase in the coming years, driven by the growth of H2 applications in mobility and investments in H2 infrastructure. Liquefaction is a critical step in the H2 supply chain because it enables the transportation and storage of pure H2 in an energy-dense form. H2 liquefaction relies on centrifugal compressors in nitrogen precooling cycles, reciprocating compressors are common in primary liquefaction cycles and cryogenic turboexpanders in precooling and primary liquefaction cycles. Economies of scale means a H2 liquefier’s capital cost improves relative to increases in size. Larger liquefiers can drive down the costs of producing liquid H2, plus plant performance and reliability.

See how our integrally geared compressors pack more efficiency and reliability into a smaller footprint.

In this white paper, learn how (and why) the industry has evolved from inline compression technology to the oil-flooded screw compressors that dominate today’s plants — and how IGCs support tomorrow’s agility needs. IGCs use standardized aerodynamic designs that enable faster commissioning and fewer compression stages, with adjustable process controls that give you more flexibility.

Middle-East-based LNG-carrying fleet set off from Gibraltar with a destination of Ras Laffan, the so-called ‘industrial city’ located around 80 kilometres north of the Qatari capital, Doha. On board was an Atlas Copco team of LNG specialized marine service engineers, there to undertake the overhaul of the ship’s compander in a short timeframe. Despite numerous challenges, the team successfully carried out the overhaul within the deadline, and the vessel was started up, loaded and it sailed on time from the port at Ras Laffan to its next destination.

Atlas Copco has a team of LNG specialized marine service engineers that carry out a range of overhauls and other work on a Middle-East-based fleet of vessels carrying LNG to various ports around the world. Since 2013, there has been a team of dedicated Atlas Copco LNG specialized marine service engineers based at the dry docks there, from where they manage their ongoing projects (overhauling the vessels’ companders and BOG compressors) on the entire fleet.

The 27 MW MRC from Atlas Copco Gas and Process is designed to achieve 99.8% reliability and 84% overall compressor efficiency. The 27 MW MRC is the world’s largest integrally geared MRC, with the smallest footprint.

By making use of the untapped potential of low-pressure steam via mechanical vapor recompression, plant operators successfully found a more energy efficient and sustainable supply of energy. .The key component was an Atlas Copco two-stage centrifugal compressor, which compresses superheated steam from 3 barg to 12.5 barg in two steps.

In an ongoing pilot project, a chemical process plant in the Netherlands uses mechanical vapor recompression (MVR) to upgrade low-pressure steam and reuse it to supply energy. MVR, or in this case steam recompression, is a good example of the electrification of industrial energy demand. Central to the plant’s MVR solution is a two-stage integrally-geared compressor, which compresses superheated steam from 3 barg to 12.5 barg in two steps. The result has been a reduction in natural gas usage and a net reduction in carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions.

The volume flow of the polypropylene/polyethylene (PP/PE) gas phase reaction process has steadily increased in recent decades. While head requirements have remained the same, the higher flows present a challenge for recycle (radial centrifugal) compressors, and especially for impeller and diffusor designs. A solution is to further develop axial-shape impeller designs. This requires a complete review of the flow path of the impeller and reshape of the impeller blade, while the flow path and blade shapes are designed with the help of state-of-the-art CFD tools. The new impeller design, with a more axial shape, provides an optimal solution to the volume-flow-increase challenge.

The adaptation of turboexpanders for use in solar-energy storage represents a promising development in the ongoing effort to meet the demands of a renewable-energy future.

The origin story of Atlas Copco Mafi-Trench Company's Think GREEN initiative and how it has helped shape the future of sustainability for Atlas Copco Gas and Process

Companies across the planet are dedicating increasing time, money, and personnel to finding ways to cut their carbon emissions. What is sometimes overlooked, are the simple solutions that can be done with modest financial outlays and that come with quick returns on investments.

Atlas Copco Gas and Process’s Cut the Carbon campaign is an ongoing initiative that touches every facet of the way the company does business. This was highlighted at the Turbomachinery & Pump Symposia in Turbomachinery International in November 2023.

Global demands for petrochemicals and green hydrogen usage are rising and expected to continue for at least the next decade. Green hydrogen liquefiers are needed for the worldwide reduction of greenhouse gases and global commitments to net zero by 2050. Hydrogen is a long-term energy carrier and storage solution, and with renewable-energy costs shrinking overall, green-hydrogen production via electrolysis is becoming increasingly attractive. Numerous hydrogen-rich turboexpanders designed and operating in the field have validated the evolution of the design process. These machines can be adapted and qualified for hydrogen liquefaction at all scales, and as a result contribute to the worldwide reduction of greenhouse gases.