Sinopec orders Burckhardt compressors
18 May 2011
Winterthur, Switzerland - Sinopec Wuhan Co. has awarded Burckhardt Compression two orders to deliver a total of six Laby (labyrinth piston) compressors for its Wuhan petrochemical complex.
Two compressors will be used for propylene compression; one as recycle gas compressor (ST process) and one as off-gas compressor (JPP process).
Delivery of those compressors will take place in Q1 2012 respectively Q4 2011.
In addition, four compressors will be used for ethylene liquefaction, whereof two for ethylene BOG compression within the recondensing cycle and two for propane compression within the refrigeration cycle. Installation is scheduled to be after Q1 2012.
The 800ktpa ethylene project is the largest integration project in central China.
The Laby has a labyrinth sealing system on piston and piston rod gland that allows oil-free and contact-free compression for minimum wear and tear. This, said Burkhardt, make it suitable for polypropylene production and low temperature ethylene boil-off gas applications.
The compressor is said to be insensitive to particles and contaminated gases and easily manages the compression of ethylene boil-off gas at suction temperatures down to minus 100°C. The gastight design reduces gas emission and losses to the environment to zero, Burckhardt also claims.
