Antonov flies compressor units to Kazakhstan

Hemel Hempstead, UK - Atlas Copco Compressors has delivered a £6-million package comprising instrument and process air compressor modules to Kazakhstan.

The four modules, which were custom-engineered at Atlas Copco’s Systems Division in Hemel Hempstead, were flown by Antonov 124 freight transporter to ensure the delivery schedule was met.

According to Atlas Copco, the oversize modules had to be fitted with special “D” rings so that they could be pulled, with just millimetres to spare, into the front loading bay of the giant aircraft.

The contract was the largest to be fully designed and built by Atlas Copco in the UK, according to Paul Frost, manager of Atlas Copco’s systems division in Hemel Hempstead.

“These modules were specifically designed to meet the operational needs, environmental conditions and demanding application of an international company operating in the worldwide energy and petrochemical market,” said Frost.

“Big oil and gas players are truly global organisations, so country- and boundary-hopping are commonplace in our business,” he added.

The four containerised ‘plug and play’ modules included a 42-tonne instrument air module containing ZT55 oil-free screw compressors and desiccant dryers combined with pre-and after-filtration units.

Three further process air modules were also supplied, each weighing 34 tonnes, containing ZT250 oil-free screw compressors, air handling units and desiccant dryers with pre-and-after filtration.

All four modules have been specially designed to operate in extreme ambient temperatures of -40°C to +45°C, noted Atlas Copco.