Reliable Innovations on Compressors for LNG Value Chain

Since the restart of its expansion in 1985 with Woodside plant, OEM has tried to support the growth of LNG market all over the years by introducing always-new technologies for both driver and driven equipments.

Nowadays, new challenges are emerging from the market, asking the OEM to give its contribution in order to face with them. For what concern the refrigeration compressors, the impelling technological challenges for which the Manufacturer is required to play his role can be classified into three different key-areas: maximize production, optimize plant design and simplify footprint. At the same time, reliable technology is required in order to boost profitability.

The purpose of this paper is to share the initiatives brought forward on the design of the compressors as well as the innovations introduced in the last years to successfully address the above-cited challenges. Among the others, the introduction of new stages suitable for higher flow coefficient and the new casing design for horizontally split compressors will be presented. Case studies will be analyzed in order to highlight the benefits gained by exploiting these new design features, resulting also in the chance to arrange the entire liquefaction process on a single compression train.