April 25, 2017 | News
Successful Relocation of Oxygen Laby® Compressor of AGA Gas in Sweden Executed by Burckhardt Compression
AGA Gas, a Swedish subsidiary of Linde Group, decided to relocate the entire Laby® Compressor and auxiliary equipment from Stenungsund to a site in Sandviken 500 km away. Burckhardt Compression was selected for this job because it knows Laby® Compressors the best and it has a proven track record in managing the demanding requirements of oxygen compression applications.
The 35-year-old oxygen Laby® Compressor of AGA Gas at Stenungsund no longer met the customer’s needs and had become superfluous. Meanwhile, in Sandviken, a re-life of an old air separation was performed – a perfect match for the Laby® Compressor. Once the idea to relocate the entire Laby® Compressor and its auxiliaries to another destination 500 km away was endorsed, some major tests had to be conducted. This is where Burckhardt Compression came into the picture. “As the OEM of the Laby® Compressor, Burckhardt Compression knows this compressor best and it has an excellent reputation for precision and quality,” said Martin Welin-Berger, Project Leader at AGA Gas.
In order to meet the customer’s needs, an engineering study was conducted by Burckhardt Compression to ensure compliance with the new operating conditions. The new location is planned to produce 30% lower volumes with reduced pressure of 36 bar instead of 50 bar. The key goal was a high level of energy efficiency, which was achieved by installing a new motor.
This was a comprehensive relocation project involving the Laby® Compressor and all auxiliaries such as the cooling system, dampeners, oil system, supports and piping system. All parts were entirely dismantled, labelled and prepared for shipping and re-installation at the new plant in Sandviken. The most demanding task was the cleaning process. Cleaning specifications for oxygen compressors are very strict; compressor parts must be completely oil-free. For safety reasons all cleaned parts have to be controlled with black light to make sure they are spotlessly clean. Reinstalling the Laby® Compressor at its new location also gave Burckhardt Compression the opportunity to revamp the Laby® Compressor and apply the latest technology.
Mats Mjörnling, Plant Manager from AGA Gas in Sandviken commented: “I am very satisfied with the good and reliable services provided by Burckhardt Compression’s reciprocating field service engineers. Frictionless collaboration and their comprehensive extensive know-how made everyone happy and I’m looking forward to working with them again for future maintenance service.”
AGA is a supplier of industrial and specialty gases and the Swedish subsidiary of The Linde Group. The Linde Group is a world-leading gases and engineering company with around 63,500 employees working in more than 100 countries worldwide.
The Laby®, Labyrinth Piston Compressor of Burckhardt Compression, offers unrivaled reliability and availability. This is thanks to its unique labyrinth sealing system on piston and rod gland, which enables oil-free and contact-free compression. This results in an extended mean time between overhaul, which has a positive impact on reliability and operating costs.
Pictures
Left: Dampeners vessels getting ready for the transport in Stenungsund. Picture source: Burckhardt Compression
Right: Laby® Compressor at its new location in Sandviken. Picture source: Burckhardt Compression
About Burckhardt Compression
Burckhardt Compression is the worldwide market leader for reciprocating compressor systems and the only manufacturer and service provider that covers a full range of reciprocating compressor technologies and services. Its customized compressor systems are used in the upstream oil & gas, gas transport and storage, refinery, chemical, petrochemical and industrial gas sectors. Burckhardt Compression’s leading technology, high-quality compressor components and the full range of services help customers to minimize life cycle costs of their reciprocating compressor systems around the world. Since 1844 its highly skilled workforce has crafted superior solutions and set the benchmark in the gas compression industry.
Further information:
Marion Schleuniger
Marketing Communications Manager
Tel.: +41 52 262 56 70
[email protected]
