SIAD Macchine Impianti, the company that heads the Engineering division of the SIAD Group, has designed a CO2 compressor to accompany a CCS (Carbon Capture & Storage) plant for capturing and storing carbon dioxide produced by natural gas processes

The project, the first of its kind in Italy, aims to provide a decarbonization solution for companies in the hard-to-abate sectors by processing and conveying large quantities of CO2 to storage sites, thus avoiding its release into the atmosphere.

In this particularly complex project, SIAD Macchine Impianti's contribution involves the CO2 purification and compression phases. The compressor supplied by the SIAD Group, designed according to customer specifications and the requirements of the API618 standard, is equipped with four horizontal cylinders and an explosion-proof 415 kW electric motor suitable for explosive atmospheres. Its function will be to compress carbon dioxide from 0.45 barg up to 68.5 barg, through 4 compression stages.

The design turned out to be a challenging opportunity for SIAD Macchine Impianti engineers, who applied the company's extensive knowledge from decades of experience in CO2 management to a technologically innovative field.
To limit the increase in gas temperature, which is proportional to the increase in pressure in the various stages, the compressor was equipped with heat exchangers. In addition, special separators were designed to remove the condensate produced during the cooling phase; this was essential for eliminating condensed gases inside the compression chamber which, if not removed, would cause corrosion and mechanical damage, compromising the operation of the machine

The compressor was manufactured in strict compliance with the project specifications, which also involved detailed considerations at the installation site in an existing plant. All the components were adapted and configured to be contained in that area, both the purely operational parts and the space for maintenance activities, respecting ergonomic principles.

To ensure the highest technical standards and quality, the compressor components were carefully selected to avoid risks of corrosion and wear caused by wet CO2, a very corrosive gas.

This project is in line with the SIAD Group's numerous activities aimed at reducing the emissions of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. In this case, the compressor offers a contribution that enables companies in the hard-to-abate sectors to achieve their decarbonization targets with an effective solution characterized by low energy consumption and low environmental impact.