Blue ammonia and hydrogen plant orders compressors

Isothermal RIKT type compressors by MAN Energy Solutions. (Image: MAN Energy Solutions)

MAN Energy Solutions will supply compressor trains as part of a new plant for the production of blue ammonia and hydrogen.

Air Products and Chemical has awarded MAN Energy Solutions an order for six air-compressor trains for use in an air-separation unit in its Clean Energy Complex in Darrow, Louisiana. The complex will produce more than 750 million standard cubic feet of blue hydrogen daily for Air Products’ customers, which will be transported along a 700+ miles pipeline on the U.S. Gulf Coast, as well as blue ammonia for global hydrogen markets such as the transportation and mobility sectors. The facility will also capture and permanently store about 95% of its CO2 emissions – over 5 million tons per year.

MAN’s air-compressor trains will be deployed at the core of Air Products’ air-separation unit where air will be separated into its primary constituents of oxygen and nitrogen. Both gases are needed for the production of hydrogen and ammonia.

MAN Energy Solutions’ scope of work for Air Products’ blue hydrogen energy complex comprises two main air-compressor trains – each equipped with a single shaft compressor type, RIKT 160-3. It further includes two booster air-compressor trains – each with an integrally geared compressor type, RG 63-6 – as well as two gaseous nitrogen compressor trains – each with an integrally geared compressor type, RG 45-5. All of the trains will be electrically driven.

The main air-compressor trains – the largest in MAN’s RIKT portfolio – have three centrifugal stages and deliver more than 600,000 Nm3/h of air. The booster compressors are integrally geared types and have six (air) and five (nitrogen) stages, all with external intercoolers.

“The technical features of MAN air-compressor trains make them ideal for air-separation applications; they help operators achieve maximum performance while reducing energy consumption and minimizing environmental impact,” said Zoran Paunovic, head of Sales & Project Management, Air Separation at MAN Energy Solutions. “We are able to provide two different types of compressor to meet the customer’s needs. The RIKT compressors feature an innovative impeller design that increases energy efficiency while reducing wear and tear on the unit. This design improves the compressor’s overall performance and extends its service life, leading to greater reliability and lower maintenance costs, combined with a very compact design and small footprint. In contrast, the RG compressors are ideal for reaching different high-pressure demands by using different shaft speeds in order to run each impeller within the optimum efficiency point. In this way, energy consumption can be reduced while reaching maximum capacity.”

Air Products’ Clean Energy Complex is expected to commence commercial operation in 2026. For MAN Energy Solutions, the installation will add to an already extensive list of air-compressor train references with more than 250 air-separation facilities with MAN compressor technology currently in commercial operation globally.