GAS GUIDE
Ammonia Compression
Toxic, mildly flammable, and it eats copper — every component in the gas path counts.
Ammonia is toxic and mildly flammable, and it attacks copper and copper alloys — the rule is absolute and applies to every component in the gas path, including gaskets, instrument lines and valve trim.
The properties that drive the choice
| Molecular weight | 17.031 |
|---|---|
| Isentropic exponent k (ambient) | 1.31 |
| Hazard profile | flammable, toxic |
| Autoignition temperature | 651 °C |
| Oil-free | Not required by the gas |
Which families serve it
| Family | Role in this service | Envelope | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reciprocating | Process ammonia duty: synthesis loop-adjacent, transfer and recovery | to 400 bar(g) | family page → |
| Diaphragm | Where toxicity makes containment the first requirement | 1–900 bar(g) | family page → |
| Oil-injected screw | Ammonia-rated boosting where oil contact is acceptable | to 50 bar(g) | family page → |
Where the boundaries sit
- No copper, no brass, no bronze, no Monel anywhere in the gas path — gaskets, instrument lines and valve trim included; state the ban explicitly in the RFQ
- Toxic first, flammable second: the specification leads with containment and leak detection
- Refrigeration packages are a different product class and sit outside this site's scope
Materials
NO copper, no brass, no bronze, no Monel anywhere in the gas path. Carbon steel or stainless only; state the ban explicitly in the RFQ.
Related reading
Running a duty point on this gas? The selector on the home page maps gas, pressures, flow and temperature to a machine family with its boundary conditions — free.
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