GAS GUIDE
VCM Compression
One gas with a hard temperature ceiling of its own: 100 °C, because polymerisation starts there.
VCM polymerises if it gets hot, and polymerised VCM blocks heat exchangers, valves and passages. That is why this gas carries a hard 100 °C discharge-temperature ceiling — well below our normal 135 °C limit — and why the liquid-ring machines dominate VCM recovery service. NOTE: k = 1.18 is an approximation; confirm with the actual vapour composition.
The properties that drive the choice
| Molecular weight | 62.5 |
|---|---|
| Isentropic exponent k (ambient) | 1.18 |
| Hazard profile | flammable, toxic |
| Autoignition temperature | 415 °C |
| Oil-free | Not required by the gas |
Which families serve it
| Family | Role in this service | Envelope | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Liquid ring | The dominant choice for VCM recovery — isothermal compression inside the service liquid keeps the gas cold by construction | to 13 bar(a) | family page → |
| Reciprocating | Clean, dry VCM at higher pressure | to 400 bar(g) | family page → |
| Diaphragm | Where containment of a toxic, flammable monomer is the first requirement | 1–900 bar(g) | family page → |
Where the boundaries sit
- 100 °C discharge ceiling — well below the general line; ask the vendor how they guarantee it, and treat hot spots and dead volumes as design defects
- Polymerised VCM blocks heat exchangers, valves and passages — the temperature limit protects the machine by protecting the gas
- Toxic and flammable: containment and detection are specification items
Materials
Avoid dead volumes and hot spots; specify a maximum discharge temperature of 100 °C and ask the vendor how they guarantee it.
Related reading
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