MACHINE FAMILY
Liquid-Ring Compressors
Isothermal compression inside a ring of liquid — the wet-and-corrosive answer.
An eccentrically mounted impeller throws a rotating ring of liquid against the casing, forming the compression chambers. Nearly isothermal compression, no metal-to-metal contact in the gas path, and it swallows liquid without complaint — the classic answer for wet chlorine, VCM and flare gas.
The envelope
| Recommended discharge pressure | ≤ 13 bar(a) (≈ 12 bar(g)) |
|---|---|
| Suction flow window | 20–22,000 m³/h |
| Oil-free | Available / by design |
| Sealing | Shaft seal only (stuffing box or mechanical seal) — the ring liquid does the sealing inside |
| Wetted materials | Carbon steel, Cast iron / ductile iron, Stainless steel 316L, Hastelloy C-276, PTFE / FFP lining or coating |
| Design standards | No dedicated API/ISO design standard — pressure boundary typically ASME VIII Div.1 / EN 13445; acceptance testing per the agreed method in the RFQ |
Where it is used
- Wet chlorine, VCM recovery, polymerising gases
- Flare gas and refinery overhead vapours
- Streams carrying condensate, mist or scale
Where it stops
- 13 bar(a) ceiling — above it the family drops out
- The service liquid has to suit the gas; that choice is part of the specification
Chinese dedicated compressor lines now publish to 1.2–1.3 MPa(G), level with the international reference for the class.
Related reading
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