Chemical Engineering May 2023 - 5

Chementator
Technology launched for enhancing
propane recovery in GSP
T
he gas subcooled process (GSP)
is a method for low-temperature
separation of natural-gas liquids
(ethane, propane) from natural gas.
Depending on the current market prices
of ethane and propane, gas processors
extract ethane from the natural gas or reject
it and try to recover propane. Newly
launched technology from BCCK (Midland,
Texas; www.bcck.com) is designed
as an add-on for existing natural gas facilities
to enhance propane recovery when
operating with ethane rejection. Known as
G2R-Flex, the patent-pending technology
is capable of maintaining a high rejection
rate of ethane molecules, while boosting
propane recovery.
Developed over the past 18 months,
the G2R-Flex is being launched commercially
for the first time. In March, BCCK announced
the first installation of the G2RFlex,
at a cryogenic gas-processing plant
in Ohio that uses the GSP (photo).
" With the addition the G2R-Flex unit,
we can observe propane-recovery rates
of more than 99% while also maintaining
a high rejection rate for ethane, " says
Jamey Watson, director of process engineering
at BCCK, compared to 95% proNew
compressor design for H2 is leak-proof
and improves efficiency
A
newly developed hydrogen compressor
has a linear motor design
and is hermetically sealed to increase
the efficiency of H2 compression
while avoiding potential problems
associated with H2, such as leaks
and embrittlement. The linear motordriven
reciprocating compressor (LMRC),
developed by a team at Southwest Research
Institute (SwRI; San Antonio, Tex.;
www.swri.org), is designed to compress
H2 for refueling H2-powered vehicles,
such as fuel-cell electric vehicles, but can
also be adapted for other gas-compression
applications that require hermetic
sealing, such as hazardous gas compression
or flare-gas recovery.
The small size of H2 molecules makes
leakage a key challenge, and hydrogen
can also be absorbed by steel and other
metals, leading to a loss of ductility (hydrogen
embrittlement).
The new LMRC features an airtight
compressor, hermetically sealed using
a combination of SwRI-developed solutions.
Coatings protect magnets from
hydrogen incursion and embrittlement,
while improved valve designs minimize
leaks, SwRI says. It also utilizes a ceramic
piston to minimize heat expansion
and lower stress on its seal.
Linear actuation is also a critical aspect
of the LMRC. " Typical compressors have
a piston and crank mechanism that requires
them to make the same motion
every time, with every revolution of the
motor that is driving it. SwRI's LMRC is
linearly actuated, so we can change the
linear motion profile to optimize the compression
process, " explains SwRI principal
engineer and project lead investigator
Eugene Broerman. The vertical motion
of the compressor means that seals and
bearings experience less friction, negating
the need for traditional lubrication, as
required for traditional reciprocating compressors,
Broerman says.
Project engineers plan to modify different
aspects of LMRC design to further
increase efficiency and boost flowrates,
as well as apply the LMRC to other compression
applications.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING WWW.CHEMENGONLINE.COM MAY 2023
pane recovery with the conventional technology.
" The increased propane recovery
can have significant financial benefits for
gas processing operations, " adds Greg
Hall, executive vice president at BCCK.
The G2R-Flex setup consists of a set of
pumps, a vessel and heat exchangers. To
achieve the increased propane recovery,
company engineers concentrated on designing
the process equipment to carefully
control the gas flow within the system.
BCCK
Edited by:
Gerald Ondrey
PS RECYCLING
INEOS
Styrolution America
LLC (Aurora, Ill.; www.ineosstyrolution.com)
and
Agilyx
ASA
(Oslo, Norway; www.
agilyx.com) are advancing the
development of a previously announced
100-ton/d TruStyrenyx
chemical-recycling facility in
Channahon, Illinois. TruStyrenyx
is a partnership between Agilyx
and Technip Energies N.V.
(Paris,
France; www.technipenergies.com)
that offers a process
for the chemical recycling
of polystyrene (PS) back into
high-purity
styrene monomer.
The styrene monomer can be
used to make new, food-grade
plastic products or packaging.
Under the agreement, Agilyx
and Technip Energies will collaborate
with INEOS Styrolution
and together develop the
design and engineering that will
serve as the basis for constructing
the chemical recycling facility.
The group anticipates completion
of engineering in 2023,
which will form the basis for a
financial investment decision.
MAGNETIC COOLING
Together with other investors,
temperature-control specialist
Lauda DR. R. Wobser GmbH
& Co. KG (Lauda-Königshofen,
Germany; www.lauda.de) has
invested in the startup Magnotherm
Solutions (Darmstadt,
Germany; www.magnotherm.
dom). With this round of financing,
concluding at over
€5 million, Magnotherm plans
to start serial production of its
first
sustainable
refrigerator.
Lauda has been following the
development of the promising
startup since 2019, through its
subsidiary new.degree GmbH.
The two companies now want
to utilize this longstanding relationship
and the latest investment
of €300,000 to identify
strategic reference points for
subject areas and projects of
shared interest.
Founded out of the Technical
University of Darmstadt by the
current
managing directors,
Maximilian Fries and Timur Sirmann,
Magnotherm develops
sustainable cooling solutions
(Continues on p. 6)
5
http://www.ineos-styrolution.com http://www.ineos-styrolution.com http://www.agilyx.com http://www.bcck.com http://www.technipenergies.com http://www.technipenergies.com http://www.lauda.de http://www.magnotherm.com http://www.magnotherm.com http://www.swri.org http://WWW.CHEMENGONLINE.COM
Chemical Engineering May 2023

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