Processgas Compressors
for industry, business, medicine, and research
Why are process gas compressors important for industry, business, medicine, and research?
Of course, the first thing that comes to mind is the issue of fossil fuels. No wonder, since process gases are usually considered in this context.
But process gases are much more than just energy sources. When you consider the wide variety of components in natural gas, it becomes clear that it serves as a source of raw materials for industry, the economy, medicine, and research.
Process gases—whether natural gas, biogas, or hydrogen—have one thing in common: when combined with oxygen and other substances, they are highly reactive, if not downright explosive. It’s no wonder that ATEX guidelines play a crucial role in the design of compressors.
A common feature shared by most gases: they are transported in compressed form.
However, the ATEX requirement adds a crucial feature.
To transport process gases from point A to point B as efficiently as possible, they must be compressed and transported via pipelines and CNG logistics. And last but not least, they must be discharged at the destination in an environmentally friendly and loss-free manner.
The chemical and physical properties of the gases to be compressed place significantly different demands on the design of process gas compressors than those required for conventional air compressors.
JAB Compressors
for Natural Gas Compression
Designed and delivered by J. A. Becker for the extraction and use of methane-rich gases, specially configured compressors.
JAB’s extensive range of compressors includes medium-pressure compressors, high-pressure compressors, and natural gas boosters, all of which are available for use in natural gas and biogas plant construction.
Based on this product variety, natural gas and biogas compressors can also be individually planned, designed, and manufactured according to specific project needs.
These compressors are then integrated into gas plants as true „JAB Plug-and-Play“ models.
In total, JAB offers a complete service and support package for the integration of compressors: from planning and proper installation with subsequent commissioning to acceptance by various certification bodies, as well as an extensive training program.
Features and Benefits:
- Refined cylinder surfaces
- Gas tightness through gas-tight shaft seals or magnetically coupled power transmission
- High-quality shaft bearings for continuous operation
- Oil pressure lubrication with pressure monitoring
- Extensive product range for medium and high-pressure compressors
- Tailor-made system concepts precisely designed for the specific needs
JAB Compressors
for Biogas Compression
Due to their technical specifications, JAB biogas compressors are specifically designed for the compression of gas with a high biomethane content. JAB biogas compressors are available both as individual compressor units and as complete turnkey biogas plants.
Although natural gas compressors and biogas compressors operate with gas compositions in which methane is the main component, natural gas and biogas compressors differ in their specifications. The reason for this is the different chemical compositions of the two gases.
While natural gas is usually found in association with crude oil and, due to its formation, contains a wide variety of gas components such as methane, ethane, butane, propane, acids, and even helium, biogas is produced in biogas reactors in an anaerobic (oxygen-free) environment through fermentation processes.
In its raw, untreated form—due to its biological production in decentralized biogas reactors—biogas contains a wide variety of aggressive components and impurities. These are essentially similar to the reactive components found in raw natural gas.
Raw natural gas and raw biogas are refined after extraction and separated into their constituent gas components, so that “conventional” natural gas or biogas—largely free of corrosive components and dried—can be transported and distributed to its destinations (gas stations, power plants, heat generation facilities, etc.).
The gas, which has been upgraded to “biomethane,” is compressed to 80 bar or higher for injection into the grid. JAB—J. A. Becker und Söhne—offers JAB biogas compressors and JAB plug-and-play biogas compressor systems tailored to your biogas plant.
In JAB biogas compressors, just as in JAB natural gas compressors, components made of stainless steel and corrosion-resistant metal alloys are used, despite the refined state of the gas.
Special design features, including multi-acting seals, magnetic couplings, and leakage gas collection tanks, as well as gas recirculation components, prevent gas from escaping into the environment.
The ATEX directives and the EU Methane Directives play a fundamental role in the design and construction of our JAB biogas compressors.
Find more information about our current line of compressors in our brochure.
Features and Benefits:
- Refined cylinder surfaces
- Gas tightness through gas-tight shaft seals or magnetically coupled power transmission
- High-quality shaft bearings for continuous operation
- Oil pressure lubrication with pressure monitoring
- Extensive product range for medium and high-pressure compressors
- Tailor-made system concepts precisely designed for the specific needs
Hydrogen Compressors
Hydrogen technology holds enormous potential for industry. At the same time, hydrogen presents new tasks and challenges for compressor developers and designers.
In collaboration with research institutions and industry, J. A. Becker develops and manufactures compressors for compressing this energy source and integrates them into hydrogen plants.
JAB customers involved in pilot projects—such as those in Germany focused on steel production via direct reduction using hydrogen and eMethanol production, and those in Italy focused on pyrometallurgy using hydrogen burners—rely on compressors made in Germany.
The expertise we have built up since 1897, combined with the vertical integration that has developed in parallel, comes into play in these projects. This results in high-performance, reliable compressors for hydrogen applications.
Hydrogen is being used more and more frequently as an energy source in industry, including pilot projects for the production of “green steel”.
Another technical application of hydrogen is thermal deburring.
In compressor systems, the units and control units are physically separated.
But where there is pressure, there is also heat.
To dissipate the energy generated during compression, JAB compressors are equipped with air or water cooling.
Especially with hydrogen compressors, heat energy dissipation at the individual pressure stages is of great importance.
One manʻs loss is another manʻs gain, because depending on the possibilities, the waste heat energy thus recovered can be fed into heating systems, providing a secondary use.
In addition to traditional hydrogen compressors for storage, JAB supplies mobile evacuation compressors for pipelines and leakage gas compressors for large fuel gas compressors.
Invisible Powerhouses
for hydrogen technology
JAB hydrogen and synthesis gas compressors are used in a wide range of pilot projects
Example involving large combustion gas compressors: a leak gas compressor in assist function
Action and Reaction
Guidelines and regulations for the compression of flammable gases.
Confidence Comes from Experience.
Two EU directives are central to the manufacture of JAB compressors for flammable gases:
- The ATEX Directives and
- the EU Methane Regulation.
JAB compressors for flammable gases undergo the key conformity assessment procedures specified in the ATEX product directives and ATEX operational directives.
The official ATEX directives of the European Union are available free of charge in text form on the website of the Official Journal of the European Union (EUR-Lex).
- ATEX Product Directive (2014/34/EU): For manufacturers of equipment and protective systems.
EUR-Lex 2014/34/EU. - ATEX Operational Directive (1999/92/EC): Occupational safety and health for operators of installations. EUR-Lex 1999/92/EG
Compressors and compressor systems, specifically designed for use with natural gas or biogas, are subject to the EU methane directives.
You can view the official EU methane directives and regulations (specifically, the relevant Regulation (EU) 2024/1787) free of charge (in various language versions) on the European Union’s official legal portal EUR-Lex.
High-quality compressor solutions and products, backed by comprehensive documentation, ensuring durable and high-performance equipment.
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of our expertise in compressor technology for your single- or multi-compressor system.
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Phone: +49 7132 / 367-0