Inert Gas Compressors
by J. A. Becker & Söhne
Noble gas compressors and
compressors for low-activity gases
An important question for gas specialists:
Who manufactures and supplies high-performance compressors and compressor systems for inert gas compression?
J. A. Becker + Söhne has been manufacturing compressors for over 85 years. In addition to traditional industrial air compressors, the company has expanded its product range to include compressor systems for compressing gases for use in industry, business, and research.
The JAB inert gas compressor product portfolio includes medium-pressure compressors, medium-pressure boosters, and high-pressure compressors for the noble gases argon, helium, and neon, as well as the semi-inert gases nitrogen and CO2.
Experts recognize that we need to broaden the definition of “inert gas,” as nitrogen and CO₂ are considered inert only under normal conditions.
These 6 inert gases and our specially designed compressors play a vital role in industry, business, research, and medicine.
When configuring our inert gas compressors, we place great emphasis on utilizing a wide variety of materials and technologies. This is because, within the scope of application for each individual inert gas, purity requirements specific to particular applications must be met.
For example, our JAB complete compressor systems incorporate pre-filters, post-filters, and separators. The decompression of the compressors is done automatically when the system is shut down, as does the condensate separation.
We draw on over 85 years of experience in the construction of JAB inert gas compressors. This long-standing expertise has given rise to a “modular system” that we utilize in the design and construction of complete compressor systems. This allows us to design inert gas compressors for a wide variety of gases, pressures, and flow rates, and to safely implement them, for example, with or without gas cooling, as well as with or without pressure waste heat recovery.
Our customers benefit from this expertise not only with standard products but also with plug-and-play complete compressor systems, OEM compressors, and custom solutions.
JAB Nitrogen Compressors
JAB power units for
nitrogen generation, nitrogen supply to test benches, and
gas injection for the manufacture of plastic components.
Nitrogen is one of the most readily available gases. Although it is an inert gas, it is a crucial raw material for both the economy and industry.
Due to its wide range of applications, the requirements for compressors vary significantly. Therefore, J. A. Becker & Söhne off ers a broad spectrum in this series.
In addition to diff erent power variants, extensive accessories are available, allowing the nitrogen compressors to be effectively expanded, modified, and retrofitted for various applications.
Features and Benefits:
- Plug-and-play for easy installation and quick commissioning
- Extensive accessories to expand functionality
- Adaptation option for the JAB compressor control system „JABcommand UNI plus“
- Direct drive for high energy efficiency
- Belt drive for an extremely compact design
- Gas-tight shaft seals
- Hardened cylinder surfaces
- Many standard performance variants from medium pressure to high pressure
If the units cannot be housed in separate rooms, encasing the compressors in sound-insulating hoods is an ideal solution. This is particularly important when operating in areas with personnel activity.
The encapsulation significantly reduces operational noise.
Technically, JAB compressors for noble gases are designed to accommodate the specific properties of
helium, argon, and neon.
A combination of materials and technology designed to ensure high safety and efficiency in the compression of inert gases.
Due to availability (rare noble gases), environmental impact (CO2), and the cost of producing inert gases, inert gas compressors must be manufactured to be gas-tight, i.e., designed to prevent gas leakage.
In addition to tight manufacturing tolerances, our compressor engineers focus on shaft seals and compressor housings.
Critical sealing areas involving rotating shafts and stationary housing components are equipped with special gas-tight shaft seals; alternatively, as in the case of JAB helium compressors, argon compressors, etc., the drive unit and compression unit are mechanically decoupled by magnetic couplings.
Depending on the size of the gas molecules, technical measures and materials are used to prevent leaks.
To protect the high-quality and expensive inert gases from even the slightest gas loss during compression, special materials and sealing materials are used for each gas to be compressed.
This is facilitated by fully enclosed housings and power transmission via magnetic couplings.
Specially integrated leak gas collection tanks complement the measures designed to compress inert gas without loss.
Special collection tanks are specifically designed for these diffusing gases, allowing the collected gases to be returned to the cycle.
JAB auxiliary compressor systems for use with large compressors.
The larger the compressors, the greater the sealing requirements—this is a general rule of thumb. For this reason, JAB leakage gas compressors are used in conjunction with large industrial compressors. The leakage gas from the large compressors is collected in collection tanks. The JAB leakage gas compressors evacuate the leakage gas from the collection tanks and return it to the large compressors’ cycle.
JAB compressors for noble gases ensure their industrial availability through high-quality technology. High-tech solutions from extraction through application to gas recovery.
Plug & Play Compressors
for Noble Gases
J. A. Becker & Söhne‘s compressors and compressor systems for noble gases, such as helium and argon, are true plug-and-play products.
The plug-and-play principle is also realized wherever possible for compressors and compressor systems that are tailored to your specifications.
Therefore, the delivery scope for custom solutions according to your project includes everything needed for compressor integration
- controls
- sensors for pressure
and temperature monitoring on the compressor
components - heating and drying units
- filters
- pressure vessels
- valves and even
- housing units
Helium-Applications
- Intensive care medicine as a breathing air additive
- Breathing air additive for divers
- Welding technology
- Laser technology
- Aviation as a lifting gas for airships, etc.
- Magnetic resonance imaging
- Magnetic resonance spectroscopy
- Food industry
- Rocket tank pressure equalization filling
- Leak test benches
- Superconductor coolant
- Hard disk drive filling
- and much more
Not all gases are the same—a simple truth. Sure. Or so you’d think.
But how do gases behave under compression?
Compressors for
the compression of CO2
When we examine gases during the compression phase, this simple truth becomes a fascinating phenomenon.
This is because gases can behave and react in very different ways across a wide range of pressure levels.
CO2 is a good example of this. Even though we’ve grown accustomed to carbon dioxide as a “common gas” and its many uses—from the beverage industry to decaffeinating coffee, laser technology, and even fire suppression—CO2 is still capable of many surprises when pressurized. The properties of CO2, which are influenced by thermodynamics and chemistry, must be taken into account in the design, material selection, and construction of carbon dioxide compressors.
In the medium-pressure range up to approximately 50 bar and when specifically cooled, CO2 behaves just like an inert gas. So far, so unproblematic. However, if moisture is drawn in during compression, the water molecules and carbon dioxide combine to form carbonic acid.
What is still touted as a refreshing experience in the soft drink industry can lead to corrosion in compressors and peripheral lines if this factor is not taken into account when selecting materials. What is a critical issue for one application may be a sound technical solution for another.
High-pressure CO2 compressor
When CO2 is compressed to over 73.75 bar at approximately 31 °C, supercritical CO2 is produced, which has a high density and behaves similarly to a liquid. JAB industrial CO2 compressors provide the foundation for the extraction of undesirable substances, such as caffeine from coffee in the food industry. Or even the production of synthesis gas from carbon dioxide and hydrogen for energy storage. JAB CO2 compressors deliver the right pressure at the right temperature.
J. A. Becker + Söhne compressors are therefore specifically designed and manufactured for their intended applications. This results in a range of products, from industrial carbon dioxide compressors for basic CO2 compression to dry-running oil-free compressors for the food and pharmaceutical industries, as well as high-tech carbon dioxide applications.
High-quality compressor solutions and products, backed by comprehensive documentation, ensuring durable and high-performance equipment.
Take advantage
of our expertise in compressor technology for your single- or multi-compressor system.
Just get in touch—
by phone or through the contact form.
We’d be happy to assist you.
Phone: +49 7132 / 367-0