Alkenes and Alkynes

Olefin gases, such as ethylene, propylene, butadiene, isobutylene, and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), are core feedstocks in the petrochemical and fine chemical industries. Their critical temperatures range from near ambient to well above ambient, making them highly prone to phase change and liquefaction during compressor operation, which can lead to liquid slugging risks, efficiency loss, and safety issues. To address this core challenge, Huayan provides complete compressor solutions from intrinsic liquid prevention to system-level safety, based on its proven dual-technology platform of diaphragm compressors and oil-free piston compressors.

The compressor design should fully take into account the following characteristics:

Olefin gases are divided into two main types based on their liquefaction conditions, which impose distinctly different requirements on compressor design and operation:

Type 1: High-pressure liquefied gases

Represented by ethylene (C2H4), with a critical temperature of 9.21°C, falling within the range of –10°C to 70°C. This type of gas is highly sensitive to ambient temperature changes — during compressor operation, excessive cooling can easily cause it to liquefy at higher pressure stages.

Type 2: Low-pressure liquefied gases

Represented by propylene, butadiene, and LPG (propane/butane), with critical temperatures above 70°C (e.g., propylene at 92.3°C). This type of gas readily liquefies when pressurized at normal temperature, so the compressor process must strictly control the temperature drop to prevent premature liquefaction.

The compressor design concept should also consider the following issues:

Phase change and liquid slugging — Gas condenses into liquid droplets inside the compressor cylinder or piping. If these droplets are struck by the piston or diaphragm, component damage and increased vibration can result.

Thermodynamic control — The heat generated during compression must be removed promptly and precisely. Insufficient cooling can intensify temperature rise, but over-cooling can directly cause liquefaction, requiring fine temperature balance in the compressor system.

Safety and environmental protection — All these gases are flammable and explosive, and gases such as LPG are denser than air, tending to accumulate after leakage. The compressor condensate collection and disposal must be safe and reliable.

HUAYAN's compressor solutions for olefin gases are engineered around precise thermodynamic control:

Our dual-technology platform — diaphragm and oil-free piston compressors — allows us to select the right compression method based on your gas's specific liquefaction characteristics, flow rate, and pressure requirements. No compromise between safety and efficiency.

Our temperature control systems remove compression heat promptly and precisely, preventing both excessive temperature rise and premature liquefaction — because in olefin compression, the line between "too hot" and "too cold" is measured in degrees.

Every potential condensate accumulation point is designed with safe collection and disposal, addressing the unique safety profile of gases that are both flammable and prone to accumulating in low-lying areas.

For ethylene's extreme temperature sensitivity (critical point 9.21 degrees C), our multi-stage compression design with inter-stage temperature management prevents liquefaction at high-pressure stages where the risk is greatest.

Whether you're processing high-pressure ethylene in a petrochemical complex or managing LPG distribution, our compressor designs keep your gas in the right phase, in the right place, at the right temperature — so you never have to choose between throughput and safety.