Propane Compressor

Propane (C₃H₈) is a core component of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and an important chemical raw material. As a typical low-pressure liquefied gas, it has a high critical temperature of 95.6 °C and a critical pressure of approximately 4.26 MPa (gauge pressure). It can be liquefied under moderate pressure at room temperature, which not only forms the basis for its liquefied storage and transportation but also imposes stringent requirements on compressor design to prevent liquefaction. Propane is flammable and explosive, with an explosion limit of 2.1 % to 9.5 %, and exhibits a swelling effect on most sealing materials. Therefore, propane compressors must, under the premise of high efficiency and reliability, prioritize addressing core challenges such as phase change control, absolute sealing, and material compatibility.

DIAPHRAGM COMPRESSOR

PISTON COMPRESSOR

Advantages of Propane Diaphragm Compressors

01

Absolutely Oil-Free and Ultra-High Gas Purity:

The diaphragm completely isolates the hydraulic oil from the compressed gas, ensuring 100% oil-free contamination of the propane medium during the compression process. This is critical for applications such as polymer-grade propane, food-grade propane, or specialty gas filling, safeguarding product quality and safety in downstream processes.
02

Zero Leakage and Intrinsic Safety via Static Sealing:

The entire gas compression chamber adopts a static sealing structure, fundamentally eliminating process leakage. Combined with a three-layer diaphragm safety design and a rupture alarm system, it provides the highest level of intrinsically safe protection for compressing flammable and explosive propane, making it especially suitable for installation in safety-sensitive areas or for handling valuable gases.

Key Design Points for Propane Diaphragm Compressors

01

Diaphragm and Material Compatibility Design:

To address the swelling effect of hydrocarbon gases like propane on certain rubber or polymer materials, metal diaphragms and sealing materials with excellent compatibility must be selected. Flow-wetted components such as the cylinder head and gas valves should also be preferentially made of 316L stainless steel to meet both corrosion resistance and swelling resistance requirements.
02

Precise Thermal Control and Anti-Liquefaction Monitoring:

Based on propane's near-ambient critical temperature characteristics, accurate thermodynamic calculations must be performed to design efficient diaphragm chamber cooling channels. The control system must integrate high-high discharge temperature alarms and interlock shutdown functions to ensure the operating temperature always remains above the dew point temperature at the operating pressure, with a sufficient safety margin, to strictly prevent liquid formation.
03

Integrated Safety and Purging System:

The compressor body shall be integrated with combustible gas detector connection ports. Safety valves must be provided, with a relief capacity greater than the maximum compressor discharge capacity, and the discharge port shall be routed to a flare or a safe area. In addition, nitrogen purging interfaces shall be reserved for thoroughly displacing air from the piping and compression chamber before startup to prevent the formation of explosive mixtures.

Certificate

MODEL SELECTION

Model G70Z/G95Z/G110Z/G130Z	Piston Stroke 70mm~130mm	Maximum Piston Force 10KN~30KN
Maximum Discharge Pressure 70Mpa	Flow Range 1~500Nm³/h	Motor Power 2.2KW~30KW
Crankshaft Speed 420rpm	Cooling Method Water Cooled/Air Cooled

Model G70V/G95V/G130V	Piston Stroke 70mm~130mm	Maximum Piston Force 10KN~30KN
Maximum Discharge Pressure 50Mpa	Flow Range 1~200Nm³/h	Motor Power 2.2KW~30KW
Crankshaft Speed 420rpm	Cooling Method Water-cooled / Air-cooled

Model G110L/G130L	Piston Stroke 110mm~130mm	Maximum Piston Force 20KN~40KN
Maximum Discharge Pressure 100Mpa	Flow Range 10~1000Nm³/h	Motor Power 7.5KW~90KW
Crankshaft Speed 420rpm	Cooling Method Water-cooled / Air-cooled

Model G110D/G130D/G150D/ G180D/G182D/G210D	Piston Stroke 110mm~210mm	Maximum Piston Force 20KN~160KN
Maximum Discharge Pressure 100Mpa	Flow Range 30~2000Nm³/h	Motor Power 22KW~200KW
Crankshaft Speed 420rpm	Cooling Method Water-cooled / Air-cooled

Diaphragm type compressor

Piston stroke 70mm

Flow(Nm3/h)

Inlet pressure(barg)

Outlet pressure(barg)

No.	Model	Cooling water	Flow	Inlet pressure	Outlet pressure	Dimensions L×W×H	Weight	Motor Power
No.	Model	(L/h)	(Nm³/h)	(MPa)	(MPa)	(≈mm)	(≈kg)	(kW)
1	GZ-20/5-25	500	20	0.5	2.5	1400×760×1650	650	4
2	GZ-12/0.5-8	500	12	0.05	0.8	1500×760×1200	750	4
3	GZ-20/5-30	500	20	0.5	3	1400×760×1600	650	5.5
4	GV-11/1.5-25	600	11	0.15	2.5	1500×780×1080	850	4
5	GV-120/3.5-12	2000	120	0.35	1.2	2030×1700×1700	3000	22
6	GV-100/7-25	3000	100	0.7	2.5	2030×1645×1700	3000	30
7	GL-72/5-36	1500	72	0.5	3.6	2000×1500×1200	3000	15
8	GL-60/0.05-4	4000	60	0.005	0.4	2400×1800×1600	3000	15
9	GL-400/20-50	3000	400	2	5	4000×2500×2200	4500	30
10	GD-900/4-12	5000	900	0.4	1.2	3500×2300×1500	4500	45
11	GD-450/1-12	9000	450	0.1	1.2	3800×2300×2000	100000	90
12	GD-250/0.2-15	8000	250	0.02	1.5	3600×2300×1800	6000	75

The equipment size and weight are for reference only, and the final design shall prevail.

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CASE STUDY

Russia
UNITED STATES
Spain
Kazakhstan

Advantages of Propane Reciprocating Compressors

01

Wide Flow Range and Excellent Economy:

Reciprocating compressor technology is mature, and a single unit can cover a broad capacity range from thousands to tens of thousands of standard cubic meters per hour, perfectly matching the large-flow requirements of industrial-grade propane recovery, boosting, and transportation. Its high volumetric efficiency, combined with relatively low initial investment and maintenance costs, offers the optimal cost-effectiveness ratio for large-scale projects.
02

Proven Anti-Liquefaction Process and High Adaptability:

Through the classic combination of multi-stage compression, interstage cooling, and high-efficiency gas-liquid separators, the temperature rise and cooling process of the gas can be systematically controlled, effectively preventing liquefaction. This configuration is insensitive to fluctuations in suction pressure and flow rate, enabling stable adaptation to common operating condition variations in petrochemical or oil and gas field applications.

Key Design Points for Propane Reciprocating Compressors

01

Refined Design of Multi-Stage Compression and Interstage Cooling:

The compression ratio of each stage must be precisely calculated and set according to the inlet conditions and target pressure. Each stage must be equipped with an efficient cooler and a high-performance gas-liquid separator, with the separator fitted with an automatic drain valve. Separation before the final stage intake is critical, and it must be ensured that the gas entering the high-pressure cylinder is completely in a dry state.
02

Oil-Free Lubrication and Specialized Sealing Technology:

To meet purity requirements and prevent lubricating oil from contaminating the medium, propane reciprocating compressors must adopt an oil-free lubrication design, with piston rings and rider rings made of self-lubricating materials such as PTFE and PEEK. The packing box design may incorporate a nitrogen buffer seal to both prevent gas leakage and avoid oil ingress into the cylinder. The piston rod surface requires hardening treatment to ensure wear resistance under oil-free conditions.
03

Vibration Suppression and Pulsation Control:

As propane is denser than air, the impact of gas pulsation is more significant. Pulsation dampeners must be properly installed near the suction and discharge ports of each stage, and detailed piping stress analysis and flexible design may be necessary. A balanced-opposed type machine is preferred, as its inherent dynamic balance can substantially reduce foundation vibration. All electrical equipment and instrumentation must meet the explosion-proof rating of Ex d IIB T1.

Certificate

MODEL SELECTION

Z Type

V / W Type

M Type

D Type

Piston stroke 80mm, 95mm	Piston force 10KN～25KN
Power 7.5KW-55KW	Number of cylinder banks 1/2
Crankshaft speed 740 rpm, 980 rpm	Number of compression stages 1/2/3/4
Drive mode Electric motor, diesel engine, natural gas engine

Piston stroke 92mm, 95mm, 105mm, 120mm	Piston force 25KN, 45KN, 65KN
Number of compression stages 1/2/3/4	Number of cylinder banks 2/3/4
Crankshaft speed 740 rpm, 980 rpm	Power 15KW-220KW
Drive mode Electric motor, diesel engine, natural gas engine

Piston stroke 92mm~315mm	Piston force 45KN~660KN
Number of compression stages 1/2/3/4	Number of cylinder banks 4
Crankshaft speed 300rpm~980rpm	Power 160KW-3000KW
Drive mode Electric motor, diesel engine, natural gas engine

Piston stroke 92mm~315mm	Piston force 25KN~200KN
Number of compression stages 1/2/3/4	Number of cylinder banks 2
Crankshaft speed 300rpm~980rpm	Power 30KW-1000KW
Drive mode Electric motor, diesel engine, natural gas engine

Vertical type

Oil-free / F: Air-cooled

0.15

Actual volume flow (m3/min)

6.5

Inlet pressure(barg)

Outlet pressure(barg)

S/N	Model	Flow	Inlet pressure	Outlet pressure	Motor power
S/N	Model	(Nm³/h)	(Mpa)	(MPa)	(kW)
1	ZW-0.15/6.5-25	55	0.65	2.5	7.5
2	ZW-0.12/50-40	300	5	4	11
3	ZW-0.85/0.4-25	60	0.04	2.5	15
4	VW-7.0/0.1-1.0	400	0.01	0.1	18.5
5	VW-2.0/2-36	300	0.2	3.6	45
6	VW-0.84/5-35	250	0.5	3.5	37
7	DW-0.85/10-40	480	1	4	55
8	DW-7.1/8-28	3000	0.8	2.8	220
9	DW-2.5/6-60	1000	0.6	6	110
10	MW-15/3.5-28	3000	0.35	2.8	400
11	MW-6/15-21	6000	1.5-2.0	2.1	185
12	M-40/3-7	9000	0.3	0.7	450