Why can BOG compressors operate at -160 degrees Celsius?
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At such a low temperature, won’t the lubricant solidify? Or does it have a built-in oil heating system? Please ask an expert to help answer
BOG compressors are available in low-temperature and normal-temperature versions. The low-temperature BOG compressors in our factory require an inlet BOG temperature of below -100°C in order to start operating; after being compressed by the compressor, the BOG temperature rises, so the inside of the compressor cylinder is not actually at a low temperature.
Dear, the temperature of the BOG flash vapor in the large tank can reach -160°C inside the tank, but it rises to around -120°C after passing through the recovery pipes. There is usually a heat recovery unit before the BOG compressor, along with a vaporization heat exchanger that exchanges heat with the atmosphere to raise the temperature; the temperature of the gas entering the BOG compressor must not exceed -20°C. (The pipes leading up to the compressor are generally made of ordinary carbon steel, and there are requirements regarding the temperature of the fluid flowing through them.)
Above is the approach used in conventional flash vapor compressors. Regarding the question raised by the poster, it can be explained that some flash vapor compressors can indeed operate at low temperatures (-160°C), and this is because both the piston and the piston rod use non-contact seals, and it is an oil-free compressor.