Project description
Unprecedented technology addresses pressing matters in the energy realm
Reciprocating compressors compress gases through a combination of rotational and linear (reciprocating) motion. They have numerous advantages over other types of compressors and are widely used in the heating, ventilation and air conditioning industry in cases requiring high compression ratios and working with relatively dry gases. Until now, they have not been amenable to use with wet gases. The EU-funded CRCP project will prepare its revolutionary liquid-tolerant reciprocating compressor for commercialisation. The system's low-energy, low-emissions and low-maintenance profile will augment its already significant impact on crucial energy applications, including hydrogen storage and waste heat recovery.
Objective
Current technologies and products in wet gas compression processes have several deficiencies, most importantly related to existing compressors´ high energy consumption, large size, intolerance to handling liquid; and consequent low energy efficiency, potential erosion, and breakdown. These issues become even more complex in some of the challenging for compression industries such as hydrogen production where particularities of the gas are especially challenging to handle in robust, cost- and energy-efficient manner. In turn, limitations of current compression systems prevent the large-scale deployment of hydrogen technologies. OTECHOS liquid tolerant Centric Reciprocating Compressor enabled to Pump (CRCP) project aims to mature and commercialise our breakthrough innovative centric reciprocating compressor – first cost-efficient liquid tolerant compressor combined with pumping action that addresses all the shortcomings of the existing wet gas compression solutions. It is a third to half size smaller than other compressors currently on the market, does not require additional drying units, as well as oil- and valve-free. Additionally, CRCP is being able to operate low speed, securing robust operation, while requiring low maintenance and having a low footprint. CRCP offers to its customers the annual energy savings of minimum 30% and up to 45% less CO2 emissions and reduction of operating costs by 35% in comparison to competing solutions. In broader scale, commercialisation of CRCP will significantly contribute to the EU Green Deal 2030 targets on improving energy efficiency by 5 TWh by 2030 (0.5 % contribution to EU-wide 2030 target) and cutting in greenhouse emission by 4 million tonnes CO2-eq (0.2 % contribution to EU-wide 2030 target). As such, CRCP is the first energy- and cost-efficient compression solution to enable large-scale deployment of efficient and sustainable wet gas compression in industry.
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Programme(s)
Funding Scheme
SME-2 - SME instrument phase 2Coordinator
4900 Tvedestrand
Norway
The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.