Industry Overview
Chemical and petrochemical plants present unique compressed air challenges: hazardous area classifications requiring ATEX/IECEx certified equipment, corrosive atmospheres that attack standard materials, and critical process applications where air supply failure means plant shutdown. Ouman's custom-engineered compressor packages are built for these extreme conditions — from offshore platforms in salt-spray environments to refinery process units with Zone 1 hazardous area ratings. Every installation is individually designed, documented, and certified for its specific operating environment.
Key Metrics
Industry Challenges
1Hazardous Area Classification
Chemical plants include Zone 1 and Zone 2 hazardous areas where flammable gases or vapors may be present. All electrical equipment — motors, controllers, sensors — must be ATEX/IECEx certified for the specific zone and gas group. A single non-compliant component can invalidate the entire area's safety certification.
2Corrosive Atmosphere Attack
Chemical plant atmospheres contain H₂S, SO₂, chlorine, ammonia, and other corrosive agents that rapidly degrade standard compressor materials. Copper and brass components suffer accelerated corrosion, while standard steel enclosures rust within months without special coating systems.
3Critical Process Dependencies
Instrument air (IA) systems power control valves, actuators, and safety instrumented systems (SIS) throughout the plant. Loss of instrument air triggers automatic process shutdown — costing millions in lost production. Compressed air systems must be designed to API and ISA standards with no single point of failure.
Ouman Solutions
ATEX/IECEx Certified Packages
Ouman can supply compressor packages configured for hazardous areas, supporting plant safety requirements with appropriate motor and control options.
Corrosion-Resistant Construction
All wetted parts in stainless steel 316L, external enclosures in powder-coated steel with C5-M marine/industrial coating system, and stainless steel piping throughout. Copper-free construction eliminates galvanic corrosion risks in H₂S-containing environments.
API-Compliant Redundant Systems
Instrument air systems designed to API 618 and ISA-7.0.01 standards with N+1 redundancy, dual power supplies, automatic failover, and continuous dew point/pressure monitoring. System architecture ensures no single point of failure can interrupt instrument air supply.
Where Compressed Air Makes the Difference
Process Air & Nitrogen Generation
Compressed air feeds nitrogen membrane or PSA generators producing up to 99.999% purity nitrogen for blanketing, purging, and inerting. Air quality directly determines nitrogen generator efficiency and membrane life.
Pneumatic Conveying
Dense-phase and dilute-phase pneumatic conveying systems transport powders, granules, and pellets through the plant. Consistent air pressure and volume are critical for preventing pipe blockages and maintaining production throughput.
Valve Actuation Systems
Emergency shutdown (ESD) valves, control valves, and automated isolation valves throughout the plant rely on instrument air at 6-7 bar. System reliability is safety-critical — loss of instrument air triggers automatic process shutdown.
Flare Gas Recovery
Compressed air powers flare gas recovery compressors and seal gas systems that capture and reuse gases that would otherwise be flared — reducing emissions and recovering valuable process gases.
Products for Chemical & Petrochemical
PM VFD Screw Compressors 7.5-250kW
Available with ATEX/IECEx certified motor and control options for Zone 1/2 hazardous areas.
Water-Cooled Screw Compressor 55-200kW
Water cooling ideal for hot process environments where air-cooling would be inefficient.
Desiccant Air Dryer Heatless / Heated
Critical for instrument air systems where moisture would freeze pneumatic lines in cold climates.
Vertical Air Receiver Tank 100-10000L
Available in SS316L construction for maximum corrosion resistance in acidic atmospheres.
Need a Chemical & Petrochemical Compressed Air Solution?
Tell us about your facility, production requirements, and performance targets. Our engineering team will design a tailored solution with detailed ROI analysis.
