Oil-free compressed air for petrochemical and refining
Could oil in your compressed air lead to costly downtime?
Compressed air can appear clean and still carry a risk the process cannot see.
In petrochemical and refining operations, compressed air may control valves, purge analytical systems, move products, regenerate catalysts, or flow directly into a reaction. If compressor oil enters the air stream, it can travel into critical equipment and processes, where even a small amount can create a much larger problem.
That is why the question is not simply whether your facility has enough compressed air. It is whether the air reaching your critical process is truly oil-free.
When oil enters compressed air, the consequences can spread
Oil in the air stream may move beyond the compressor system and into critical equipment, processes, and products. Even a small amount can lead to:
- Affected product quality: Oil can contribute to off-spec batches, rejected products, or defects in specialty chemicals and resins.
- Reduced process performance: Catalyst surfaces can become coated, reactors can foul, and sensitive materials can be compromised.
- Unreliable equipment and data: Valves may stick, membranes may foul, and analyzer readings may become inaccurate.
- Lost production: Cleaning, repairs, and emergency maintenance can interrupt operations or contribute to a wider shutdown.
- Increased safety exposure: Introducing oil into oxidation, sulfur recovery, and other high-hazard processes can create additional risk.
- Significant financial losses: In one refinery application, a wider shutdown carried more than $1 million per day in potential losses.
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Discover oil-free air for petrochemical and refining
Aggreko's guide to protecting critical petrochemical and refining operations with ISO 8573-1 Class 0 certified oil-free air. Our compressors and services help facilities across the United States safeguard catalysts, products, and process equipment from costly contamination.