Petra Nova integrally geared CO2 compressor

MCO delivered an eight-stage integrally geared compressor to the Petra Nova Carbon Capture Project in the United States in 2017. It has a discharge pressure of 130 bar and a capacity of about 5,000 tons/day, which was the largest capacity in the world at the time. A gear wheel shaft driven by a motor transmits power to several pinion shafts, and impellers are mounted on both ends of each pinion. Each impeller has its own scroll casing and can run at its most efficient speed. Gas coolers can sit between stages to lower the inlet temperature of each impeller, which reduces the power needed for compression. MCO says this design suits compressing large volumes of CO₂ upstream in a CCUS value chain, and it usually supplies the compressor with gas coolers, lubricating oil equipment and shaft seal systems.