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Providing on-site nitrogen generation to support safety and efficiency

December 5, 2019

When a specialty contractor needed on-site nitrogen-generation capabilities to support safe and efficient LNG sphere cleaning in Guadalajara, Mexico, Atlas Copco Specialty Rental Mexico delivered the solutions needed to make the process faster, safer and cheaper.

NGM1100, PTS 1600

Specialty contractor EBPC (Engineering Business Process Consultants) was hired to clean a set of LNG spheres at a Guadalajara chemical complex owned by Mexican state-owned petroleum company Pemex. The tanks typically hold liquefied natural gas that is ready for distribution, but safety considerations require that the tanks be emptied and inerted with N2 before and after cleaning.

The problem: The complex’s old sphere-cleaning solution — which involved the delivery of liquid N2 on tanker trucks — presented major challenges. Due to the tight spaces at the site, the permitting requirements involved in N2 delivery and the delays created by the delivery process, logistical hurdles were abundant. Further, because the nitrogen-delivery truck was too big to easily maneuver areound the storage spheres, safety issues were a major concern, too. All of these factors often combined to cause delays in the process, costing EPBC time and money.

The solution: on-site nitrogen generation. In early 2019, Alberto Cárdenas, Sales engineer with Atlas Copco Rental Mexico, recommended the placement of an Atlas Copco NGM 1100+ nitrogen generator, along with a PTS 1600 oil-free, diesel-driven air compressor, and a fuel tank and hoses as accesories. After evaluating the proposal and testing its effectiveness as a solution, EPBC decided to bring in the suggested equipment package for a two-month duration.

A safer and more efficient solution

After implementing the recommended solution, the client reported a number of substantial process improvements and positive results:

  • Setup was simple and painless.
  • Once the nitrogen generator was in place on-site, EPBC could use as much nitrogen as needed without having to worry about conserving enough liquid nitrogen to finish the job, as was required with the “old” nitrogen-supply route of delivery by tanker truck.
  • The availability of on-site nitrogen generation enabled the client to complete its processes more quickly, and all jobs were finished on time.
  • Thanks to the efficiencies created, nitrogen costs were reduced.
  • By eliminating the need for a bulky tanker trunk to deliver liquid nitrogen into the tight spaces around the LNG spheres, safety concerns were greatly reduced.

When client EPBC needed to find a way to improve the safety and efficiency of its on-site nitrogen supply, we came through with an effective answer that saved time, eliminated safety risks and boosted the bottom line.

For more information, please contact:

  • Maggie Rios, VP Marketing, Atlas Copco Rental North America
    • Maggie Rios, VP Marketing, Atlas Copco Rental North America
      • Maggie Rios, VP Marketing, Atlas Copco Rental North America

At Atlas Copco, we have been turning industrial ideas into business-critical benefits since 1873. By listening to our customers and knowing their needs, we deliver value and innovate with the future in mind. Great ideas reinforce sustainable development. At Atlas Copco Specialty Rental, we team up with our customers to set up state-of-the-art temporary air, flow, steam and nitrogen solutions. Our passionate experts have extensive application and equipment knowledge. We understand our customers' needs and can provide a total solution for any industry, no matter if it is for emergencies or planned projects. We are a division of the Power Technique business area, headquartered in Boom, Belgium and offer specialty rental solutions under several brands around the globe.