Unit Power of 127,000 hp: World's Largest Pyrogas Compressor Launched at Amur Gas Chemical Complex

Engineers at the Amur Gas Chemical Complex have completed test runs of a 127,000 hp pyrogas compressor — the largest in the global petrochemical industry. The unit was tested with air to debug the technological equipment control system and prepare for purging process lines.

Pyrogas compressor testing
Image source Amur Gas Chemical Complex

The pyrolysis unit compressor block includes two symmetrical machine rooms: one for the pyrogas compressor, the other for the ethylene and propylene refrigeration cycle compressors. The pyrogas compressor is driven by steam turbines using ultra-high pressure steam generated directly by the pyrolysis furnaces. To ensure the operation of the ethylene and propylene compressors, three steam boilers with a total capacity of 810 tons of steam per hour are installed at the complex.

The exhaust steam is returned to the complex's closed power supply system, which minimizes the environmental impact and increases production energy efficiency. The recirculating steam ensures the operation of not only the pyrolysis unit's technological equipment, but also the general plant facilities.

The pyrolysis unit forms the first link in the Amur Gas Chemical Complex's technological chain: here, hydrocarbon feedstock from the Amur Gas Processing Plant is converted into basic olefins — ethylene and propylene. The complex's design capacity will be up to 2.7 million tons of polymers per year (polyethylene and polypropylene of various grades).

As of the end of 2025, the construction readiness of the Amur Gas Chemical Complex reached 92%. The start-up of the propylene and ethylene refrigeration chain compressors will be the next stage of commissioning before feedstock acceptance. The first batches of polyethylene are planned to be received in the third quarter of 2026, and polypropylene in 2027.