The order is part of a major investment program initiated by Petrobras to make eco-friendly low-sulfur fuels available at all of Brazil’s gas stations. The Siemens compressor trains will be delivered to the refineries starting in August 2009.
Compressors are deemed key components in the desulfurization process in oil refineries. Seven of the ten STC-SV single shaft compressors Siemens is supplying to Petrobras will be driven by steam turbines.
These SST-600 turbines, which are also included in the scope of supply, will be fed with process steam from the refineries. A further three compressors will be driven by electric motors. The use of different drive technologies will reportedly enable optimized utilization of available steam resources in the refinery process and thus make the production of low-sulfur fuels highly efficient.
Thomas Dalstein, CEO of the Siemens process compression business unit, said: The new order from Petrobras is the biggest single order in the field of process compression that Siemens has ever received. With our technology we can support Petrobras in producing cleaner low-sulfur fuels for Brazil. Furthermore, our machines work very efficiently and therefore guarantee the best use of resources.
