Overview
EN ISO 10440-2:2001 - "Petroleum and natural gas industries - Rotary-type positive-displacement compressors - Part 2: Packaged air compressors (oil-free)" sets the minimum requirements for oil-free rotary packaged air compressors used in refinery and process-unit services. It applies to helical, spiral and straight-lobe oil-free rotary compressors for air and other inert gases in continuous duty up to 0.20 MPa. The standard is not applicable to oil‑injected rotary compressors.
Key topics and technical requirements
This part of ISO 10440 establishes purchaser-driven, engineering and testing requirements, covering:
- Basic design: pressure casing integrity, casing connections, external forces/moments, and materials suitable for continuous process use.
- Rotating elements and dynamics: tolerances, balance, permissible speeds (rated, maximum, minimum, trip speed) and runout criteria.
- Seals and bearings: requirements for non‑oil compression applications, bearing housings and lubrication/seal oil systems where applicable.
- Accessories and package elements: drivers, couplings and guards, mounting plates, controls, instrumentation and piping/appurtenances for process integration.
- Inspection, testing and shipment: factory inspection, acceptance testing (see ISO 1217 reference), and preparation for transport.
- Vendor’s data and procurement: mandatory data sheets (Annex A), specification items where purchaser decisions are required (identified by bullets), and required contract information.
The standard references numerous normative documents (ISO, IEC, ASME, API) for detailed test, mechanical and electrical requirements and recommends use of the data sheets in Annex A for clear procurement.
Practical applications
EN ISO 10440-2:2001 is intended to be used as a purchase specification and technical baseline for:
- Specifying and procuring oil-free packaged air compressors in refinery and petrochemical applications.
- Guiding OEM design choices to meet process-unit continuous duty and safety requirements.
- Defining factory acceptance testing, installation interfaces and documentation for plant engineers and maintenance teams.
Typical uses include compressed air supply for instrument air, purge/inerting systems, and other refinery-grade inert gas services where oil‑free compression is required.
Who should use this standard
- Plant and process engineers in petroleum and natural gas industries
- Purchasing and procurement professionals specifying compressor packages
- Compressor OEMs and integrators designing packaged units
- Inspection, commissioning and maintenance teams responsible for compressor acceptance and lifecycle performance
Related standards
- ISO 10440-1 (Process compressors - oil-free)
- ISO 1217 (Acceptance tests for displacement compressors)
- API and ASME references cited within the standard (e.g., API 619 background, API 670 monitoring systems)
Keywords: EN ISO 10440-2:2001, oil-free rotary compressors, packaged air compressors, helical compressor, spiral lobe, straight-lobe, refinery services, compressor procurement, compressor testing.
