An immediate response to the need for 190 tons of air for the TotalEnergies platform in Donges
When the TotalEnergies refinery in Donges needed a unique air solution, Atlas Copco Rental France stepped in with a rental solution at very short notice. A large fleet of oil-free air compressors was quickly deployed to restore air circulation and restart production.
Customer challenge
The TotalEnergies refinery in Donges faced a unique air demand: a continuous supply of 190 tons of oil-free air per hour was needed to keep production running at full capacity. With such high volumes required, the solution had to be reliable, large-scale, and ready for immediate use to avoid any disruption to operations.
Our solution
Atlas Copco Rental France rapidly deployed a tailored setup: 36 electric compressors, 18 Stage V thermal compressors, and 2 centrifugal units, supported by 7.5 km of electrical cabling and 1.4 km of air hoses. The installation included our ZC 4500 VSD oil-free air compressors for a reliable and responsible solution.
The result:
Production at the refinery continued seamlessly, without any interruption. Our dedicated team remained available 24/7, ensuring the installation ran reliably and providing full support so that operations could keep running smoothly.
Third largest refinery in France
The Donges refinery, on the Atlantic coast, plays a key role in TotalEnergies' refining operations. Covering nearly 350 hectares, roughly the size of 480 football fields, it can process 11 million tons of crude oil per year. Its strategic geographical location also makes it a key player in maritime traffic, accounting for more than 50% of the activity of the port of Nantes-Saint-Nazaire.
Total solutions air requirement
When the main compressor supplying air to a fuel production required attention, the refinery faced an urgent need, as every hour of downtime resulted in operating losses. The situation required a quick and effective response. Atlas Copco Rental France responded immediately by providing a large-scale, customized compressed air rental solution.
Supplying air at full capacity
The TotalEnergies platform in Donges needed a production capacity of 190 tons of air per hour, or 160,000 m³/h of air to maintain its operations: 175 T/h for the process and 15 T/h as backup. As a result, no fewer than 36 electric compressors, 18 Stage V thermal compressors, and 2 centrifugal compressors were deployed. At the same time, we installed an extensive electrical distribution network, comprising 7.5 km of cables and 1.4 km of compressed air hoses. A true technical and logistical feat!
Powerful, stackable, and ready to use
To meet our customer's requirement to produce compressed air in the most carbon-neutral way possible, we developed a primarily electric rental solution. This minimizes environmental impact while complying with the site's electrical power constraints. To this end, we integrated our new ZC 4500 VSD oil-free air compressors into this installation. Developed in-house, the ZC 4500 VSD offers an environmentally friendly, versatile, compact, and reliable solution, delivering 7,560 m³/h of compressed air at 10.4 bar. This compressor operates on 400 V or 690 V, with oil-free screw technology. Its oil-free design and water cooling make it ideal for both onshore and offshore use. In addition, it is equipped with the latest variable speed drive technology to meet all operational needs.
24/7 technical support
A dedicated team, consisting of a project manager and technicians, comprising seven to nine employees from Atlas Copco Rental France, accompanied by teams from TotalEnergies, supervised the installation, ensuring that everything was set up quickly and efficiently. However, our commitment did not end there. Over the next three months, a project manager and three technicians remained on site, providing 24/7 support. With an on-call service available day and night, we ensured that operations ran smoothly. This allowed the TotalEnergies Donges Platform to repair its compressor without having to worry about interruptions.
Key features:
Maintaining a smooth and continuous production
Thanks to the rapid response of Atlas Copco Rental France and the use of high-performance equipment, the TotalEnergies Donges Platform was able to maintain smooth operations and keep production on track. As the only European company with such an extensive rental fleet, we were able to respond immediately and meet our customer's operational and environmental standards. This allowed the TotalEnergies platform in Donges to continue its activities without interruption, while supporting efficient and responsible operations.
In need of highly specialized oil-free air equipment to keep your operations running smoothly?
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-arttemporary 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.