Oil-Free Dry Screw Technologies for Demanding Biomethane Upgrading Applications

By Adekom Kompressoren

As Europe continues expanding its biomethane and renewable natural gas (RNG) infrastructure, upgrading system operators are placing increasing focus on gas purity, operational reliability, and lifecycle efficiency — particularly in demanding applications such as landfill gas upgrading.

Compared with conventional agricultural biogas, landfill gas typically contains higher levels of moisture, H₂S, siloxanes, and corrosive contaminants, creating significant challenges for compression and vacuum equipment used in PSA-based upgrading systems.

To address these operating conditions, ADEKOM has introduced a range of oil-free dry screw biogas compressors and dry screw vacuum pumps specifically engineered for high-contaminant biomethane applications.

The oil-free screw compressor utilizes dry-running asymmetric rotors with precision external timing gears to achieve completely non-contact compression. Advanced anti-corrosion coatings applied to both rotors and housing surfaces provide long-term resistance against aggressive biogas components while maintaining stable compression efficiency under continuous operation.

For PSA upgrading processes, ADEKOM’s dry screw vacuum pumps employ advanced variable-pitch rotor technology designed to maintain stable vacuum performance across wide operating ranges while reducing discharge temperatures, vibration, and energy consumption. Unlike conventional liquid-ring or oil-lubricated vacuum technologies, the oil-free compression chamber eliminates the risk of hydrocarbon contamination while reducing wastewater generation and maintenance requirements.

The systems are designed for demanding biomethane upgrading applications, including landfill gas-to-biomethane projects, renewable natural gas recovery, and high-purity PSA upgrading processes.

To meet international project requirements, the equipment can be supplied in compliance with European standards, including PED pressure vessel certification, CE electrical conformity, and ATEX explosion-proof protection.

The technologies have already been deployed in several large-scale biogas and landfill gas upgrading projects, where contamination control, corrosion resistance, operational uptime, and low lifecycle cost are critical priorities for plant operators.

As Europe’s biomethane sector continues evolving toward higher gas quality standards and lower emissions, oil-free dry screw technologies are becoming an increasingly attractive solution for next-generation upgrading facilities.

You can find more insights like this in the Biogas Community Magazine – Europe Edition 2026.