RIX Industries manufactures a wide range of reciprocating piston compressors for industrial gases and breathing air. We specialize in oil-free technology and high pressures. Our compressors go from less than 1 HP (0.75 kW) to mid-sized 500 HP (375 kW) units in pressures from 50 psig (3 bar) to 6,000psig (415 bar). Our designs are vertical and compact. We have established relationships with all of the major industrial gas companies as well as engineering firms and the U.S. Navy. RIX has been in business for over 100 years.

RIX's markets span a wide range from industrial gas companies to refineries to government agencies to OEM's looking for help with new compressor needs. Although RIX has a number of standard compressor products we probably learn most from the custom jobs. It is then that we can sit down with customers and go through compressor design and actual operation. Seeing what concerns arise, and how the systems operate in the overall scheme of a chemical or refining process provides empirical information that RIX uses to constantly upgrade is standard models. It's the demanding applications that have provided the greatest learning opportunities.

 

A 3-stage compressor in a very small package

 

An example of this is RIX's patented spiral ring design for smaller cylinders. This design was developed in response to high leakage rates past conventional compression rings. The spiral design eliminates the ring gaps and provides an excellent seal. Another example is a new oil-free gas packing design that was developed for an oil-free hydrogen compressor used by one of the major oil companies. The packing has provided an excellent seal even at these high pressures.

As an example of RIX's technical expertise consider RIX's line of oxygen compressors for both VSA and PSA applications. These compressors have special materials selected for oxygen service and are subjected to rigorous oxygen cleaning and inspection procedures. Many years of research and experience have provided oxygen compressor designs for anywhere from 50 to 3,000 psig. These compressors are in service in the U.S., South America, Europe, Australia, Europe, Africa and other locations, in sizes up to 400 HP.

RIX was one of the first players in the CNG market for natural gas vehicles, going on to sell over 200 compressors for stations in New Zealand. We still sell compressor for CNG, all oil-free air-cooled models. This CNG experience provides a solid background for entering the hydrogen vehicle marketplace. RIX has combined its hydrogen compression knowledge with its familiarity of the vehicle marketplace to develop several new compressor products for this new market.

 

A large 3-stage complete oxygen package

 

One of these is a cryogenic compressor that will take cryogenic hydrogen from the top of a liquid tank. Instead of losing the boil-off from the tank the cryogenic compressor captures it and compresses it into storage. We are currently testing helium and argon versions of this compressor. All of these models consume as little as one-third the horsepower of their warm gas counterparts, and they use only two stages instead of five. The lower HP is a big deal in power-starved California. Another compressor under development will go on-board a fuel cell vehicle. Hydrogen from a land-based storage system, or from an electrolyser, will be compressed at night on-board the car into storage cylinders. Hydrogen from the cylinders will run the car during the day. We have worked with many OEM manufacturers to come up with new designs to fit in, or alongside, their equipment.

RIX has a strong engineering department that always has several new compressor designs underway. Our major clients are in the following industries:

Industrial gas companies include:
• Praxair/White Martins
• Air Products
• Air Liquide
• BOC
• MG Industries

Engineering firms:
• Xytel-Bechtel
• Howe-Baker

Oxygen users:
• shipyards
• steel mills
• glass plants
• paper plants
• PSA manufacturers
• bottle-filling companies

Industrial facilities -high-pressure oil-free air users (such as utility circuit breakers)

Nitrogen producers (PSA or membrane, for oil-free boost)

Hydrogen production plants -air separation plants

Cylinder filling plants for breathing air or industrial gases

Research facilities include:
• Chevron Research
• Hughes Aerospace

Refineries and refinery pilot plants

Navy ships and dockside

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