Born in 1955, CAM became part of the Boldrin group. in 2017.
CAM designs, produces and installs gas mixing systems for industrial structures and gas distribution companies.
Our story
Since 1955, CAM designs, builds and installs gas mixing systems for industrial facilities and gas distribution companies. Our gas mixers they efficiently and safely deliver interchangeable gases to pipeline networks. Our gas mixing units operate safely and efficiently because our design is based on the laws of fluid dynamics.
Before focusing on our technical solutions, we highlight the advantages of distributing interchangeable gases compared to distributing a single energy source. The availability of one gas mixture interchangeable with a primary gas offers gas distribution companies and energy managers the ability to distribute a blend of gases as an alternative or in addition to a primary gas.
This strategy concretely translates into:
- Reduction of strategic dependence;
- Increase in negotiation capacity;
- Efficient management of consumption peaks;
- Effective coverage of peak demand;
SNG videos
The distribution of SNG
The distribution of SNG (synthetic natural gas), obtained through a mixture of LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) and appropriately regulated air, allows us to guarantee the same Wobbe index as natural gas. The adoption of the SNG in contexts where natural gas is not available, it allows the reach of natural gas distribution networks to be extended, reducing the economic and strategic dependence on a single energy source. Likewise, the integration of SNG, together with natural gas, allows demand fluctuations to be efficiently managed, ensuring continuous and reliable distribution of energy. Finally, the replacement of LPG with SNG cylinders allows for greater operational efficiency by reducing environmental impact and improving safety levels.
CAM also works on the design of gas mixing units capable of managing a vast range of industrial gases with different characteristics, guaranteeing the maximum level of operational flexibility.
Today we are proud and happy to have successfully built and activated over 500 gas distribution units, in industrial and residential contexts.
Discover our case studies in the dedicated section to the supply of interchangeable gas.
Gas mixing unit
For everything to work perfectly it is essential that the gas mixing unit systems operate in accordance with the different conditions they may encounter. In CAM we offer solutions suited to a range of possibilities, thanks, in particular, to our in-depth studies, designs and installations of different types of mixing equipment.
Depending on the energy source used to mix the fluids, we distinguish two types of mixers:
- Suction air mixers, type 'venturi' which use the energy of a gas (called 'engine gas') to suck in the necessary quantity of air through the Venturi effect;
- Mixing valves (VMG) which use the pressure of both gases (gas and air) to produce the final mixture;
Regarding the flow rate of the mixture, we divide the mixers into fixed or variable flow rate mixers. In this document we present the different types of our mixing units and illustrate their characteristics and performances. Based on the energy source used to mix the fluids we can distinguish two types of mixers:
The main features of this unit are:
- fixed flow rate;
- mixture outlet pressure up to 500 mbar;
- highly stable mixing ratio;
- easily adjustable gas/air ratio;
- fail-safe design;
Once installed and combined in a battery, these mixers can achieve a very high modulation ratio and practically unlimited capacity. This type of mixer is particularly suitable for civil distribution systems, with large network volume and low working pressure.
The main features of the VMG mixing unit are:
- variable flow rate from 5% to 100% of nominal capacity;
- mixture outlet pressure from 1 to 5 bar;
- high precision output pressure control;
- rapid and immediate response to changes in consumption;
- easily adjustable gas/air ratio;
- fail-safe design;
These units are commonly used as a stand-by system, both for industrial and utility users of natural gas, particularly in cases of limitation or interruption of supply. Thanks to this solution it is possible to offer a completely interchangeable energy alternative.
These units can also be used as a 'peak cutting' to supplement the supply of natural gas when consumption exceeds the contracted quantity.
As regards the flow rate of the mixture, it is possible to classify the mixers as Fixed or Variable Flow.
Case study
As in any gas distribution system, the design of interchangeable gas distribution must be tailored to the performance required and the conditions in which the plant will operate.
As is easy to imagine, even without sector studies, each system built is faced with specific conditions. In this section, we offer you solutions created over the years, as an example of highly specific and flexible know-how in the design, production and installation of interchangeable gas distribution systems.
Hofor is the company that manages gas distribution for the city of Copenhagen. The company contacted us to provide them with a mixing unit capable of adding biogas to city gas while leaving the Wobbe index unchanged. According to Hofor, in the first year, 2,5 million Nm³ of biogas were distributed, saving approximately 1,5 million Nm³ of natural gas.
Suzuki contacted us because in their Hungarian factory, they needed to limit natural gas consumption during the winter, due to constraints in their natural gas supply contract. Given the availability of LPG, they asked us to provide a stand-by system capable of automatically reducing natural gas consumption (with a pre-set maximum value) and addressing peak demand, with the supplement of an LPG blend /air interchangeable with natural gas. In the history of CAM, since the 50s, similar requests have been made by many customers. The systems we install today are the evolution of what we have installed for Austrian, Czech, German and Swiss customers from 1959 to today. CAM's VMG unit, the core of our peak cutting systems, represents the state of the art of our know-how in fluid dynamics.
Civil distribution networks represent a typical application of the LPG-air mixing system equipped with our 'compact' Venturi mixers (constant flow type), in particular, in those cases, where the arrival of the natural gas pipeline is planned or expected. The simple operation of the mixers (on-off) and a high operating range (overall) make this system a proven solution for the characteristics of these distribution networks (low pressure, large volume, highly variable gas consumption). Furthermore, thanks to the interchangeability of gas, the LPG-air system produces a mixture with a constant calorific value which directly powers natural gas appliances. Since 2000, the city of Cagliari, in Sardinia (Italy), has been distributing gas with our LPG/air mixing plant.
In 2011, Liquigas Distribuidora SA, the largest Brazilian LPG distributor, asked us to design and produce an LPG-air mixing system for the ALCOA Company. Due to energy savings and environmental impact, the LPG-air mixture was intended to replace diesel oil, the fuel used in anode firing furnaces at the Allumar plant, the largest aluminum refinery in Brazil. The LPG-air system was designed as a 'fully redundant system', since, currently, the mixture is the only fuel available.
For this installation. Allumar received an environmental management award in 2012.
LPG-air mixing systems equipped with our mixerscompact' represent a solid solution for gas distribution, even in cases where natural gas is not available. In fact, it is always convenient to have gas with a constant calorific value that can be used directly with natural gas equipment. Furthermore, the low dew point (much lower than pure LPG) makes the mixture particularly suitable for distribution, especially in cold climates. The small mountain town of Bagolino, a pretty town in the Italian Alps, is an example of this. They currently serve more than a thousand end users and despite their severe winter weather conditions, they have never experienced a lack of service.
