Objective
The project focuses on the integrated recycling of steam contaminated during ammonium nitrate production. The project objective is to make use of low temperature vapour to produce cold and to recycle the condensates generated in different parts of the plant. By this means, not only will pollution output be avoided, but also the energy from this vapour will be used to produce cold air, which will be piped to the fluidised bed cooler of the final product.
In the fertiliser industry, particularly in the manufacture of ammonium nitrate, large volumes of contaminated low-temperature (125-135(C) steam are generated. Some of this is discharged into the atmosphere. The project proposes a radical change to the ammonium nitrate production process. The objective is to make use of the energy from the residual low-temperature vapours by means of a cold-production machine to cool the air which in turn will cool the final product. As a consequence, pollution from the vapour will be reduced more than 50%. The contaminated condensers will collect in a deposit and be sent to different parts of the plant (including nitrous acid towers and contaminated air washers).
The cooling machinery uses a closed circuit solution of lithium bromide that is concentrated with the energy released by the condensation of the contaminated vapour and is diluted in the course of its operation cycle, producing the required cold air. The equipment feeds in cold water at 4.5(C to cool the air sent to the fluidised bed in heat exchangers where the cold water circulates, heats to 8(C and returns to the equipment. The system requires refrigeration water, and must thus be accompanied by a cooling tower.
Although cold-production machinery is commonly used in other sectors, this will be the first time that it is applied in the fertiliser industry. It will enable air pollution to be reduced substantially while maximising the usage of thermal energy which is difficult to employ due to its pressure and tempera
Topic(s)
Data not availableCall for proposal
Data not availableFunding Scheme
CSC - Cost-sharing contractsCoordinator
30350 Cartagena (Murcia)
Spain