Problem No. 59: Troubleshooting the condensation capacity of a falling film HPCC

The falling film high pressure carbamate condenser (HPCC) was the first type of high pressure carbamate condenser applied in urea stripping plants. Did you know that the first Snamprogetti stripping plants also had falling film carbamate condensers? In 1978 Mr Umberto Zardi, later founder of Casale, invented the horizontal kettle type condenser for Snamprogetti urea plants.

The process performance (read condensation capacity) of falling film high pressure carbamate condensers in a urea synthesis section depends on many factors, amongst others synthesis pressure, N/C and H/C ratios, inert content on the process side and steam side, circulation rate on the steam side, etc. Calculations on the process side are limited and not much actual operating data is available.