Leaks in the high-pressure synthesis section of a urea plant may lead to catastrophic consequences. In 2017, building on an incident database set up by UreaKnowHow.com, AmmoniaKnowHow.com and UreaKnowHow.com introduced FIORDA, the Fertilizer Industry Operational Risk Database, a global open source risk register for ammonia and urea plants.
This case study refers to the carbamate condensers and separators in the urea recirculation and hydrolyser desorber section of a urea plant, operating under normal operation at 0.3 MPa and 75°C. After 48,000 hours of operation, during the turnaround of the urea plant, the diaphragm type instruments were sent to the original equipment manufacturer for inspection and refurbishment. In addition to damage of the diaphragm, crevice corrosion was found in the gasket area (see picture) posing a health and safety risk .
New innovations, services and latest technologies to improve the operation and reliability of steam methane reformers from AMETEK Land, Kontrolltechnik, BD Energy Systems, Koch Engineered Solutions, and Quest integrity.
Improvements to equipment and materials are driving greater operational performance and higher efficiencies at urea plants. Recent advances are reviewed.
State-of-the art technologies offered by thyssenkrupp, Casale and Stamicarbon are helping make nitrates production more secure and sustainable.
Ammonium nitrate (AN) is valued as a nitrogen fertilizer and mining explosive. Consequently, it is also widely traded and distributed globally. Some 20 percent of the 49 million tonnes manufactured annually is shipped around the world and stored in warehouses at various ports and inland destinations.
A proper leak detection system for loose liners of high-pressure urea equipment is the number one safeguard for any urea plant, as has been proven by detailed safety studies and incidents investigations. However, leak detection systems easily choke especially when urea is present in the leaking solution. When no urea is present, the ammonium carbamate will dissociate above 60°C when flashing to atmospheric pressure in the leak detection system. But, when urea is present, it can solidify and at higher temperatures polymerise into biuret and triuret, which have even higher crystallisation temperatures. An early and reliable leak detection system is therefore very important. UreaKnowHow.com has developed such a system: the state-of-the-art AMMO LASER Leak Detection System.
Nutrien Ltd has announced that Mayo Schmidt has left his position as president and CEO of Nutrien and has resigned from the Board. Ken Seitz , Executive Vice President and CEO of Potash, has been named the company’s interim CEO. Seitz brings extensive global leadership experience in the agriculture and mining sectors and is well-positioned to progress the company’s stated strategy and lead the integrated business during the transition.
PhosAgro’s Evgeniya Mescherova and Boris Levin explain how new EU and Russian regulations, designed to safeguard the environment and human health, are improving global support for both soil health and food security.
Scanfeld™ is the world’s first remote sensing solution for fully automated early-warning gas leak detection for chemical plants. Using FTIR spectroscopy, Scanfeld™ identifies hundreds of different gases in real time from kilometres away. With just a few Scanfeld™ sensor units, large production sites, tank farms, or gas loading areas can be monitored reliably. Gas leaks are quickly detected, and the formation of dangerous gas clouds is monitored, measured, and visualised. René Braun of Grandperspective discusses how the system works and how it is being applied in industry.