Stamicarbon nitric acid technology
Stamicarbon is introducing its mono and dual pressure technology for the production of nitric acid designed to cope with the latest environmental regulations and to maximize the amount of steam exported.
Topic
Building on its long history in ANNA industry, Stamicarbon is introducing its dual and mono nitric acid process characterized by high energy recovery. This is achieved by a proper selection of the heat exchanger position downstream the ammonia burner. The main feature of the process distinguishing from the conventional production of nitric acid is the achieved high tail gas temperature, up to 480°C. This is accomplished by locating the last tail gas heater closer to the Pt/Rh gauzes in the ammonia burner vessel where higher process temperatures are encountered.
This favors the decomposition of N2O in a tertiary abatement reactor, provides higher power generation by the expansion turbine and allows an extra heat recovery step before releasing the tail gas to atmosphere. All these advantages are ultimately translated into higher steam export as compared to the conventional commercially available nitric acid technologies.
About Leon Postma
Mr. Leon Postma finalized his bachelor degree in Chemical Engineering in Heerlen, The Netherlands.
After working for DSM R&D for 7 years in the field of heterogeneous and homogeneous catalysis he joined Stamicarbon in 2004. For the following 8 years he has executed several urea grass root and revamp projects as well as various commissioning jobs.
After spending several years in the Research and Development department Leon is currently active as senior process engineer and one of the process engineers in charge of the of nitric acid production technologies.
