Ammonia high-capacity, single-train

Steam-Reforming Natural Gas. Natural gas is the single most common raw material for the manufacture of ammonia. A typical flow sheet for a high capacity single-train ammonia plant is iadicated ia Figure 12. The important process steps are feedstock purification, primary and secondary reforming, shift conversion, carbon dioxide removal, synthesis gas purification, ammonia synthesis, and recovery. 

Figure 4. Flow sheet for high-capacity, single-train ammonia plant...

There is little opportunity to improve further the Oswald nitric acid process. The overall efficiency of ammonia conversion into acid is in the range of 949fr 96%, The process is self-sufficient in energy supply and can even export steam. Up to 80% of platinum catalyst losses can now be recovered. Capital investments were significantly reduced by the development of high-pressure absorption and with the design of efficient and reliable compressors and expanders. Economies of scale improve little for single-train units with capacities above 1,000 tpd. 

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