Norsk-hydro process

Thermal magnesium, i.e., magnesium produced by the Pidgeon process earlier and by the magnefherm process at present, constitutes only 30% of the total magnesium production. The rest is produced electrolytically in which the leading examples are (i) the Dow electrolytic reduction process, and (ii) Norsk hydro process. 

In the Norsk-Hydro process dehydration takes place in an atmosphere of HC1, this way the equilibrium is shifted to the left-hand side. Pellets of MgCl2 are dropped into a furnace kept under HC1 wherein they are heated and dehydrated. 

Some details of the preceding description are part of the BASF technology. The Norsk Hydro process differs in that it uses I9I ... 

MTO [Methanol to olefins] A catalytic process for converting methanol to olefins, mainly propylenes and butenes. Developed by Mobil Research Development Corporation and first demonstrated in 1985. Another version of this process was developed by UOP and Norsk Hydro and has been ran at a demonstration unit at Porsgrunn, Norway, since June 1995. It is based on fluidized bed technology using a SAPO molecular sieve catalyst. It converts 80 percent of the carbon in the feed to ethylene and propylene. 

Nutriox A process for eliminating the odor and septicity of liquid effluent. Developed by Norsk Hydro in 1996. 

Two projects were announced in the late 1990 s to develop the ITM Process and another related technology. Air Products will lead an 8V2-year, US 90 million research project that is supposed to culminate in the construction of a 500 million SCFD Process Development Unit in 2005. Members of the team include McDermott, Ceramatec, Eltron Research, Battelle, Penn State University, ChevronTexaco, Norsk Hydro, University of Alaska - Fairbanks and the University of Pennsylvania. 

Clearly, for steam reforming at lower temperatures, other catalysts are necessary, so the choice of a catalyst and the testing of this catalyst under real process conditions are important. This task has been a cooperation between IRC and Norsk Hydro in Norway. 

In the process used by Norsk Hydro, magnesium hydroxide extracted from seawater with the aid of calcined dolomite is mixed with charcoal and magnesium chloride brine and is heated to 1000-1200°C in the presence of chlorine produced during subsequent electrolysis of magnesium chloride. The main reactions are [266]... 

KOH systems have historically been used in larger-scale applications than PEM systems. Electrolyzer Corporation of Canada (now Stuart Energy) and the electrolyzer division of Norsk Hydro have built relatively large plants (100 kg/hour and larger) to meet fertilizer production needs in locations around the globe where natural gas is not available to provide hydrogen for the process. 

UOP and Norsk Hydro have jointly developed and demonstrated a new MTO process utilizing a SAPO-34 containing catalyst that provides up to 80% yield of ethylene and propylene at near-complete methanol conversion. Some of the key aspects of the work have included the selection of reactor design for the MTO process and determination of the effects of process conditions on product yield. Evaluation of the suitability of the MTO light olefin product as an olefin polymerization feedstock and demonstration of the stability of the MTO-lOO catalyst have also been determined during the development of this process. 

The use of a fluidized-bed reactor has a number of advantages in the MTO process. The moving bed of catalyst allows the continuous movement of a portion of used catalyst to a separate regeneration vessel for removal of coke deposits by burning with air. Thus, a constant catalyst activity and product composition can be maintained in the MTO reactor. Figure 12.10 demonstrates the stability of a 90 day operation in the fluidized-bed MTO demonstration unit at the Norsk Hydro Research Center in Porsgrunn, Norway. A fluidized-bed reactor also allows for... 

The UOP process, developed jointly with Norsk Hydro/Statoil, and has been developed to semi-commercial scale in Norway. The process uses proprietary catalysts based on a SAPO molecular sieve. 

Hydrocarbon Processes and Catalysis, Research Centre, Norsk Hydro, P.O. Box 2560, N-3907, Porsgrunn, Norway. 

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