Water Balance in Dual Pressure Azeotropic Plants

Water Balance in Dual Pressure Azeotropic Plants 

In the reactor water is formed in the main reaction that makes NO [see Eq. (9.6)] and in the side reactions (Eqs. 9.7 and 9.8). In the Absorption step water is consumed to dilute the product to the azeotropic concentration ( 68 weight %). A major part of the water may also enter the reactor with the air that is used to feed the reactor220. 

Overall there is a surplus of one mole of water per mole of ammonia that is fed to the plant - if the burner is 100% efficient. If the burner efficiency is 95%, 5% of the ammonia feed is converted to N2 or N20 according to Eq. (9.7) or Eq. (9.8) with no extra water. Therefore a maximum nitric acid concentration of 

Sfuc 9A. Water balance for an azeotropic niixic acid plant. (Reproduced by permission of Ubde GtribH and copyright by Uhde) 

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