Nitrogen+Syngas
The magazine for the nitrogen and syngas industries

Latest issue:
May/June 2018

• Plant Manager+ Problem No. 48 Seal systems of high pressure reciprocating pumps
  There is a lot of misunderstanding about the purpose and functioning of the seal systems (stuffing box) of the high pressure (HP) ammonia and HP carbamate reciprocating pumps. Some believe that lubrication is the main purpose, while others feel it is all about sealing. Both views are partly true. And for the HP ammonia pumps the objective is also to maintain the possibility to retighten the packing when ammonia starts to leak through the stuffing box. The stuffing box consists of the plunger, the casing, the high and low pressure packing assemblies, the glands and the seal system, either oil or water. This round table discussion is all about the experiences of ­various end users.

  Full article: 1,950 words | add to basket (£25)

• Methanol - China in the driving seat
  Methanol has been the fastest growing syngas derivative for some years now, and will be almost 1/2 the size of the ammonia market by 2020. Although new capacity additions are slowing, methanol to olefins production in China continues to drive the market, while new US capacity additions will see it become a net exporter by 2019.

  Full article: 2,740 words | add to basket (£25)

• The prospects for GTL
  Gas to liquids (GTL) technology has dropped in and out of favour in the syngas industry as oil and gas prices have moved up and down. With the withdrawal of Sasol from new GTL projects, the prospects for new GTL currently seem to rest on smaller scale, modular plants.

  Full article: 2,772 words | add to basket (£25)

• Full life cycle philosophies for urea plants
  Stamicarbon and Saipem discuss their philosophies for improving and supporting the life cycle of urea plants throughout the entire plant lifetime. New developments are helping to meet the challenges of the fertilizer industry, as well as providing solutions for reliable, flexible, profitable and environmentally friendly operations.

  Full article: 4,852 words | add to basket (£25)

• Uhde® Mega UAN concept: from vision to success
  Uhde® UAN technology has proven to be versatile, flexible and reliable. In this article, E. Marcos Puertas, P. Kamermann, and J. Mathiak of thyssenkrupp Industrial Solutions AG report on the start-up and recent operating experience of two recently commissioned Mega UAN concept plants in the USA.

  Full article: 1,746 words | add to basket (£25)

• Gearing up for future in steam reforming
  ZoneFlow™ Reactor Technologies LLC (ZFRT) has developed proprietary, radically innovative structured catalyst solutions for steam reforming, pre-reforming and recuperative reforming. ZoneFlow (ZF) reactors provide higher heat transfer, lower pressure drop, higher geometric surface area, more uniform flow and heat distribution, and long-term structural integrity compared to the current state-of-the-art pellet catalyst. The use of ZF reactors enables significant capital and operating cost reduction in steam reforming both for new plants as well as revamps. S. Ratan of ZFRT and Prof. J. De Wilde of UCL, Belgium discuss the current status of the technology.

  Full article: 2,012 words | add to basket (£25)

• Easy access to true TWT readings
  Topsoe's expert digital services for ammonia, methanol, hydrogen and syngas plants now includes TrueTemp™, a new online application to improve the accuracy and reliability of tube wall temperatures (TWTs) in the steam reformer. Reformer operation can be optimised by allowing the reformer to be operated closer to design temperature and firing efficiently, while keeping the tubes safe and preventing unplanned shutdowns.

  Full article: 547 words | add to basket (£25)