Paper - 2
Paper - 2
SYMPOSIUM
Paper No. 2
G.N.F.C.
BHARUCH - INDIA
FIVE FACETS
OF A SUCCESS STORY :
G.N.F.C. UREA PLANT
ABSTRACT
Contents
A. Introduction
1. Debottlenecking Measures
1.1 Stripper
1.2 Replacement of Carbamate Condensers
1.3 Increase in CO, Machine Throughput
1.4 replacement of H.P. Ammonia Pump Block
1.5 Increase in Motor Capacity
1.6 Descaling of M.P. Decomposer / L.P. Decomposer
1.7 Ejector Capacity Increase
1.8 New Urea Solution (V-4) Tank
1.9 Change in Material of Construction
2. Modification
2.1 5 ata Scheme
2.2 Improvements in Anti-Surge System (CO, Machine)
2.3 Partial Bypassimg of H.P. Vent Gases
2.4 Reactor Weephole Monitoring System
2.5 Suction Line Modification of Melt Urea Pump (?-8)
2.6 Improvement in Cooling Water System
4. Energy Conservation
4.1 Increase in Reactor Pressure
4.2 Flash Steam to Deaerator
4.3 Saving Through Passivation Air Compressor (K-2)
4.4 Additional Ammonia Recovery fiom Waste Water Vent Gas Stream
4.5 Increase in C02Suction Pressure
4.6 Utilization of Hydrolyzer Effluent
1. INTRODUCTION
In the first phase, the Company established its Ammonia-Urea plants alongwith
important facilities l i e Boilers, Water Treatment Plant, Effluent Treatment Plant,
Off-site Plants, etc.
GNFC has in its command the most sophisticated fertilizer technology in the world,
availing internationally aclcnowledged technical expertise.
As the FUEL OIL GASIFIERS in GNFC's world's largest single stream
Ammonia/Urea plant was lit on 23rd July 1981, it heralded a new generation of
fertilizer plants in the country.
The plant design has taken care of a total energy concept and thereby ensures
minimum energy consumption.
3rd SNAMPROGETTI WORLDWIDE PAPER 2
UREA USERS SYMPOSIUM Page 3
Sorrento-Italy,June 18-22, I996
1 . Ws. N.C.P.L.
2. Ws. V.N.E.L.
GNFC is one of the leading fertilizer manufacturers in the country, under the brand
name "NARMADA".
The premium fertilizer product of Narmada family is 'NARMADA UREA'
manufactured through stripping technology of SNAMF'ROGETTI introduced for the
fust time in the country.
GNFC has become the model plant for 'Snamprogetti' in the country.
1) DEBOTTIENECKING MEASURES
2) MODIFICATIONS
3) IMPROVEMENT REGARDING SAFETY
AND ENVIRONMENTAL ASPECTS
4) ENERGY CONSERVATION
5) FUTURE TECHNOLOGICAL IMPROVEMENTS
3rd SNAMTROGETTIWORLDWIDE PAPER 2
UREA USERS SYMPOSIUM Page 7
Sorrento-Italy,June 18-22, 1996
1. DEBOTnENECKING MEASURES
1.1 Stripper
Stripper has been the inherent limitation for Urea Plant because of high rate of
corrosion and erosion at high temperature.
The tube thickness reduction is mainly experienced in top portion.
During August 1986, the original stripper was overturned to utilize the better
thickness in bottom portion and hence extract more life.
However, the stripper dciency was not adequate after reversal because it was not
reversible type. So, in April 1990,the new stripper fabricated by MIS. Kobe Steel,
Japan, was installed and taken in line.
The following table indicates salient features of old and new strippers:
After reversal of old stripper during September, 1986,the steam entry got shifted to
bottom thus causing limitation of steam flow and heat transfer.
To overcome this problem, two additional lines (of 2" and 4") were incorporated for
increasing throughput fiom Stripper E l shell side top. With this arrangement, plant
could be operated up to April 1990 when stripper was replaced.
3rd SNAMPROGETTI WORLDWIDE PAPER 2
UREA USERS SYMPOSlUM Page 8
The new stripper is designed for bottom entry (steam inletlcondensate outlet) in
order to limit the erosion/corrosion in upper zone of tubes. But, due to design
deficiency (baffles spacing problem), maximum throughput was limited to 45 T per
hour.
The amazing part of stripper story is that this problem was also solved by 4" line
which was originally laid to overcome the limitation of old stripper after reversal
(refer figure 1).
This was the most economical way of debottlenecking and has helped in substantial
steam saving and reducing load on Steam Generation Plant (SGP). (Even at reduced
plant load, we use to operate C02machine at maximum possible suction pressure for
energy economy.)
1. Stress corrosion cracking due to 'T bore' construction design (obsolete design).
Looking at this problem, firstly in one pump, Carbon Steel block was replaced by
SS-304 block during August 1989.
As experience with SS block was successfiS same was implemented in remaining
two pumps during April 1993. This resulted in improving availability of Ammonia
pumps, thus eliminating production loss due to block problems.
3rd SNAMFROGETn WORLDWIDE PAPER2
UREA USERS SYMPOSIUM Page 10
Sorrento-Italy,June 18-22, 1996
This has also helped in substantial power saving as instances of two motors running
simultaneously have reduced.
Now it has become a regular practice to cany out tube cleaning of E-UE-3 once in a
Year.
Mter installing new additional V-4 (i.e. V-4 B), having capacity of 359 m, we can
'
sustain running of plant for total 8.30 hours (100% plant load basis) at the time of
disturbance of Evaporational I Prilling sections.
This arrangement has helped in improved continuity and maximizing on-stream
factor.
3rd SNAhPROGE'IT1 WORLDWIDE PAPER2
UREA USERS SYMPOSIUM Page 11
I Sorrento-Italy,June 18-22, 1996
t
2. MODIFICATIONS
Urea plant when operated at high load, the requirement of flow pressure steam
increases in second stage preheater.
As this steam is generated in H.P. carbamate condenser (E-5), it results in higher
shell side pressure and hence poor condensation in the carbamate condenser.
This in turn results into:
- Higher gas flow from H.P. carbamate separator (MS-1) to M.P. decomposer
(E-2) aggravating the flooding problem in E-2
- Lower NH3 /C02ratio in reactor
- Frequent diversion of prilling.
Advantages:
Additionally, double antisurge system which was provided for MCL & BCL was
very cumbersome and problematic during loading and unloading of the machine and
often the machine used to trip and sometimes subjected to surge condition also. This
in turn used to cause damages to MCL & BCL stages and reduced the efficiency of
individual stages.
In view of above, antisurge system was modiied during September 1986 to single
antisurge system.
The damage of MCL was mainly due to less capacity of BCL with respect to more
delivery by MCL and thus creating mismatch during trip. This mismatch was
partially overcome by incorporating this modification.
3rd SNAMPROGETI? WORLDWIDE PAF'ERZ
UREA USERS SYMPOSIUM Page 14
Sorrento-Italy,June 18-22, 1996
During 1992, the problem was partially overcome by installing a 2" bypass line from
PIC-101 VA (MS-1 off gas outlet) to MV 2 (M.P. separator) off gas line which was
subsequently modied to 4" bypass line with a 30 mm orifice based on our
experience. This modiication has almost eliminated the flooding problem of
decomposer.
Befer Figure 41
In order to reduce bacterial growth in presence of sun light and also to reduce
chlorine demand, CT decks were covered in December, 1995.
The original system of chlorine dosing &om absorber was replaced by a modified
system which uses water ejector for chlorine absorption.
With this system, precise control of chlorine dosing is achieved.
3rd SNAMPROGEm WORLDWIDE PAPER 2
UREA USERS SYMPOSIUM Page 16
Sorrento-Italy,June 18-22, 1996
Afier the serious mishap occurred in NFL (Panipat) caused due to ammonia leakage,
the following action plans were implemented:
Urea plant existing structure is vertical and quite a compact design and not
horizontally spread layout.
In the past, emergency situations were faced at various operating floors due to
ammonia/carbarnate leakages. This in turn was causing unsafe condition and even
rescuing the personnel at the time of emergency was a very d i c u l t task.
The total vertical stnrcture was reviewed and based on the past exuerience. four
additional escape routes were designed, engineered and implemented in the year
1990.
In the Waste Water Section of Urea plant, there is a hydrolyzer with normal
operating pressure at 17 kg/cm2pressure and 190°C.
As hydrolysis is favourable at high pressure and high temperature, the operating
pressure was increased to 21 kg/cma after suitably revised PSV setting.
W~ththis modification, Ammonia and Urea content could be reduced to 251100 ppm
&om 1001200 ppm respectively.
At higher plant capacity of 125% to 130%, the distillation column of Waste Water
Section is causing a limitation and often Waste Water Section gets disturbed
resulting into deterioration of waste water quality.
Due to higher loading, ray &g is often experienced. In order to overcome this
limitation, modified trays are being installed.
3rd SNAMPROGE'ITIWORLDWIDE PAPER 2
U R E A U S E R S SYMPOSIUM Page 18
Sorrento-Italy,June 18-22, 1 9 9 6
4. ENERGY CONSERVATION
In Urea plant, after using the steam as heating medium, condensate collected in
condensate tank (V-2) is being pumped to DM water plant for polishing.
Originally the flash steam of condensate tank was condensed by removing the heat
by means of Cooling Water. We have removed the Cooling Water condenser from
the S ~ M C ~and flash steam at around 1.5 kglcma abs. pressure is taken to Deaerator
of Ammonia plant. By utilizing this steam in deaerator, energy is conserved.
4.4 Additional Ammonia Recovery from Waste Water Vent Gas Stream
(Refer Figure 6)
a) Condensate make up in flash drum of Ammonia plant used for quench water
purpose.
This has resulted into yearly DM water saving to the tune of 120,000 n3.
3rd SNAMPROGETII WORLDWIDE PAPER 2
UREA USERS SYMPOSIUM Page 20
Sorrento-Italy,June 18-22, 1996
In order to reduce the ammonia loss fiom L.P. section vent stream, an additional
absorption column (C-7) has been installed and will be commissioned shortly. This
will correspond to an additional ammonia recovery of 300 T annually.
For better mass and heat transfm at a reduced pressure drop, structural packings are
being planned for M.P.L.P. decomposer in place of the existing random packings
(Pall-rings).
3rd SNAMPROGETn WORLDWIDE PAPER 2
UREA USERS SYMPOSIUM Page 21
Sorrento-Italy,June 18-22, 1996
2). Financial year (1988-1989) considered &om July 1988 to March 1989.
3rdSNAMPROGETTl UREA
~~rna~rn~prrog@ikiiii G.N.F.C. - BHARUCH
SYMPOSIUM INDIA
STEAM FLOW LIMITATION OF STRIPPER
- -
................
MV-7 MP STEAM
TO
CONDENSATE
DRUM E-2 MV-12 1 E-5
MP DECOMPOSER
FIG. 1
S~na~rnplrogexx~~3rdSNAMPROGETTl UREA
JLJL. -
G.N.F.C. BHARUCH
SYMPOSIUM INDIA
5 ATA SCHEME
- -. -
-
TIC - 402
MP
STEAM
TOV-2
(LC HEADER)
TIC - 201
7
1
-
TO
LS - 1 HEADER
- TOE-6 -
FROM LIC - 711
E-13
MV-7
E -2 M V - 12 2ndSTAGE VACUUM
MP DECOMPOSER FLASH DRUM PREHEATER
I FIG. 2 1
L
I
-
- G -. . - .
TO .............
S&M
IWVlOVAL 4 . .. .... X
SECTION
FIG. 3
Y
S~nampi~gefii 3rdSNAMPROGETTI UREA -
G.N.F.C. BHARUCH
SYMPOSIUM INDIA
- --
E-5
HP CARBAMATE E-I E-2
MP DECOMPOSER -
MP CONDENSER
CARBAMATE
DIS.
-
FIG. 4
-
1
SNAMPROGETTl UREA 1 G.N.F.C. - BHARUCH
SYMPOSIUM INDIA
2 STEAM TO DEAERATOR
4 LOCAL
VENT
LOW PR.
CONDENSATE
v-2
STEAM CONDENSATE TANK
FIG. 5
1 Ird
SNAMPROGETTI UREA
fl~~~a~rnrnplmg@~~i
SYMPOSlUM
-
G.N.F.C. BHARUCH
INDIA
RECOVERY OF AMMONIA FROM WW VENT
I C-2 OFFGAS I
I
-
E-17
CONDENSER
V-8
REFLUX DRUM
C-6
VENT GAS SCRUBBER
FIG. 6 -