Production plant of nitric acid

Identifier:  TFG:2373

Handle: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11797/TFG2373

Authors:  Solé Olivé, Marc

Abstract:
The scope of this project consists in the design (basic engineering and partially in detail) as well as the economic evaluation of a new plant of 250 t/day of nitric acid concentrated (98.5% in weight). A plant of production of current nitric acid situated to the South Polygon of Tarragona has a capacity of 120 t/day and does not produce the necessary quantity for can achieve the demand of the main customer, the Ministry of Spanish Defense. It is for this reason that proposes the building of a new plant in order to achieve attain the annual base of production wished. This new plant will use the technology Espidensa in order to produce the necessary nitric acid for can reach the quantities of production wished. The building of this new plant will carry out to the South Industrial Polygon of Tarragona, just beside the current plant Nitricomax. This situation has considered strategic for the good logistical and for the vicinity of companies of the sector that can provide services and, in case that it was necessary, feedstocks for the process. In a few words, we can say that it is a process that differentiates of the rest of processes to reach nitric acid in it distillation of the acid superazeotropic: the gases which comes from the tower of oxidation compress and absorb in an aqueous solution of nitric acid azeotropic pertinent of it distillation, obtaining an acid with an upper concentration to 74% acid that distillate to obtain the acid concentrated (99.5%) and him azeotropic (68%) that goes back to absorption. The gases that go out of the tower of absorption superazeotròpic to with a high content in oxides of nitrogen, absorb in water and pertinent acid of the tower of oxidation in another tower of trays, obtaining an acid of normal concentration (60%). Part of this acid sends to the tower of oxidation and the rest extracts of the process as a normal nitric acid. The implementation of a new process Espindesa has as a function suplementar the current process Sabar (Strong Acid By Azeotropic Rectification). The main reagents are the ammonia and the atmospheric air, where the ammonia will be supplied via maritime transport. It foresees that the new plant put into motion to the head of two years of the start of the basic engineering and of detail. The final product that offers , the nitric acid, is a good of use that uses essentially for the manufacture of explosives. The necessary investment initial will be of 9.8 Millions €. It obtains a VNA of 43.2 Millions € and an Internal Tax (TIR) of 39.5%, data that advise to carry out the investment in order to the building of the new plant.