Chemical Engineering & Technology, Vol.20, No.8, 564-570, 1997
Successful use of special stainless steels in nitrogen-based fertilizer plants
The modern urea plants are using a stripping process to reduce the energy consumption. The potential, very severe corrosion problems have been mastered by special grades and strict process control. The different grades are reviewed. After more than 20 years operation the results are very satisfying. In ammonia plants, an often forgotten corrosion problem is found in the heat exchangers. After about 3-6 years failures caused by chloride continuing cooling water may appear on carbon steel or low alloyed austenitic stainless steels. Corrosion mechanism is reviewed. Duplex stainless steels has been used with success and the properties are presented. An example of life-cycle cost shows that duplex stainless steel is an inexpensive way to solve chloride related corrosion problems. Condensation and evaporation of nitric acid in heat exchangers in nitric acid plants cause severe corrosion on conventional stainless steel grades. Low impurity in combination with high chromium content has proved to result in stainless steel with improved corrosion resistance.