China’s first ruthenium-based low-temperature and low-pressure ammonia synthesis demonstration plant has operated steadily for 8,600 hours ​

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China’s first ruthenium-based low-temperature and low-pressure ammonia synthesis demonstration plant has operated steadily for 8,600 hours / Author/Source: Date: 2019-01-24 Clicks: 476 The ruthenium-based ammonia synthesis catalyst and the comprehensive technology for low-temperature and low-pressure ammonia synthesis developed jointly by Beijing Sanju Environmental Protection New Materials Co., Ltd. and Fuzhou University, among others, has operated steadily for 8,600 hours in a 10,000-ton ammonia synthesis plant in Jiangsu. On January 21st, it passed the expert evaluation conducted by the China Petroleum and Chemical Industry Federation. 　　This calibration provided an overall assessment of the device’s long-term operational performance, focusing on its actual operating level and catalyst lifespan, in order to obtain information on technical parameters, product quality, energy consumption, and equipment operation status. The results of on-site testing and calibration showed that during the continuous and stable operation of the industrial plant, the reaction pressure ranged from 10.1 to 10.5 MPa, the hot spot temperature of the ruthenium catalyst was between 432 and 440 °C, the exit temperature of the ruthenium catalyst bed was 423 to 430 °C, the ammonia concentration at the exit was 17.6 to 18.7%, and the ammonia yield was 14.51 to 15.58%, all of which met the design requirements and expected objectives. 　　The assessment team, led by Shu Xingtian, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, and Men Cungui, a senior engineer at the China Petroleum Consulting Center, unanimously agreed that the industrial ammonia synthesis plant using \"iron-ruthenium relay catalysis\" features stable reaction pressure under low temperature and pressure; the temperatures of the ruthenium catalyst bed and the outlet of the synthesis tower remain stable, as does the ammonia concentration and the net ammonia yield at the reactor outlet. The ruthenium-based ammonia synthesis catalysts exhibit high activity and stability, and the entire set of technologies, processes, and equipment meets the requirements for continuous industrial production. This set of technologies offers significant energy-saving and economic benefits, further enhances intrinsic safety, and brings positive social and environmental advantages, contributing to the upgrading of the ammonia synthesis industry. 　　Shu Xingtian said, “The traditional ammonia synthesis industry uses iron-based catalysts, which result in high reaction pressures, high temperatures, high energy consumption, and low efficiency.” The R&D team formed by Sanju Environmental Protection and Fuzhou University has made breakthroughs in high-activity, high-stability ruthenium-based catalysts as well as iron-ruthenium catalytic systems, which will enable leapfrog progress in the technology of China’s ammonia synthesis industry. ” 　　Jiang Lilong, the head of the R&D team for this project and director of the **Engineering Research Center for Fertilizer Catalysts at Fuzhou University, told reporters that this technology was developed through more than 20 years of hard work by two generations of researchers. Thanks to the close integration of industry, academia, and research, this technology was first put into industrial use on a scale of 10,000 tons at Jiangsu Heyou Chemical Co., Ltd., showing great potential for reducing production costs and increasing output. Taking an ammonia synthesis plant with a capacity of 180,000 tons per year as an example, preliminary estimates show that this set of technologies will help the enterprise save over 30 million yuan in energy costs each year, increase production capacity by more than 33.6%, and generate an additional output value of over 100 million yuan.