The Texaco burner in the gasifier of the first ammonia synthesis unit in the Petrochemical and Fertilizer Production Department in Urumqi, Xinjiang, has set a new record by operating continuously for 219 days without any leaks

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The Texaco burner in the gasification furnace of the first ammonia synthesis unit in Xinjiang Urumqi Petrochemical Fertilizer Production Department has set a new record by operating without any leaks for 219 consecutive days. Author/Source: Date: 2022-11-18 Clicks: 18 On November 16, reporters learned from Xinjiang Urumqi Petrochemical Company that the Texaco burner in the gasification furnace of its first ammonia synthesis unit has achieved a new record of 219 days of leak-free operation, surpassing the best performance recorded since the establishment of the company. “November 15th marked the 219th day of continuous operation, and we broke the record! ”Zhang Hongxing, deputy director of one of the synthesis workshops in the fertilizer production department of Urumqi Petrochemical Company, said. The Texaco burner in the gasifier is a key equipment in ammonia synthesis plants; in the partial oxidation hydrogen production process, its stable operation is crucial for the long-term operation of the plant. In the domestic fertilizer industry, due to specific operating conditions, Texaco burners are constantly subjected to high temperatures, high pressures, as well as sustained thermal stress corrosion; as a result, their average operational lifespan is only 40 days, which is recognized as a factor that limits the long-term operation of fertilizer plants. “Whoever first unlocks the secret to long operating cycles for burners holds the key to the long-term operation of ammonia synthesis plants. ”said Guo Jixin, a technical officer at a synthesis workshop. To ensure a stable supply of hydrogen to the refineries, the Fertilizer Production Department continues to work on improving the long-term operational performance of the burners. It is understood that the operating cycle of the burner is closely related to process load adjustment and the control of methane content in the process gas. “Adjustments to the process load directly affect the thermal stress in the burner, which in turn influences its service life. ”Guo Jixin said, “Keeping the methane content too low will increase the oxygen consumption of the gasification furnace, resulting in a higher temperature in the furnace.” ； If the methane content is controlled at a high level, it will directly reduce the effective gas components in the process gas and increase unnecessary production energy consumption. ” “To address the technical challenges, the Fertilizer Production Department established a ‘Party Member Task Force’, with Party members playing a leading role in setting an example and taking the initiative to solve practical problems. ”Zhang Hongxing said. To address these technical challenges, the task force implemented a number of measures to further enhance the comprehensive analysis of corrosion monitoring data, clarify the minimum load requirements for the gasification furnace, and strictly control its reaction temperature. At the same time, in light of the frequent cracking issues encountered in the external burners and coils, the optimization strategies were continuously improved; the original welding processes were altered, pre-welding inspections were strengthened, and post-welding treatments were optimized, thereby further resolving the problem of leakage at the weakest areas in the welded joint under stress. “At present, the Texaco burners in the gasifier are operating well, with all performance parameters meeting the standards for long-term operation; this is the result of our collective efforts. ”Huang Yin, a member of the task force, said, “Next, the Fertilizer Production Department will vigorously carry out initiatives to drive innovation through technological advancements, continuously accumulate experience and insights, explore technical potential, and pursue technological innovations, in order to make new efforts to achieve the goal of operating on a longer-term basis.” ”