Yes to the peeing over the edge!! And more than our share of hot air generators here!
It is an anhydrous ammonia fertilizer plant built in 1965 as a showcase for the natural gas company at the time. It was a self sufficient plant, generating it's own electricity, and using natural gas as the feed stock for NH3 production. The powerhouse that I refer to was the electric and steam supply for the plant. Now it supplies the plant with 450# steam, and instrument air. The two original Solar natural gas fired generators, and the one steam driven generator can still be used as emergency power.
Over the years the plant has been "tweaked" from the original 600 tons per day to 850, and our most recent expansion boosted it to 1025 TPD. The next phase should jump it up to around 1250 TPD. Redfish that is exactly what that structure is. It is the first step in the NH3 production process. It is our primary reformer with the sidewall and hearth burners to heat up CH4 flowing through catalyst filled tubes to "crack" the gas and separate the elements. The "H" is what we get from the gas, and the "N" is from compressed air from the atmosphere. NH3
CO2 is a by product that we compress and condense and is sold to use in various ways such as the carbonation in you beer, to quick freeze foods, and it is used in the mining industry as well i think. We also produce nitric acid which is combined with urea that is produced from NH3 and CO2 to produce liquid fertilizer. 32% UAN. And we make granular 46% urea dry fertilizer.
If you look at the center of the picture, the large building with the stacks is where I work. These are the machines that I monitor and care for!
Three 5600 hp natural gas fired 2 stroke ported V16 syn gas compressors:
5200 hp steam driven air compressor, and 4200 hp steam driven NH3 refrigeration compressor.
And the new stuff: Low and high pressure electric driven axial screw NH3 refrigeration compressors, and a 5000 hp electric motor driven reciprocating syn gas compressor.
And a electric motor driven 5 stage air compressor.
Andrew, is that place STILL down? It is starting to seriously cut into your riding time! Hope you get the place in order soon.
