Louisiana Chemical Equipment Company

PRODUCT GRADES: 50% FORMALDEHYDE WITH 0.7% METHANOL AND .010 PPM FORMIC ACID; DILUTION TO OTHER CONCENTRATIONS IS POSSIBLE; PLANT YIELD: 1.19 POUNDS OF METHANOL TO PRODUCE 1.0 POUND OF FORMALDEHYDE; PROCESS CHEMISTRY: SILVER CATALYST BASED CONVERSION OF METHANOL; PROCESS CHEMICALS: METHANOL (100%); PROCESS UTILITIES: STEAM (AT MAXIMUM RATES THE TOTAL STEAM CONSUMED IS APPROX 12,600 KG/HR OF 75# STEAM. 80% IS USED IN THE DISTILLATION COLUMN THE REMAINING IS USED IN THE SUPER HEATER AND THE HEATING COIL IN THE TOP OF THE REACTOR. APPROXIMATELY 7600 KG/HR OF THE STEAM USED WAS PRODUCED BY THE REACTOR.) COOLING WATER (2500 M3/HR AT 100% CAPACITY), INSTRUMENT GAS, NITROGEN, DEMINERALIZED WATER; STREAM FACTOR: 98%; EQUIPMENT: (2) AIR BLOWERS, (9) PLATE EXCHANGERS, (1) SHELL/TUBE EXCHANGER, (18) PUMPS, (3) VACUUM PUMPS, (1) REACTOR, (2) DISTILLATION COLUMNS, (1) ABSORBER COLUMN, (1) SATURATOR COLUMN, (1) INTERMEDIATE VESSEL, (1) NITROGEN VESSEL, (1) FLAME TRAP, (1) GAS SUPER HEATER, (1) STEAM CYLINDER, (1) CONDENSATE VESSEL, (2) REBOILERS, (1) EXCESS METHANOL VESSEL, (1) CIRCULATION VESSEL ON VACUUM SYSTEM; MATERIAL OF CONSTRUCTION: 304 STAINLESS STEEL; NUMBER OF INSTRUMENT CONTROL LOOPS: 243; FOOT PRINT: PLANT 60'6" X 38'6", BLOWERS 25' X 13'; START UP OF PRODUCTION WAS IN THE FIRST QUARTER 1988; A MAJOR EXPANSION TOOK PLACE IN 1997, ADDING A NEW DISTILLATION COLUMN AND SATURATOR COLUMN, AND REPLACING SECTIONS OF THE ABSORPTION COLUMNS (TO ALLOW FOR HIGHER THROUGHPUT); THE PLANT RAN FOR UP TO SIX CONSEUTIVE MONTHS BEFORE THE CATALYST CHARGE NEEDED REPLACEMENT; A HIGH MONTHLY PRODUCTION RATE (HIGHEST MONTHLY PRODUCTION RATE DEMONSTRATED WAS 4,189 MT) AND A CONVERSION FACTOR METHANOL TO FORMALDEHYDE ABOVE INDUSTRIAL STANDARD PROVES THAT THIS PLANT MET REQUIREMENTS FOR RELIABLILITY AND COST EFFICIENT OPERATION;