Solutia adds simulation software at nitric acid plant

Toulouse, France - Solutia Inc. has selected the ProSimPlus HNO3 software to enhance the nitric acid production process at its Pensacola, Florida plant, which employs selective catalytic reduction (SCR) for NOx abatement. The system, from ProSim of of Toulouse, France, met the polymer, fibres and intermdiates producer's requirments for a simulation software tailored specifically for nitric acid plants.

"The comprehensive chemistry, the ease of use and the flexibility to model many different design scenarios convinced us of the capabilities of the software" according to James Daniels, team leader of Solutia's Manufacturing Technology department.

Solutia also needed the software to be operational as quickly as possible, without spending time on the modelling of the complex chemistry and thermodynamics that occurs in the nitric acid manufacturing process. When evaluating the software, Solutia's process engineer responsible for nitric acid technology modelled the existing process in order to validate the simulation results.

The ProSim software is designed to provide a specific thermodynamic package, including a complete database of the pure components involved in nitric acid production and in nitrous vapours absorption, the appropriate thermodynamic models, said ProSim. The package also provides the correlations for calculation of reaction, dimerization or equilibrium constants to facilitate the build up accurate simulations.

ProSim provides simulation and optimization software for applications in the chemical, refining, gas treatment and specialties chemical industries as well as in the pharmaceuticals, food processing and the energy industries. The products are used to improve process design and plant efficiency and reduce the environment impact of process facilities. Th company lists its customers as including: Air Liquide, Akzo Nobel, Alfa Laval, Arkema, Ciba, Cognis, EDF, Linde, Pharmacia, Praxair, Technip, Total Petrochemicals, Uhde and Wacker.