METHOD OF REVAMPING OF A PLANT FOR THE PRODUCTION OF MELAMINE, RELATIVE PLANT AND PROCESS WITH ZERO ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
A method for revamping existing plants as well as a plant for the production of melamine with zero environmental impact and the relative process.
1 . A method for revamping a plant for the production of melamine comprising the step of replacing an original heat supply system to a reactor already present in the plant with a replacement heat supply system to the reactor suitable for using energy from renewable or partially renewable sources, said plant not producing any emission of CO 2 into the atmosphere following a supply of heat to the reactor.
2 . The revamping method according to claim 1 , wherein replacing the original heat supply system to the reactor comprises one of the following steps:
replacing a combustion furnace, suitable for supplying necessary heat to a circulation system of molten salts, and relative accessory elements, by an electrically heated furnace, keeping the configuration of the reactor and the molten salt circulation system of the plant unchanged; or
replacing a combustion furnace, suitable for supplying necessary heat to a circulation system of molten salts, and relative accessory elements, by a heat exchanger suitable for supplying necessary heat to the circulation system of molten salts, connected to a heat recovery system, direct or indirect, from renewable or partially renewable sources, keeping the configuration of the reactor and the molten salt circulation system of the plant unchanged; or
replacing a combustion furnace, suitable for supplying necessary heat to a circulation system of molten salts, relative accessory elements, and a system suitable for circulating the molten salts through the reactor comprising a tank, pumps and internal and external pipes, by an electric heating system applied directly to the reactor.
3 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the renewable energy source is electric or solar energy.
4 . A melamine production plant wherein a heat supply system to a melamine synthesis reactor is a supply system suitable for using energy from renewable or partially renewable sources comprising:
an electrically heated furnace suitable for supplying heat to a first circulation system of molten salts and a second circulation system of molten salts; or
a heat exchanger suitable for supplying heat to a first circulation system of molten salts, connected to a direct or indirect heat recovery system from renewable or partially renewable sources, and a second circulation system of molten salts; or
an electric heating system applied directly to the reactor,
said plant not producing any emission of CO 2 into the atmosphere following the supply of heat to the reactor.
5 . The plant according to claim 4 , wherein the heat supply system to the reactor is an electric heating system applied directly to the reactor wherein an internal process side of the reactor comprises:
a plurality of tubes inside which electric heating elements are housed, wherein an external side of the tubes is in contact with process fluids to which it supplies necessary reaction heat;
a plurality of heating elements powered by electric energy, situated inside the tubes;
a central internal circulation tube suitable for guaranteeing internal circulation of the process fluids;
one or more inlets of raw materials and one or more outlets of the reaction products.
6 . A process for the production of melamine operating at high pressure, without the use of a catalyst, wherein, in the synthesis step of melamine from urea, comprising supplying heat to the reactor directly or indirectly through a renewable or partially renewable energy source.
7 . The process according to claim 6 wherein the renewable energy source is electric or solar energy.