MAN introduces new turbomachinery concept

An AG-MAX1 axial compressor is at the heart of the NAMAX concept. MAN claims that a recent order for the concept with MAX1 technology is now strengthening the company’s position in the market of machinery trains for the fertilizer industry. The company will supply a NAMAX train to end-customer Grupa Azoty in Poland for the licensor, Thyssenkrupp Industrial Solutions. Grupa Azoty will use the concept to expand its fertilizer production in Pulawy in eastern Poland.

Lothar Wallscheid, Vice President at MAN Diesel & Turbo in Oberhausen (Germany), said: “Nitric acid is one of the most important feedstocks in the industry worldwide.

“For the energy-intensive production process we have created a highly efficient train concept based on the MAX1 as air compressor. Among its many advantages, this means one thing in particular for the production of nitric acid: far greater efficiency with reduced investment."

MAN claims that previous concepts made use of an intermediate gearbox to couple the machines in the train. The NAMAX concept, meanwhile, utilises a direct drive, meaning that a gearbox is not required. Compared to the machine trains to date, this allows efficiency to be boosted by several percentage points, whilst simultaneously allowing the energy input and operating costs for HNO₃ production to be decreased.

The MAX1 air compressor aside, the NAMAX concept also consists of other proven machines. These include: a centrifugal compressor for NO_x compression; a MAN steam turbine; and a MAN axial expander providing the drive power. As all four machines come from a single source, the complete train can be perfectly matched, allowing nitric acid production to be trimmed for maximum efficiency.

Read the article online at: https://www.worldfertilizer.com/nitrogen/29092017/man-introduces-new-turbomachinery-concept/