Carbamate Condenser

In 2019, an Eastern European Client commissioned ALLIA to replace one fertiliser factory carbamate condenser. This very high-tech tubular heat exchanger has required 2 years’ design studies, supply and manufacturing. The main challenge was the use of specific materials and fabrication standards to enable the equipment to resist the extreme corrosion of carbamates (carbon steel would withstand only a few hours of contact). It was therefore compulsory to use specifically modified and elaborated austenitic stainless steel for this application which can only be made-to-order. Furthermore, this grade of steel requires very specific welding parameters in order to maintain the welding anti-corrosion properties (ferrite rate, inter-pass temperatures, filler metal, heat treatment, etc.)

In addition, a second technical challenge faced Allia’s team as the size of the condenser was rather exceptional: 16 metres – 160T.