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The new Billingham low-pressure compressor and turbine, compared with (above) a typical highpressure compressor for the same rate. Both pictures arc to the same scale.
ICI
takes the pressure off Methanol production A new catalyst formulation now enables ICI to offer a lowpressure methanol plant which substantially cuts both capital and operating costs. ICI's 100,000 tons/year unit at Billingham is the first methanol plant to use a centrifugal compressor, with its inherent saving in capital cost, fuel and plant space. The correct formulation of the new catalyst resulted from a long programme of research at the ICI laboratories followed by the development of a satisfactory method of commercial production. Compared with the high-pressure system, the new process may show a saving, in a 300 tons/day plant, of more than £3 per ton produced. The Billingham plant has now operated for more than a year without recharging the catalyst. During this period the unit has been shut down and restarted on many occasions, or maintained on stand-by, without reduction in catalyst activity. Almost all these shutdowns were caused by gas shortage or planned
diversion of synthesis gas to other uses. ICI deferred offering the process to the world until a satisfactory catalyst life had been confirmed under full-scale production conditions. A continuing wealth of knowledge has been gained by the use of an on-line digital computer and data-logging equipment. This is now being applied to the economic design of plant for a range of outputs. ICI offers low- and high-pressure methanol synthesis processes through the licensed contractors listed below. These contractors are also able to supply reformers using the ICI steam reforming process and can thus offer complete methanol plants based on ICI technology and backed by ICI's unique operational and design experience. Contractors Humphreys and Glasgow Limited, 22 Carlisle Place, London, SW1. The Power-Gas Corporation Limited, P.O. Box 21, Bowesfield Lane, Stockton-on-Tees, Co. Durham. Friedrick Uhde. GmbH, Dortmund, Degginstrasse 10-12, W. Germany.
ICI
Further information from the Licensing Manager, Imperial Chemical Industries Limited, Agricultural Division, Projects and Engineering Department, Billingham Teesside, England. F-2
