Process Selection
In manufacturing of nitric acid, all plants for the production of nitric acid are based on the same
basic chemical operations. Basically, there are three steps of nitric acid production which are
oxidation of ammonia to produce nitrogen oxide and water as by-product. Then, the next step is
further oxidation of nitrogen oxide to produce nitrogen dioxide. Lastly, the final step is
absorption of nitrogen dioxide in water to give a solution of nitric acid.
However, in industry, there are two types of nitric acid plants. These two plants are single
pressure plant and dual pressure plant. For general comparison of these plants, in the single
pressure plant, the oxidation and absorption steps take place at the same pressure essentially. In
dual pressure plant, the absorption step takes place at a higher pressure than the oxidation stage.
After doing research, for process selection of nitric acid production, our group would like to
choose the single pressure process because of a few major factors and considerations as table
below:
Single pressure process Dual pressure process
Less expensive as less equipment used More expensive as more equipment used for
different stages
Limited space availability may favour for this Only enormous plants can run the dual
process pressure process
The higher temperature and favourable Need backup energy recovery system because
pressure both increase the energy recovery of more energy used at different stages
from the process
More catalyst is lost in the process Less catalyst is lost because of lower
operating temperature
