Insulation Gets Second Tour Of Duty With Ammonia Sphere
PCS Phosphate's White Springs plant mines phosphate rock, produces phosphoric acid, and combines the acid and aqueous ammonia for annual production of over 700,000 tons of diammonium phosphate (DAP), an ingredient in fertilizer blends. PCS Phosphate's products are shipped to major markets throughout the world.
Prior to mixing, phosphoric acid and ammonia are stored in separate vessels. Ammonia requires a constant temperature of 40°F to maintain its pressure below the design parameters of the storage spheres. This presents a significant challenge, since humidity levels frequently reach 100% in Florida, along with 100°F temperatures. To ensure that the ammonia is stored at the proper temperature in two 2,000-ton spheres, each sphere must have an insulation system that provides constant thermal efficiency and is impermeable to the destructive effects of moisture.