Flow Diagram of Urea Production Process from Ammonia and

Carbon-dioxide
Urea is manufactured by reacting ammonia and carbon dioxide in autoclave to form ammonium
carbamate. The operating temperature is 135 oC and 35 atm pressure, the chemical reaction is
endothermic reaction and so ammonia is maintained in excess to shift the equilibrium towards urea
formation. Urea production is based on two main reactions.
1. Formation of ammonium carbamate
2. Dehydration of ammonium carbamate to produce molten urea

Urea Production from

NH and CO
3

Description of flow sheet:

1. Ammonia pumping : Liquid ammonia is pumped from the multistage pump which maintain the reaction
pressure in the vertical stainless steel vessel
2. Carbon dioxide compression: ammonia plant directly boost the carbon dioxide from the compression
section as it readily form at the CO2 section of ammonia production plant.
3. Urea synthesis tower: It is lined with film of oxides to protect form corrosion. Catalyst bed is placed in
the inner side of the autoclave structure and 180- 200 atm pressure at temperature about 180-200 deg
centigrade is maintained. Plug flow operation take places and molten urea is removed from the top of the
tower.
4. Distillation tower and Flash drum: This high pressure slurry is flashed to 1 atm pressure and distilled to
remove excess ammonia and decomposed ammonia carbamated salts are removed and recycled.
5. Vacuum Evaporator: The solution is fed to vacuum evaporator for concentrating the slurry.
6. Prilling Tower: It is dryer where the molten slurry is passed from top of the tower into a bucket which
rotates and sprinkles the slurry and air is passed from the bottom. All the moisture is removed as the urea
form into granules during it journey to the bottom of the tower. This granules are sent by conveyor to the
bagging section.

Biuret

Formation:

Two moles of urea are converted into one mole of biuret and one mole of NH 3 by heating.
2
NH2CONH2------------->
NH2CONHCONH2 +
NH3
Because the biuret is injurious to germinating seeds, and pine apple and citrus trees wither when the
fertilizer is sprayed on the leaf. The biuret content in fertilizer grade urea on the world market is required
to
be
below
1.0%.
biuret forms almost
everywhere
in
urea
production
steps.
The
following
conditions
are
favorable
for
biuret
formation.

High
residence
times.

High
temperature.

Low
amount
of
water.
Process
Water
Treatment:
As already pointed out in the process description, the liquid effluent treatment section consists mainly of a
distillation column to purify the waste water, a hydrolyser to decompose the small percentage of urea into
ratio NH3and CO2 which are eventually stripped in the lower section of the same column.
The condensed vapors from first and second vacuum systems, containing urea, ammonia and CO 2 are
collected in the process condensate tank. In this tank the carbonate close drain is also fed by the
centrifugal pump and are recycled .

A simple description which give an idea of the urea manufacturing process

with plant layout:
Reactor
effluent:
The reactor effluent which consists of a liquid phase along with a certain percentage inerts and reactants
in a vapour phase, fed to the H.P. stripper where the first carbamate decomposition occurs. The vapour
phase containing most of the inert gases then flows to the carbamate condenser together with the
carbamate recycle from the medium pressure section. Only before re-injecting the carbamate into the
reactor, the inert gases are separated from the liquid phase-in the carbamate separator and fed to the MP
decomposer.
H.P.

Stripper:

It is the falling film type heat exchanger. It containing 2429 tubes with some space above the tubes and
below the tubes. In the above space a 0.315m height pall rings bed arranged. A sieve tray is fitted above
the packed bed. The tubes are fitted with ferrules have three tangentially drilled distribution holes. Tubes
are made with titanium and shell side fluid is the medium pressure saturated steam.
The reaction product leaving the reactor flow to the steam heated falling film stripper which operates at
about 144-146Kg/cm2 pressure. The liquid from the feed distributor pipe is evenly distributed onto the
packed bed by means of preheated sieve having 1400 holes. The mixture is heated up as it flows into the
vertical tubes of the falling film exchanger. The CO 2 content of the solution is reduced by the stripping
action of the ammonia as it boils out of the solution. The carbamate decomposition heat is supplied by
medium pressure saturated steam, where the latent heat of condensation of saturated steam is taken by
carbamate solution. In the falling film exchanger, the principle advantages are high rate of heat transfer,
no
internal
pressure
drop,
short
time
of
contact.
Decomposition is promoted by heating and stripping CO 2 by vaporized excess NH3, under the same
pressure level as urea reactor. Stripper used is falling film type, decomposed and vaporized gases and
liquid effluent are therefore in counter-current contact and CO 2 concentration in liquid is gradually reduced
from the top to bottom of the stripper tube. As NH 3 rich gas (CO2lean gas) rises from the lower parts of the
tube, then the gas at upper parts of the tube becomes an NH 3 rich gas as compared with the equilibrium

composition and the decomposition reaction in liquid phase corrects the deviation from the equilibrium
(the stripping effect). Decomposition at high pressure requires high temperature which means that much
biuret has formed and the liquid becomes corrosive, but excess ammonia and the use of titanium in the
stripper
permit
minimizing
the
problems.
The urea solution with part of inerts is coming from the bottom of the stripper enters into the medium
pressure decomposition in urea purificationsection. The overhead gases from the top of the stripper
mixed with recovered solution from medium pressure absorber and then pressurized to 180kg/cm 2 in H.P.
carbamate pumps and preheated in carbamate pre-heater by using steam condensate flowing to battery
limits then this mixture enters tube side of carbamate condenser where heat of reaction of reaction-1 and
condensation of carbamate gases is removed by production of steam at 3.5 to 4.5 kgf/cm 2 on the shell
side by vaporization of water. The condensate from the condenser with few inert gases is entered into the
carbamate into the carbamate separator. Carbamate separator is the cylindrical empty vessel in which
separation of carbamate solution from inert gases will take place, carbamate solution from bottom of
separator
is recycled to
reactor
by
means
of
ejector.
The non-condensate gases from the top of the separator consist mainly of inert gases, with a small
amount of NH3 and CO2 are passed through the split range controller to the medium pressure
decomposer
holder
to
utilize
the
heat
of
these
for
that
decomposition.

UREA PURIFICATION:
Urea purification takes place in three stages at decreasing pressures as follows: First stage at 18kgf/cm2
Second stage at 4.5kgf/cm2 Third stage at 0.35kgf/cm2 It is pointed out that the exchangers where the
urea purification occurs are called decomposer. the upper part of the medium pressure inert washing
tower consists of three valve trays. Where the inert gases are subjected to a final scrubbing or washing by
means of some absorption water. In this way the inerts are sent to vent stack practically free from
ammonia.
Prevention

of

explosion

hazard

by

gases

vented

to

the

atmosphere:

CO2 fed to the reactor normally contains a small percentage of H 2,CH4 and CO in addition to inerts like
N2 and Ar. These gases plus the small quantity of gases introduced into the plant with NH 3 coming from
B.L together with CO2 contained in passivation air could give rise to explosively problems when vented
into atmosphere from MP inerts washing tower. As a matter of fact, this problem is minimized in
Snamprogetti urea plants. Since the quantity of passivation air used is far lower than the one used in
other processes. Thus the O2 to flammable gases ratio in the vented gases does not justify the use of a
H2 removal
system
on
the
CO2 stream
from
B.L
Purification and
L.P.Decomposer

recovery

stage

at

4.5

kg/cm2:
(LPD):

This is also the falling film type heat exchanger. It is also constructed same as to MP decomposer, the
packed
bed
height,
equipment
divisions
and
construction
are
same.
The lower the pressure , the better the prevention of NH 3 and CO2 loses from the system, but the
recovered solution becomes weaker.Which means that excess water is recycled to the synthesis loop, the
operating conditions of L.P decomposer are selected at 3.5kgf/cm2 pressure decomposer (falling film
type). The gases leaving the top separator are mixed with the dilute carbon solution coining from waste
water treatment and sent to the ammonia preheater, where they are practically absorbed and condensed.
The ammonia preheater is the shell and tube(1-4 pass) heat exchanger, in which LPD vapors are
condensed and feed NH3 to reactor is heated. While depressurizing(drawing tube side NH 3 loop, case
must be taken to avoid freezing of water) solution on shell side of this preheater.

From the above condensate wit uncondensed gases then enter the LP condenser, where the residue
absorption and condensation heat is removed by cooling water. The liquid phase , with remaining inert
gases,
is
sent
to
the
carbonate
solution
vessel.
The carbonate solution tank is a horizontal cylindrical vessel. It is constructed with inerts washing tower
above the tank, and is located slightly taper to the ground to maintain the solution head for pumps at low
level also. In shutdown followed by emptying of high pressure equipment, the recovered NH 3, CO2 in low
pressure stage is also stored in their tank. The level of this tank should be maintained low in order to
recover
all
carbonate
in
case
of
shutdown.
The inert gases leaving from carbonate solution tank enters into low pressure inerts washing tower which
is located on the tank with packed bed. The inerts are washed in this tower by using water in the counter
current flow. The inerts which are leaving from the washing tower are vented to stack, which are
practically
free
from
NH3.
Purification

and

recovery

stage

at

Vacuum

0.35kg/cm 2:
pre-concentrator:

This is also the falling film type heat exchanger. It is also constructed same as to above decomposers
with
bell
distributor.
The solution leaving(the bottom of low pressure decomposer is expanded at 0.35 kgf/cm2 a pressure and
enters the vacuum pre-concentrator) falling film types as with the help of tangentially inlet duct. Top
separator where the released flash gases are removed before the solution enters the tube bundle.
Decomposition section where the last residual carbamate is decomposed and the required heat is
supplied by the condensation of the gases coming from the medium pressure decomposer separator.
The gases leaving the pre-concentrator top are routed to the vacuum duct where condensation takes
place. The urea solution, collected at the bottom of pre-concentrator holder is sent to the vacuum section
by using centrifugal pump. The pre-concentrator is able to save a lot of pressure stream in the evaporator
permits to concentrate the urea solution from 70-75% to about 85-88% wt. Low pressure section for urea
production
UREA

CONCENTRATION

As it is necessary , in order to prill urea, to concentrate the urea solution up to 99.8% wt. The simplest
and most widely used method is direct concentration , which consists in heating the solution under
vacuum to remove water. Direct concentration is operated on the basis of the equilibrium vapour pressure
of
the
urea
solution.
Theoretically to concentrate the solution without the deposit of crystals, the operating pressure should be
kept over 0.3kh/cm2 abs.., 136 0C int eh second vacuum system.The urea solution coming from vacuum
pre-concentrator holder is sent to the first vacuum concentrator where it is heated up to above the boiling
point of that liquid at the pressure of separator. The mixed phase coming out of concentrator enters the
gas-liquid separator from where vapours are extracted by the second vacuum system, while the solution
fed
to
the
prilling
section
by
using
centrifugal
pump.
Both the 70-72% wt.urea solution from the L.P decomposer and the urea melt from the vacuum separator
can be directed to the urea solution tank, so as to face any emergency situation in both the vacuum and
prilling
sections.
UREA

PURIFICATION

at

M.P.

Decomposer:

This is falling film type heat exchanger is divided into three parts. Top separator where the released flash
gases are separated, middle decomposer where the carbamate decomposition will take place and bottom
holder where the concentrated urea solution will holding. The decomposer tubes are fitted with ferrules

having four tangentially distribution holes with equispaced. Packing bed of pall ring with 1.3m height and
sieve plate for distribution is provided above the decomposer in separator. To promote more
decomposition it is necessary to that higher temperatures or to reduce to lower levels. M.P. Decomposed
is operated at 17kgf/cm2 (g) and 156-158 OC decomposed heat is being supplied from outside of tube by
M.P. steam and M.P. condensate.

Urea medium pressure

section flow sheet
The solution with a low residual CO 2 content, leaving the bottom of the stripper is expanded at the
pressure of 18kgf/cm2 and enters at the top of the M.P. decomposer where the released flash gases are
removed before solution enters the tube bundle. Where the residual carbamate is decomposed and the
required heat is supplied by means of medium pressure saturated steam and medium pressure steam
condensate which is coming from the stripper. Distribution of falling film is obtained by ferrules. After
decomposition of carbamate, the concentrated urea solution with part of inert is collected in the holder
and
then
flows
to
L.P.
decomposer.
The NH3 and CO2 rich gas leaving the top of separator are sent to vacuum pre concentrator,where they
are partially absorbed in the aqueous carbonate solution coming from the urea purification section at
4.5kgf/cm2. The absorption and condensation of gases are removed by evaporating water from urea
solution, thus allowing a considerable saving of L/P/ steam in the evaporation stages. Then the gases
enter the M.P. condenser where the residue absorption and condensation of heat of gases is removed by
cooling water. In the condenser CO 2 is almost totally absorbed. The mixture from M.P. condenser flows to
the
medium
pressure
absorber.
M.P.
Absorber:
It is the bubble cap tray type column contains 4 numbers of trays having bubble cap risers fitted with bell
caps. It contains sparger pipe distributor at bottom. The absorber perform CO 2 absorption and
NH3 rectification.
Reflux NH3 is drawn as part from the NH 3 booster pump and fed to the absorber on top tray and the
aqueous ammonia solution which in coming from M.P.inerts washing tower is fed on the third tray by
means of centrifugal pump and tray washing provision is also there.

Image of medium pressure

section of urea production
Partially condensed NH3 -CO2-H2O mixture from M.P. condenser enters the bottom of the column, where it
is distributed is carbamate solution by means of sparger pipe distributor. Uncondensed gases consisting
of NH3 , CO2, H2O and inerts rising from the bottom are absorbed by cold liquid NH 3 reflux in the upper
section of the column. Most of the CO 2 and H2O condenses as ammonium carbamate and fall back to the
bottom. Condensation heat is removed by evaporation of ammonia. Thus a stream of inert gases
saturated with NH3 leaving the top of the absorbers rectification section. The bottom solution is recycled to

urea synthesis and high pressure recovery section by H.P. carbonate pump. Ammonia vapours with inert
gases leaving the top of column is partially condensed in ammonia condenser by heat exchange with
cooling water and then the liquid and gaseous ammonia phases are returned to ammonia receiver.
Ammonia
Receiver:
It is the horizontal cylindrical vessel fitted with ammonia recovery tower. The tower is installed on the
receiver with 3m packing bed height of pall rings and contain distribution sieve tray above the packed
bed.
The
receiver
is
located
slightly
tapper
to
the
ground.
The ammonia which is received from battery limits containing 5PPM oil. It causes the foaming in
synthesis section, to avoid this foaming the oil should be separated from ammonia. In the above receiving
tank, the oil will separate by density separation and comes towards the down end of the tank. This oil will
drain
periodically.
The function of this receiver tank is to receive and act as a buffer storage for ammonia received from
battery
limit.

To
receive
ammonia
recovered
during
plant
shut
down.

To
receive
ammonia
condensed
in
the
recovery
system.
The inert gases containing residual ammonia leaving the receiver, enters the ammonia recovery tower,
where the pure ammonia coming from B.L. is fed at the top of the tower. In the tower the inert gases
containing NH3 and pure liquid NH3 are brought in contact with each other in a counter current flow to
recover
some
ammonia
from
inerts.
The inert gases containing residual ammonia are sent to the medium pressure falling film absorber(inert
washing tower) where they meet in a counter current water flow which absorbs gaseous ammonia. The
heat of absorption is removed by cooling water. From the bottom of the absorber water-NH 3 solution is
recycled back to the medium pressure absorber by means of centrifugal pump. Tower operating at a
pressure 2.5 kgf/cm2 before entering the distillation tower the process condensate is preheated in the
exchangers where the heating medium is the purified condensate flowing out the tower.
Since the solution is contaminated by urea, after a first stripping in the upper part of the tower, it is
pumped into the hydrolyser where the urea is decomposed by means of stream at 37 kgf/cm2 , 370oC.
Before entering the hydrolyser , the solution is preheated in the exchanger with the solution coming out
from
the
hydrolyser.
The

hydrolysis

NH2CONH2 +

reaction

of
H2O

urea

is

the

opposite

------->2NH3 +

of

that

occurring
CO2 +

in

the

reactor.
Heat

Therefore urea decomposition is favored by high temperature, low pressure and NH 3 & CO2 deficiency.
Also a sufficient long residence time has proved to be an important parameter. In order to eliminate
NH3 and CO2 as far as possible before feeding the hydrolyser the waste water coming out from the
vacuum condensers is first stripped in the column. Moreover a series of baffles in the hydrolyser provided
a plug flow effect, thus avoiding back mixing. Also the continuous removal of hydrolysis reaction and this
encourages the decomposition of urea.

Urea High
Pressure section

The vapours leaving the hydrolyser, jointly with the vapours coming from the distillation tower are
condensed in the distillation tower overhead condenser. Where the condensation heat is removed by
cooling water. From this condenser the carbonate solution flows to the reflux accumulator from part of the
solution fed to the distillation column by using pump. The purified waste from the bottom of distillation
tower
is
cooled.

UREA PRILLING: PRILL TOWER:

It is a cylindrical vertical tower with a height of 100m, in which urea prilling takes place. It consists of prill
section the top and scrapper at bottom. Prill tower contains bottom lowers(window) and top
lowers(windows) also. In the prill section bucket (Tuttle type) is there. The tower is coated inside with anti
corrosive
plant.
This
is
a
natural
draft
Prill
tower.
The molten urea leaving the second vacuum holder is sent to the prilling bucket by means of centrifugal
pump. Bucket contains no. of holes to the wall. The urea coming out of the rotating bucket in the form of
drops fall along the prilling tower and arid encounters cold air flow which causes its solidification.
The molten urea drops coming from bucket contains is at a temperature of133 0C
There will be heat transfer from drops to air , thus reducing the temperature of drops and increasing the
temperature of air. The heated air try to go up, due to that flow of air, some vacuum is created at the
glass. The bottom air will try to cover the above vacuum thus creating the natural draft. The air will enter
the prill tower through bottom lowers and vented to the atmosphere through top lowers.
The heated air with a few parts of urea dust enters the scrubbing section where the urea dust will recover
from air by scrubbing of air with DM water and the free from urea dust is vented to atmosphere.
The molten urea drops from bucket falls down along the prilling tower. Due to the counter current flow of
air the temperature of molten urea will decrease and form as a prill. The solid prills falling to the bottom of
the prilling tower are fed to a belt conveyor by a rotary scrapper. From here they are sent to the automatic
weighing
machine
and
to
the
urea
storage,
bagging
section.

DEDUSTING
SYSTEM:
The urea melt coming out of the bucket in the form of droplets and while falling inside the prill tower
encounters a countercurrent flow of cold air causes solidification . Hot air leaving prill tower top consists of
fine urea dust and free ammonia. In order to prevent pollution caused during the process of prilling .
During system has been incorporated at prill tower top. The system also recovers urea, which is recycled
back
into
the
system.
Operation:
In dedusting tank air travels in two chambers and a stainless steel partition wall which is hanging fro the
top separates these two chambers. The three recirculation pumps take suction deduction chamber with
the help of scrubber nozzles with an angle of 10 deg and due to this spraying action, sir is sucked into the
first chamber (annual scrubbing chamber). Urea gets dissolved while exhaust air traveling from top to
bottom in annular scrubber chamber and then it enters the second chamber of dedusting sump, where
demister pads are provided at the top. Process condensate pump is sprayed on demister pads. By
nozzles with 90deg.angle, and this system is operated by PLC (programmable logic control). Before
taking DDS in line top louvers are be kept closed. Make up liquid for dedsuting sump is done by a control
valve and after attaining required concentration the solution is drained to urea lumps dissolving tank.
Maximum allowable urea dust to atmospheric air is 3Omg/Nm2 of air. An energy-efficient process for urea
synthesis
must
fulfill
the
following
parameters.
High conversion efficiency of CO 2 in urea synthesis reactor, in order to minimize the heat required for
decomposition of unconverted carbamate.(Achieved by optimization of parameters in the urea reactor).
Efficient decomposition of carbamate and efficient separation of carbamate decomposition
products(CO2 and NH3 ), as well as of excess ammonia .(Optimization of process parameters in the
stripper
and
decomposer)
Maximum recovery and efficient utilization of heat formed by absorption and reaction of NH 3 and

CO2 released from the stripper and decomposition. (Optimization of process parameters in the carbamate
condenser ,the MP decomposes and MP absorber).

http://enggyd.blogspot.com/2010/09/flow-diagram-of-urea-production-process.html

Stamicarbon
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Stamicarbon is the licensing and IP center of Maire Tecnimont SpA and market leader in licensing
technology for manufacturing urea.[1] as well as provide follow-up services designed to ensure the
best possible operation of the urea plant throughout its working life. [2]
Contents
[hide]

1 History
o

1.1 Introduction

1.2 The move to urea

2 Technology and Innovation

o

2.1 Addressing plant corrosion and energy consumption

2.2 Improvement of the impact strength and transportation of urea

3 Urea Symposium

4 References

History[edit]
Introduction[edit]
From its inception in 1947 until 2009 Stamicarbon was a subsidiary of DSM (formerly Dutch State
Mines). In 2009 it was sold to Maire Tecnimont.[1][3] DSM created Stamicarbon for the purpose of
managing its patent portfolio and licensing its technology. In 1947 DSM was primarily a coal mining
company and initially Stamicarbon was responsible for selling coal preparation plant technology. The
companys name reflects its origin: Stami (from State Mines) and carbon(coal). [1][3] n the
succeeding years, reflecting the progressive shift of DSMs activities from coal mining to chemicals
derived from coal and, later, from natural gas, Stamicarbons technology portfolio grew to include a
number of other products, including urea and the urea
derivative melamine, caprolactam, polyethylene, phenol, and EPDM rubber.
Following the takeover of DSMs petrochemical activities in 2002 by the Saudi Arabian
company SABIC, licensing activities for all but urea and LLDPE technology were also transferred to
SABICs licensing subsidiary, SABTEC. The melamine license was taken over by OCI Nitrogen. [3]

The move to urea[edit]

Although urea has a number of industrial uses, these are dwarfed by the scale of its use as
a nitrogen fertilizer. Urea has the highest nitrogen content (46 wt-%) of all the recognized solid
nitrogen fertilizer materials and, from the early 1950s onwards, its use has continually increased,
progressively displacing both ammonium sulphate, which was formerly the dominant product, and a
later contender, ammonium nitrate.[4] Today the market stands at about 170 million metric tonnes per
year and is still growing at an annual rate of about 3%.[5] By 2025 world food production will have to
double to cater for the food demand of approximately 8 billion people. Since the area under
cultivation is tending to decrease rather than increase, the extra food will have to be produced by
further increasing the yield per hectare of existing agricultural land. The use of fertilizers, urea in
particular, can assist with this problem.[6] In December 1953, when DSM was establishing its urea
manufacturing activity, it made the decision not to seek a license for any existing urea technology but
rather to develop its own technology in house.[5] In 1957, Stamicarbon sold its first urea license to
Socit Carbochimique in Tertre, Belgium, for a plant with a capacity of 70 metric tons per day
(mtpd).[5] Due to the growth of the world urea market, urea occupied an important position in
Stamicarbons portfolio.

Technology and Innovation[edit]

Addressing plant corrosion and energy consumption [edit]

A key reason why DSM decided to develop its own urea technology was because the existing
technologies did not properly address the problem of corrosion of the steels used in urea synthesis.
Stamicarbon discovered that continuously adding a small amount of oxygen (by adding air) to the
plant feed caused a passive oxide layer to build up on the inner surfaces of the plant equipment,
substantially reducing the rate of corrosion and thus allowing a considerable reduction in the
required thickness of vessels and piping in the high-pressure synthesis section. In the fullness of
time this major advance became standard practice in most urea plants, not just Stamicarbons. . [7] In
the 1960s Stamicarbon introduced the so-called stripping concept, later adopted by its competitors,
which boosted the efficiency of the synthesis section by cutting the amount of recycled water, and
also simplified the plant equipment, thus (again) reducing its cost.[8] Subsequent refinements to the
process, including changes in the disposition of the major equipment items in the synthesis section,
have further reduced both capital and operating costs.
A further breakthrough in corrosion control came in 1996 with the introduction of a new duplex
stainless steel called Safurex, which had been developed jointly by Stamicarbon and the Swedish
steel manufacturer Sandvik.[9] This material is not only corrosion-resistant in a low-oxygen or oxygenfree environment, but also much less susceptible to stress corrosion cracking (SCC) than the ureagrade steels in previous use.

Improvement of the impact strength and transportation of urea [edit]

Until the 1970s most urea plants produced their fertilizer in the form of prills. In the prilling process,
droplets of urea melt (obtained by concentrating the product solution from the urea plant to a very
high level) are cast into an upward flow of air, solidifying as they fall. For air prilling, a concrete tower
is required between 40 and 70 meters high, depending on the production capacity and climatic
conditions.[10] On account of their relatively low strength, prills are susceptible to breakage during
handling and transportation, which increases the risk of caking (concretion) of the product during
storage and gives rise to dust when the urea is spread on the land. [11] Stamicarbon developed a new
technology to improve the impact strength, known as seeding.[12] This process involves blowing tiny
urea particles (seeds) into the prilling tower. The seeds act as kernels for the crystallization of the
urea melt droplets, and in so doing their strength is increased.
Since the 1970s the urea industry has been gradually changing over from prilling to granulation,
which produces stronger particles of a more suitable size for fertilizer use. In the 1990s Stamicarbon
introduced its own fluidized-bed granulation process, which rapidly gained acceptance in the world
nitrogen fertilizer industry.[13]

Urea Symposium[edit]
Once every four years Stamicarbon holds its Urea Symposium, at which new technical
developments are introduced and social contacts are established or refreshed. First held in 1966,
when it was attended by 31 participants, representing 16 licensees from 11 countries, the invited
audience has been expanded to include contractors and equipment suppliers. Attendance at the
most recent symposium in 2012 numbered 320.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stamicarbon