PVS Chemicals Belgium N.V. (PVS) has successfully started up a new MECS converter and steaming equipment, licensed by DuPont Clean Technologies (DuPont) at its sulfuric acid plant in Gent, Belgium. The new 4-pass converter, which offers a plant capacity increase to approximately 300 metric tons per day (m.t./d) of sulfuric acid, replaces two parallel converter trains. The converter upgrade along with new steaming equipment will allow PVS to double the plant’s saturated steam output. PVS will not only be able to supply steam generated from the new boilers to an industrial neighbor but will also prevent approximately 11,700 tons of CO2 from entering the atmosphere.
The PVS sulfuric acid plant in Gent is one of the few sites globally to produce ultra-high purity sulfuric acid, a critical ingredient for the semiconductor chip industry.
David Nicholson, President and CEO of PVS Chemicals Inc. says, “This project and the teamwork, perseverance and hard work shown by all project members, including MECS field services who worked alongside us through successes and difficulties to deliver the plant, ensure PVS Belgium has a bright future. This project builds on the 126 years of history at this plant and gives it a new heart, so it is ready to run for decades to come.”
Eli Ben-Shoshan, says, “Sulfuric acid plants are key sources of carbon-free energy. By capturing that energy, the industry can contribute to decarbonizing thermal energy production. We are delighted to be able to assist PVS Chemicals in that aim and to help the plant optimize energy recovery while ensuring reliable, high quality sulfuric acid production so the plant can consistently meet production capacity targets.”
PVS anticipates that this project will pay for itself within just a few years through the achieved capacity increase and long-term steam supply contract.
PVS kicked off its multi-phased plant revamp project in 2018 with a process and engineering assessment by DuPont who was subsequently commissioned with the license and engineering design of the MECS converter, catalyst and steaming equipment. The design included additional steaming equipment to maximize energy recovery and new generation MECS GEAR catalyst was selected to optimize CAPEX.