INTERNATIONAL
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INTERNATIONAL Lignite for Industrial Underpinning Exploitation of deposits in India promises adequate fuel supply, power supply, and fertilizer raw material the West Bengal and Bihar coalfields. Furthermore, raw lignite briquets could be effectively substituted for existing fuel supplies in existing stationary boilers and furnaces without entailing any major plant modifications. τ IGNITE deposits at Neyveli, Southern *-* India, estimated to total 200 million tons, will be exploited in the near future. Powell Duffryn Technical Services, employed on a consulting basis by the Indian government, has recommended four alternative schemes for exploitation. The British firm's services were obtained under the Colombo Plan to prepare a report for a program of industrial development in Madras State based on lignite ex- ploitation. The South Arcot lignite field lies across the Cuddalore-Vriddachalam road and railway. About 200 million tons of lignite can be mined under rela- tively satisfactory conditions by a single mining operation. Moisture content in the lignite "as mined" is estimated at 567c; ash, 2.5 i /r; volatile matter, 22.4%; and fixed carbon, 19.1%. Because of its high water content it must be consumed or processed near the mine. Scheme No. 1 submitted by Powell Duffryn would permit production of 1,070,000 tons of lignite per year to be used as fuel for a power generating station of 200,000 kw. installed capac- ity. This would cost about $62 mil- lion. The second scheme calls for min- ing of 1,370,000 tons of lignite every year to supply a 2O0,0O0-kw. power station and an ammonium sulfate plant with a capacity of 100,000 tons a year. Scheme 2B, which is a partial modi- fication of the second, provides for lignite production of 1,630,000 tons a year to produce 200,000 kw. of electric power and 200,000 tons of ammonium sulfate a year. Another variant (2C) envisages production of 1,460,000 tons of lignite a year to produce 200,000 kw. of electric power and supplying a ferti- lizer plant producing 100,000 tons of ammonium sulfate and 20,000 tons of urea. Scheme 3 requires production of 3,273,000 tons yearly to produce 211,- 000 kw. of power, supplying an am- monium sulfate plant producing 200,- 000 tons a year and a briquetting plant to make 714,000 tons a year of lignite briquets. Briquets will be processed in a low-temperature carbonization plant to yield annually 380,000 tons of carbonized briquets, 43,000 tons of char dust, 6400 tons of motor fuel, 51,300 tons of tar, and 1032 tons of phenol. This will cost about $124 million. Under the fourth scheme 6,268,000 tons of lignite will be mined every year; power production will amount to 263,- 000 kw. ; and 100,000 tons of ammo- nium sulfate, 20,000 tons of urea, and 1,428,000 tons of dried lignite briquets will be produced per year. Half the briquets will be sold and the other half processed in a low temperature carbon- ization plant to yield 380,000 tons of carbonized briquets, 43,000 tons of char dust, 6400 tons of motor fuel, 51,300 tons of tar, and 1032 tons of phenol. A synthetic oil plant to work on the Fischer-Tropsch system will also be installed to produce 85,000 tons of motor fuel, 15,000 tons of Diesel oil, 12,000 tons of tar, and 7300 tons of sulfuric acid every year. This scheme will cost $181.5 million. Under the first scheme, the report estimates that for a production period of 30 years lignite reserves of 33 million tons will have to he worked. Under the fourth, 190 million tons will be worked in that time. The electric power station to he set up will supply power to the Madras grid system, which now consists of four hydroelectric stations and two thermal stations. The report states that addi- tional thermal generation capacity is necessary for the adequate security of electric supply in Madras State, and the proposed lignite burning station will fulfill this need admirably. Even after the Periyar and Kundah hydro- electric power schemes are carried out a large thermal station will still be valu- able for stabilizing the system and level- ing out the fluctuation in generation due to change in availability of water. Immediate demand for fertilizers in Madras is estimated at 75,000 tons, and in the State of Andhra, 100,000 tons. The report recommends adoption of the gypsum method for producing fertilizer, and considers the Trichinopoly gypsum to be economically the best source of supply to a factory located at Neyveli. A good smokeless substitute for wood charcoal is needed at an attractive price, and this means there should be a ready sale for about 350,000 tons of briquets, of which 300,000 tons would be for domestic use and the remaining 50,000 tons for public transportation. Madras has to import fuels at present. A new fuel produced locally will not only meet local demand but relieve strain on railway transport of coal from Quebec Company to Build Lithium Plant Quebec Lithiuiri Corp. will construct a milling plant near Barraute, Que., to produce 1000 tons a day of lithium concentrate. Ore reserves totaling 15 million tons have been outlined, grad- ing 1.2% lithia, said to be sufficient for 45 years' operation. The mill is desigmed for a maximum capacity of 2000 tons and will begin operating about Nov. 1. The first of the output will be de- livered to the Lithium Corp. of Amer- ica, which, has contracted for 165 tons of concentrates daily for five years. Each unit of lithium oxide produced in concentrate form (1% Li 2 0) has a value of $11. From this concentrate the lithium carbonates are extracted. Gross value of the ore deposits is cal- culated to be $750 million. In addi- tion to the lithia, the ore contains ap- proximately 3,750,000 tons of feldspar and 3 million tons of glass quartz. Development of a market for feldspar, which sells for $10 a ton, will be under- taken by the company; glass quartz, which has a ready domestic market, is worth $5.00 a ton. Negotiations are in progress with the Queloec government to lease the plant at the Val D'Or School of Mines to experiment on recovery of spodu- mene and to find more economical methods of recovering feldspar and glass quartz. Consumption of lithium has in- creased from 400,000 pounds in 1944 to an estimated 16 million in 1954. Winnipeg & Central Forms Petrochemicals Co. A. $15 to $20 million petrochemicals plant will be built in or near Winnipeg, Man., if plans go through for the for- mation of Canadian Hydrocarbons, Ltd. U. S. interests and the Power Corp. of Canada are two backers of the project, but Winnipeg & Central Gas Co. is said to Tbe retaining sufficient stock to control the new company. Winnipeg & Central recently ac- quired its seventh propane distributing company, Canadian Propane, Ltd., which makes it one of the largest in Canada. Although it first expected to process natural gas from the proposed Trans-Canada pipeline, this is still in 1548 CHEMICAL AND ENGINEERING NEWS
Transcript of INTERNATIONAL
INTERNATIONAL
Lignite for Industrial Underpinning Exploitation of deposits in India promises adequate
fuel supply, power supply, and fertilizer raw material
the West Bengal and Bihar coalfields. Furthermore, raw lignite briquets could be effectively substituted for existing fuel supplies in existing stationary boilers and furnaces without entailing any major plant modifications.
τ IGNITE deposits at Neyveli, Southern *-* India, estimated to total 200 million tons, will be exploited i n the near future. Powell Duffryn Technical Services, employed on a consulting basis by the Indian government, has recommended four alternative schemes for exploitation. The British firm's services were obtained under the Colombo Plan to prepare a report for a program of industrial development in Madras State based o n lignite exploitation.
The South Arcot lignite field lies across the Cuddalore-Vriddachalam road and railway. About 200 million tons of lignite can be mined under relatively satisfactory conditions by a single mining operation. Moisture content in the lignite "as mined" is estimated at 567c; ash, 2.5 i/r; volatile matter, 22.4%; and fixed carbon, 19.1%. Because of its high water content it must be consumed or processed near the mine.
Scheme No. 1 submitted by Powell Duffryn would permit production of 1,070,000 tons of lignite per year t o be used as fuel for a power generating station of 200,000 kw. installed capacity. This would cost about $62 million. T h e second scheme calls for mining of 1,370,000 tons of lignite every year to supply a 2O0,0O0-kw. power station a n d an ammonium sulfate plant with a capacity of 100,000 tons a year.
Scheme 2B, which is a partial modification of the second, provides for lignite production of 1,630,000 tons a year to produce 200,000 kw. of electric power and 200,000 tons of ammonium sulfate a year. Another variant (2C) envisages production of 1,460,000 tons of lignite a year to produce 200,000 kw. of electric power and supplying a fertilizer p lant producing 100,000 tons of ammonium sulfate and 20,000 tons of urea.
Scheme 3 requires production of 3,273,000 tons yearly to produce 211,-000 kw. of power, supplying an ammonium sulfate plant producing 200,-000 tons a year and a briquetting plant to make 714,000 tons a year of lignite briquets. Briquets will be processed in a low-temperature carbonization plant to yield annually 380,000 tons of carbonized briquets, 43,000 tons of char dust, 6400 tons of motor fuel, 51,300 tons of tar , and 1032 tons of phenol. This will cost about $124 million.
Under the fourth scheme 6,268,000 tons of lignite will be mined every year; power production will amount to 263,-000 kw. ; and 100,000 tons of ammonium sulfate, 20,000 tons of urea, and 1,428,000 tons of dried lignite briquets will be produced per year. Half the briquets will be sold and the other half processed in a low temperature carbonization plant to yield 380,000 tons of carbonized briquets, 43,000 tons of char dust, 6400 tons of motor fuel, 51,300 tons of tar, and 1032 tons of phenol. A synthetic oil plant to work on the Fischer-Tropsch system will also be installed to produce 85,000 tons of motor fuel, 15,000 tons of Diesel oil, 12,000 tons of tar, and 7300 tons of sulfuric acid every year. This scheme will cost $181.5 million.
Under the first scheme, the report estimates that for a production period of 30 years lignite reserves of 33 million tons will have to he worked. Under the fourth, 190 million tons will be worked in that time.
The electric power station to he set u p will supply power to the Madras grid system, which now consists of four hydroelectric stations and two thermal stations. The report states that additional thermal generation capacity is necessary for the adequate security of electric supply in Madras State, and the proposed lignite burning station will fulfill this need admirably. Even after the Periyar and Kundah hydroelectric power schemes are carried out a large thermal station will still b e valuable for stabilizing the system and leveling out the fluctuation in generation due to change in availability of water.
Immediate demand for fertilizers in Madras is estimated at 75,000 tons, and in the State of Andhra, 100,000 tons. T h e report recommends adoption of the gypsum method for producing fertilizer, and considers the Trichinopoly gypsum to be economically the best source of supply to a factory located at Neyveli.
A good smokeless substitute for wood charcoal is needed at an attractive price, and this means there should be a ready sale for about 350,000 tons of briquets, of which 300,000 tons would be for domestic use and the remaining 50,000 tons for public transportation. Madras has to import fuels at present. A new fuel produced locally will not only meet local demand but relieve strain on railway transport of coal from
Quebec Company to Build Lithium Plant
Quebec Lithiuiri Corp. will construct a milling plant near Barraute, Que., to produce 1000 tons a day of lithium concentrate. Ore reserves totaling 15 million tons have been outlined, grading 1.2% lithia, said to b e sufficient for 4 5 years' operation. The mill is desigmed for a maximum capacity of 2000 tons and will begin operating about Nov. 1.
The first of the output will be delivered to the Lithium Corp. of America, which, has contracted for 165 tons of concentrates daily for five years. Each unit of lithium oxide produced in concentrate form ( 1 % L i 2 0 ) has a value of $11. From this concentrate the lithium carbonates are extracted. Gross value of the ore deposits is calculated t o be $750 million. In addition to t he lithia, the ore contains approximately 3,750,000 tons of feldspar and 3 million tons of glass quartz. Development of a market for feldspar, which sells for $10 a ton, will be undertaken by the company; glass quartz, which has a ready domestic market, is worth $5.00 a ton.
Negotiations are in progress with the Queloec government to lease the plant at the Val D'Or School of Mines to experiment on recovery of spodu-mene and to find more economical methods of recovering feldspar and glass quartz.
Consumption of lithium has increased from 400,000 pounds in 1944 to an estimated 16 million in 1954.
Winnipeg & Central Forms Petrochemicals Co.
A. $15 to $20 million petrochemicals plant will be built in or near Winnipeg, Man., if plans go through for the formation of Canadian Hydrocarbons, Ltd. U. S. interests and the Power Corp. of Canada are two backers of the project, but Winnipeg & Central Gas Co. is said to Tbe retaining sufficient stock to control the new company.
Winnipeg & Central recently acquired its seventh propane distributing company, Canadian Propane, Ltd., which makes it one of the largest in Canada. Although it first expected to process natural gas from the proposed Trans-Canada pipeline, this is still in
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INTERNATIONAL.
the offing and officials say it will also be able to use residual fuels or propane. The natural gas piped from Alberta will consist largely of methane after allied gases are extiacted before piping. The gas could b e used as fuel and as a base for fertilizer manufacture. If propane and other hydrocarbons are imported from the Tioga field in North Dakota a broader base would be provided for a Manitoba chemicals industry, as sulfur, ammonias, and plastics and textile fibers would be included.
Meantime, Winnipeg & Central is building 15 aboveground storage tanks with capacity of 30,000 gallons of liquid propane each. These will supplement large underground caverns, also to be prepared for storage.
Burmah-Shell Opens $23 Million Refinery a t Bombay
Burmah-Shell Refineries has opened its new oil refinery, said to be the largest in India. The refinery was completed a year ahead of schedule, and cost over $64,400,000. The plant was formally opened by S. Radhakrish-nan, Vice President of India, on March 17. It is situated on Trombay Island, 10 miles northeast of Bombay.
The refinery will process 2 million tons of crude oil a year. Its production of gasoline, kerosine, Diesel oils, and furnace oils will b e the highest in India, In addition it will also produce the greater part of the country's bitumen requirements.
A well equipped laboratory to test refined products will b e run almost entirely by Indian personnel. Arrange
ments have been m a d e for 29 Indian trainees, after preliminary training at the Assam Oil Co.'s Digboi refinery, Assam, to visit the U. K. and Europe for nine months to a year for training in Shell refineries. These will fill the higher technical positions. Twenty more trainees received practical training on site during construction work. In addition, 200 more Indians, who will be responsible for operating different refinery units, have been instructed in the detailed technique of modern plant processes.
• Spain's power shortage will be relieved in the main industrial area with the installation of a complete 62,500-kw. power plant in the province of Zaragoza. Empress Nacional Calvo Sotelo has ordered more than $7 million worth of steam-electric apparatus from Westinghouse. The plant will link up with a power system serving the three largest load centers, Barcelona, Madrid, a n d Bilbao, also many smaller cities. FOA has allocated $3,-750,000 as partial payment for the project.
• Argentina will have a polystyrene plant near San Nicolas, under plans being made by Monsanto Argentina, a new subsidiary being formed by Monsanto overseas division.
C&EN Foreign Correspondents Contributing to This Issue:
V. S. SWAMINATHAN, India CARLOS ABELEDO, Argentina
Catalytic cracking unit of Burmah-Shell Refineries, Ltd., Bombay, India
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