ENERGY SAVINGS IN THE NITROGEN-FERTILIZER INDUSTRY IN THE NETHERLANDS

We study the specific energy consumption for the production of nitroge n fertilizers and the various options that are available to reduce thi s consumption. The average energy consumption for ammonia production ( by means of steam reforming of natural gas) in 1988 was 33.5 GJ/ton (L HV). The technical energy savings potential for the year 2000 is 16% [ the specific energy consumption thus falls to 28.0 GJ/ton (LHV)]. The profitable energy savings potential is a potential saving of 6% with a payback period of less than three years. The thermodynamic minimum en ergy consumption using the steam reforming route is 19.1 GJ/ton (LHV). We calculate the effect that savings in ammonia production will have on the energy required for the production of several types of N-fertil izers (urea, nitric acid, ammonium nitrate, and CAN).