Raw material mixing pilot for fertiliser production

In a large pilot plant at Herøya scientists at Yara test different phosphates, a raw material for fertiliser production.
three people standing by a pilot plant, mini factory, in a big hall Tove Kilen, right, property manager at Herøya Research Park, has every reason to smile. She houses Yara's largest test pilot, a mini-factory run by scientists who find the right mix of raw materials for the world's important fertilizer production. From the left, pilot operator Kim Claussen and pilot responsible Lene Sund.

Every day, scientists and industry experts in Herøya Forskningspark develop and test new ideas to make energy, industry and products even more renewable and sustainable.

Meet the experts, eager to tell about the work they do running the test facilities, labs and large pilot plants.

Testing phosphates in pilot plants - more relevant than ever 

In a large pilot plant in the research park Lene Sund and two colleagues at Yara are testing different phosphates, raw material for fertiliser production. The right phosphate mix is essential to avoid problems in fertilizer production. With a changing commodity market, this is more relevant than ever.

"The pilot we operate here is a miniature copy of the entire wet part of the processing plant in the factory. It is simply a mini-factory in approx. one thousandth in size," says Lund.

"We carry out tests to find the optimal mix of phosphates we use as raw material in fertilizer production. The right mix is important to avoid problems in production and to obtain high quality. The market and access to phosphates have changed, and then it is even more relevant to carry out tests to see how the raw materials work in the production process."

The mini factory explained

In the film, Lene explains the pilot plant and shows different phosphates being tested in the "mini factory" in the large test hall.

 

See more photos from Yaras pilot plant at Herøya Forskningspark.
manager standing in front of pilot plant
"This is a pilot plant of a size that requires a number of facilities. We need a crane, truck lift, nitric acid, steam, water and electricity. We get that here in the research park, so it's a suitable place to have the pilot plant," says Lene Sund.
two persons standing in a white lab
Tests carried out on a smaller scale in the laboratory. Lene Sund and colleague Tanja Vojnovic.
manager of pilot plant shows test rig in a lab-scale
Lene Sund shows test rig in laboratory.

 

Text/photoes: Siri Krohn-Fagervoll  siri@krohnfagervoll.no

17. August 2022

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