Abstract: A vertical bleaching tower for removing dissolved nitrogen oxides from an aqueous nitric acid solution using a stripping gas such as air, nitrogen, oxygen or combinations thereof in a process for producing nitric acid, comprising a structured packing; a liquid distributor comprising a feed box having a serrated weir for distribution of the aqueous nitric acid solution comprising the dissolved nitrogen oxides through upward-pointing serrations of the serrated weir into perforated trays of the liquid distributor and located above the structured packing for distributing the aqueous nitric acid solution comprising the dissolved nitrogen oxides to the structured packing; an inlet and outlet, both suitable for aqueous nitric acid solution; and an inlet and outlet, both suitable for the stripping gas. The present invention further comprises a bleaching method for removing dissolved nitrogen oxides from an aqueous nitric acid solution in a vertical bleaching tower.

Abstract: A method for granulating a slurry in a fluidized bed granulator having a main longitudinal direction from a seed end where granulation is initiated, to a product discharge end where granules are discharged from the fluidized bed granulator, including at least one fluidized bed compartment, an injection section and a granulation section, separated by a bottom plate including one or more injection nozzles, wherein a feed slurry is provided to the injection section, wherein a first fraction of the feed slurry provided to the injection section is injected into the granulation section through the one or more injection nozzles and a second fraction of the feed slurry, being the remainder of the feed slurry, is passed through the injection section without being injected into the granulation section. A fluidized bed granulator for the granulation of slurries for fertilizer products such as UAS according to the method of the invention.

Abstract: A method for crystallizing calcium nitrate from an aqueous calcium nitrate composition including from 6 to 12 weight % nitric acid, from 11 to 17 weight % phosphoric acid, and from 36 to 49 weight % dissolved calcium nitrate, which aqueous composition is optionally directly obtainable from digesting phosphate rock in nitric acid. The method includes filling at least one vertical crystallizing tank through an inlet with the aqueous calcium nitrate composition. The crystallizing tank includes a vertical cylindrical section, a first inlet, a first outlet, a second inlet, three concentric banks of cooling coils, an agitator, and a temperature measurement device. The method includes circulating through the banks of cooling coils a cooling fluid, having an initial temperature ranging from ?40° C. to ?5° C., and rotating the agitator such that a minimum average heat transfer of 400 W/m2·K is achieved on the cooling coil the most distant from the agitator.

Abstract: A distribution chamber suitable for distributing a liquid stream to a plurality of pipe openings distributed over a planar surface. The distribution chamber includes three perforated plates. A method to distribute a liquid stream to a plurality of pipe openings, a method to decompose ammonium carbamate from an aqueous solution comprising ammonium carbamate and a method to produce a concentrated aqueous urea solution from a diluted aqueous urea solution.

Abstract: The present disclosure concerns fertilizer particles comprising calcium nitrate and potassium nitrate. It is found that fertilizer particles comprising 43 to 47% w/w calcium nitrate and 46 to 54% w/w potassium nitrate can be produced by melt granulation. Due to undercooling problems, such particles were not expected to be suitable for industrial production by melt granulation. However, the present disclosure provides a composition which forms a low viscosity melt with short solidification time. This was successfully achieved by reducing the water content of a fertilizer melt comprising 43 to 47% w/w calcium nitrate and 46 to 54% w/w potassium nitrate to less than 3% w/w of the melt.

Abstract: A centrifugal separator for industrial separation of a liquid-gas mixture, including a centrifugal separator body having a centrifugal separator body wall, the centrifugal separator body including a cylindrical section and a conical section, a gas outlet positioned at the top end of the centrifugal separator body and a liquid outlet positioned at the bottom end of the centrifugal separator body, the centrifugal separator body further including a liquid-gas mixture inlet orifice, positioned in the cylindrical section of the centrifugal separator body, and a detector for detecting the thickness of the liquid on the centrifugal separator body wall, wherein the detector is positioned in the cylindrical section. A method for monitoring the flow through such a centrifugal separator.

Abstract: A method for the production of a urea ammonium sulphate (UAS) composition in a pipe reactor comprising at least a reactor section, the method comprising: combining in the reactor continuous feeds of at least one of sulphuric acid and ammonium bisulphate, at least one of ammonia and ammonium carbamate, and urea; and including a viscosity-reducing agent selected from water soluble aluminum salts in at least one of the continuous feeds, thereby forming the urea ammonium sulphate (UAS composition, wherein the UAS composition comprises 1 to 40 weight % of ammonium sulphate (AS) relative to the total weight of the UAS composition.

Abstract: Shell-and-tube strippers for stripping a urea/carbamate mixture, related systems, methods, and uses. The stripper includes a shell and a plurality of tubes disposed within the shell. Baffles and deflectors offer improved homogeneity of heating fluid flow in the stripper's shell-side space.

Abstract: Shell-and-tube strippers for stripping a urea/carbamate mixture, related systems, methods, and uses. The stripper includes a shell, a plurality of tubes disposed within the shell, and a heating fluid distributor for homogenizing the flow of a heating fluid near a heating fluid inlet. The heating fluid distributor includes an edge wall and a laterally disposed heating fluid distribution plate. Related systems, methods, and uses are also provided.

Abstract: A method of determining health of a plant which method includes displaying, on a screen of an electronic display of a mobile computing device, a digital leaf colour chart with colours ranging from yellow green to dark green; displaying on the screen next to the digital leaf colour chart a white area on which a leaf of the plant is to be placed; receiving input to the mobile computing device from a user about which colour of the digital leaf colour chart that best matches the leaf placed on the white area; and the mobile computing device determining the plant health based on the received input.

Abstract: A novel concept for a high energy and material efficient nitric acid production process and system is provided, wherein the nitric acid production process and system, particularly integrated with an ammonia production process and system, is configured to recover a high amount of energy out of the ammonia that it is consuming, particularly in the form of electricity, while maintaining a high nitric acid recovery in the conversion of ammonia to nitric acid. The energy recovery and electricity generation process comprises pressurizing a liquid gas, such as air, oxygen and/or N2, subsequently evaporating and heating the pressurized liquid gas, particularly using low grade waste heat generated in the production of nitric acid and/or ammonia, and subsequently expanding the evaporated pressurized liquid gas over a turbine. In particular, the generated electricity is at least partially used to power an electrolyzer to generate the hydrogen needed for the production of ammonia.

Abstract: A method of estimating chlorophyll content of a leaf including providing a device wherein the device includes a mobile computing device with a digital camera; and a peripheral removably attached to the mobile computing device, the peripheral including a light source aligned with the digital camera, wherein the peripheral provides for a space between the light source and the digital camera; capturing by the digital camera a first image of the light source turned on without the leaf interposed between the digital camera and the light source; retrieving exposure data of the first image; capturing by the digital camera a second image with the leaf interposed between the digital camera and the turned on light source; retrieving exposure data of the second image; and using a processor, estimating the chlorophyll content of the leaf based on the retrieved exposure data of the first and second images.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing a urea solution with a target urea concentration using water flows recovered from the urea production process. At least part of the water flows recovered from the urea production process are only partially purified to produce the urea solution. The invention further relates to a process condensate treatment plant to implement the method for producing a urea solution with a target urea concentration, and a urea production plant comprising such process condensate treatment plant.

Abstract: A manufacturing method includes: (1) incorporating at least one soluble, calcium, magnesium, or other divalent cation-containing additive into a concrete mixture including aggregates prone to alkali-silica reaction; and (2) curing the concrete mixture to form a concrete product.

Abstract: The present application relates to a method for removing a contaminant from wastewater from industrial fertilizer plant. The method comprises the steps of concentrating the wastewater, of electrolyzing the wastewater and of recirculating the electrolyzed wastewater to the fertilizer plant. The present application further relates to a system arranged to perform the method according to the present application.

Abstract: A mobile device for storing and supplying multiple liquid fertilizers, comprising a housing, enclosing: two or more storage units, each suitable for storing a liquid fertilizer, wherein each storage unit is provided with a storage unit level measurement system, a storage unit filling system and a storage unit venting system; a safety drain liquid fertilizer storage, comprising at least two separate collectors for the separate containment of spilled liquid fertilizer; a dosing and controlling system; and wherein the housing is equipped with a connection for the input of a water flow, at least two connections for the output of liquid fertilizer, and an output for venting gasses.

Abstract: The invention relates to a particulate urea-based blend composition comprising a urea-based compound in particulate form and one or more components in particulate form, selected from the group of nitrates, phosphates, sulphates and chlorides, and a urease inhibitor of the type phosphoric triamide, and a magnesium sulphate, wherein the urea-based blend composition is further characterized in that it comprises an alkaline or alkaline-forming compound, selected from the group of calcium oxide, zinc oxide, magnesium oxide, calcium carbonate, and mixtures thereof. The composition according to the invention has improved properties for reducing ammonia loss by urease activity in the soil and is in particular suitable as a fertilizer.

Abstract: A stripper for stripping a urea/carbamate mixture. The stripper comprises a shell and a plurality of tubes disposed within the shell. A shell-side space is provided between the tubes and the shell. A first heating fluid inlet, a second heating fluid inlet, and a heating fluid outlet are in fluid connection with the shell-side space. The second heating fluid inlet is disposed between the first heating fluid inlet and the heating fluid outlet. Related uses, systems, and methods are provided as well.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method for the manufacture of a homogeneous, solid, particulate, urea-based material comprising elemental sulphur. The invention further relates to a homogeneous, solid, particulate urea-based material comprising small elemental sulphur phases in a urea-based base material and formed by an accretion process. The product is in particular suitable as a fertilizer.

Abstract: A method for downscaling a weather forecast including obtaining a sky image and location data indicative of a user location via a mobile computing device; sending the location data to a weather forecast provider; generating, by the weather forecast provider, a local weather forecast for the user location; sending the local weather forecast to a server; determining, by the mobile computing device, cloud cover data and cloud type data based on the sky image, and sending the cloud cover data and cloud type data to the server or sending the sky image to the server and determining cloud cover data and cloud type data based on the sky image; increasing the resolution of the local weather forecast based on the cloud cover data and the cloud type data, thus obtaining a downscaled local weather forecast; and, sending the downscaled local weather forecast to the mobile computing device.