Vynova Replaces Gas With Hydrogen Boilers
PVC producer Vynova is replacing the gas boilers it uses in its purification processes. The Belgian company recently installed a state-new hydrogen-fired steam boiler system at its Tessenderlo headquarters site and plans to add a second identical unit by the end of 2022.
Vynova said the total investment of more than €8 million at the site that the supplies the construction, food, and water purification sectors is part of a scheme to improve efficiency of the company’s production sites. Altogether, it has already spent more than €200 million on upgrades.
The switch from gas to hydrogen is expected to reduce emissions at Tessenderlo by 10,000 t/y as the combustion of hydrogen does not generate any greenhouse gases. Vynova plans to use the hydrogen obtained as a byproduct of various chemicals production processes as fuel for the two boilers.
Each of the new boilers will replace gas-fired units and have a burner capacity of more than 20 MW, making them capable of producing 30 t/hr of steam. Together they will be able to generate about two-thirds of the steam consumed by the site, Vynova said.
Both through continued targeted investments in state-of-the-art production units and by enhancing its product of circular, renewable and low-carbon products, the vinyls producer intends to become a chemical industry sustainability leader, its president, Christophe André, said.
Along with suspension PVC, KOH, and other potassium derivatives, Vynova’s portfolio also includescaustic soda and sodium hypochlorite.
Author: Dede Williams, Freelance Journalist
