The bulk of the phosphate we mine - about 90% - is used to produce
phosphate fertilizers. Another 5% is used to make animal feed
supplements. The remaining 5% goes into making a variety of products
from soft drinks to toothpaste to metal coatings.
Manufacturing Process
Merchant Grade Acid (MGA) 0-50-0 and
Superphosphoric Acid (SPA) 0-68-0
High-quality phosphate ore is mined in an open pit and processed into a fine powdered rock. The powder is mixed with
water, sulphuric acid and a recycled stream of phosphoric acid. The result is a slurry of phosphoric acid and gypsum
solids. The gypsum is filtered from the phosphorus slurry producing 28% phosphoric acid (P2O5). This dilute acid is concentrated to
42% by evaporation.Some of this acid is made into granular P fertilizers, the remaining acid is concentrated, some of
which is stored and sold as merchant grade acid (50% P2O5), the rest into superphosphoric acid (68% P2O5).
Superphosphoric acid is further concentrated by evaporation. The concentrated acid is aged in storage tanks.Impurities
are removed by filtering. Flowing from the filter presses is a clear green acid that contains 68% P2O5. This acid is called
superphosphoric acid.
Benefits
Townley has supplied valves and fittings to this demanding industry for many years. Below is a sampling of products used.
http://scifun.chem.wisc.edu/...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phosphoric_acid
http://www.agrium.com/products_services/...
http://www.baysoundings.com/sum05/...
NOTE: Click each product thumbnail to view a PDF spec sheet for that product.
MSP
Submersible Slurry Pump - Cost effective
replacement for vertical cantilever style sump pumps. Available in 2”- 10” with 5-150 HP. Standard high-chrome wetted parts. Easily moved with lifting bail and Townley flex discharge hose. Perfect for coal tunnel, sumps and waste water run-off. Optional multiple sensor protection box to ensure pump life.
80
SS Knife Gate - A stainless steel valve designed
for those applications where chemical resistance is required.
This precision ground seat provides directional sealing.
80
SSRS - Designed for a variety of chemical applications where
corrosion resistance is critical. All wetted parts are manufactured from
stainless steel with an EPDM rubber seat, assuring positive bi-directional
sealing. Perfect for isolation or flow diversion.
TM
3&4 High-Pressure Butterfly Valve - This premium valve is
designed with a metal reinforced cartridge style EPDM lining that will
not blow out in high flow or high pressure applications. The precision
disc is available in cast 316 SS or nickel plated ductile iron. Perfect
for throttling or isolation of phosphate or limestone slurries.
Pinch
Valve - With self centering closure, properly sized pinch bars
and robust flexible hose, this pinch tube will wear uniformly without
crazing or cracking. Used to modulate material flow, this has a good utility
to price ratio. Includes safety cage.
Urethane
Gaskets and Wedges - Maintenance friendly describes these simple
products found in many power plants. Especially useful for older plants
to offset misaligned fittings or couplings. Wedges can be used for slight
turns in pipe without the expense of fabricated pipe. Designed with a
handle to ensure precise alignment between flanges, this feature doubles
as a “finger saver”. Townley can easily design custom sizes
and formulations for your application.
If you don’t see it here, just call our customer service at a facility near you and ask!
