More powerful steam turbine at TIB Chemicals

Since June 2023, TIB Chemicals AG in Mannheim has been operating a new, more powerful steam turbine at its sulfuric acid plant. With this investment, the company is enhancing its energy efficiency and sending another strong signal in support of sustainable production, resource conservation, and active climate protection. The new system enables even better utilization of the process heat generated during sulfuric acid production, thereby contributing significantly to the reduction of CO₂ emissions.

The production of sulfuric acid is an energy-intensive process that simultaneously generates large amounts of usable heat. In the sulfuric acid plant of TIB Chemicals AG, liquid sulfur is burned with atmospheric oxygen at temperatures of around 1,000 degrees Celsius. This is a highly exothermic reaction that releases considerable amounts of heat. Instead of allowing this energy to escape unused, it is efficiently reused as part of a sophisticated energy recovery system.

The recovered heat is used to generate steam at a pressure of about 40 bar. This high-pressure steam is then used to power two steam turbines. One of the turbines is responsible for supplying the process air required for the production process. The second turbine fulfills several tasks at once: It drives both a 130-kW electric generator and the plant’s feedwater pump. In this way, the energy generated during production is directly utilized for operational processes.

During operation, the steam is expanded from approximately 40 bar to about 8.5 bar. The energy released in this process is used to generate electricity and drive the plant’s components. However, the remaining steam is not wasted but is made available to the plant’s internal steam network. There, it is used, for example, in production processes and to heat buildings. This principle of multiple use makes the plant particularly efficient and supports a sustainable circular economy within the company.

The commissioning of the new steam turbine has further increased the already high energy efficiency of sulfuric acid production. The intelligent integration of process heat utilization, electricity generation, and steam supply enables optimal use of the resources employed. At the same time, the need for externally generated energy is reduced.

Particularly noteworthy is the positive contribution to climate protection: The highly efficient use of process heat saves an average of approximately 608 metric tons of CO₂ per year through the additional electricity generation. This represents a significant reduction in environmental impact and underscores TIB Chemicals AG’s commitment to responsible and forward-looking industrial production.

By modernizing its steam turbine technology, TIB Chemicals is investing not only in the performance of its facilities but also in greater sustainability and energy efficiency at its Mannheim site. The project impressively demonstrates how innovative technologies and intelligent energy concepts can help make industrial production processes both economically viable and environmentally friendly. The new steam turbine is thus a key building block on the path toward resource-efficient and climate-friendly chemical production.