Thyssenkrupp Develops Electrolysis Technology for Chlorine Production

• Effective contribution to more environmentally friendly and cost-effective chlorine production: Advanced oxygen depolarized cathode (ODC) technology provides 50 percent higher yields and significantly lower investment costs. About 70 percent of all chemical products use chlorine in the manufacturing process. At the same time, the production of this important base chemical is one of the most energy-intensive processes in the chemical industry. To change this, thyssenkrupp introduces NaCI-ODC electrolysis technology (ODC = oxygen depolarized cathode), which reduces power consumption and indirect CO2emissions byup to 25% compared to standard production processes.

thyssenkrupp engineers have now developed the technology even further: By increasing the current density of the electrolyzer from 4 to 6 kilos of amperes, the efficiency has been increased by 50 percent. Electrolyzers with the same efficiency capacity are now produced in smaller sizes by a third, resulting in significantly lower total cost of ownership. Plant operators profit from a reduced plant footprint, lower maintenance costs and the overall high efficiency that comes with the NaCl-ODC electrolysis process. In parallel with Turkey's growing economy, energy demand in the country is increasing. Within the framework of Turkey's sustainable development plans, it is planned to reduce carbon emissions to 20% below 2010 levels by increasing productivity. In addition to environmental issues, since it is one of the countries that import high levels of energy, it is of great importance for Turkey to increase efficiency with minimum energy in production. thyssenkrupp's ODC technology directly contributes to the economic and energy goals of Turkey's 2023 vision. Advanced ODC technology reduces carbon footprint of chlorine production plants thyssenkrupp's collaboration partner Covestro will be the first to use advanced ODC electrolysis for a new chlor-alkali plant in Tarragona, Spain. Covestro Chief Technology Officer Dr. "Three factors played a vital role in the selection of technology for our process: sustainability, energy efficiency and increasing the competitiveness of our plant," says Klaus Schäfer. Energy consumption accounts for roughly one-third of the operating expenses of a chlor-alkali production plant. Thus, the advanced NaCl-ODC technology helps to significantly reduce energy costs. Compared to the traditional single-element design, this new method will reduce the Tarragona plant's CO2 emissions by about 22,000 metric tons per year. This corresponds to the amount produced by about 15,000 cars in a year. The application of NaCl-ODC electrolysis as the standard technology for chlorine production worldwide means the potential to save 35 million megawatt hours of energy per year. The low-cost solution for the chlor-alkali industry The original NaCl-ODC electrolysis was developed by combining two basic technologies: the oxygen-depolarized cathodes developed by Covestro were integrated into the electrolysis cells (single element technology) of thyssenkrupp Uhde Chlorine Engineers. By introducing oxygen into the cathode, often the formation of unwanted hydrogen is suppressed. This reaction is comparable to the fuel cell, but here instead of producing energy, it reduces the consumption of electrical energy. This ensures the highest energy savings when oxygen is available on site. At the end of 2015, thyssenkrupp successfully commissioned the first large-scale reference for this technology for the BEFAR Group in China. Denis Krude, CEO of thyssenkrupp Uhde Chlorine Engineers, said: "Our customers are; they expect us to provide feasible, future-oriented and at the same time environmentally friendly solutions. Our energy-saving ODC technology can make a significant contribution to the competitiveness of our customers in the chemical industry. The first large-scale plant in China has shown that this technology makes chlorine production more environmentally friendly and cost-effective." As energy prices rise and sustainability goals become increasingly important, NaCl-ODC is becoming an increasingly attractive option for future competitiveness in the chlor-alkali market. Since it is based on the overall design of the single element technology, the integration of this technology into existing facilities can be easily done. The cell size and salt water circulation are 100 percent compatible. Plant owners can easily upgrade existing infrastructures to reduce electricity consumption or increase their production capacity without the need for additional space or a new structure. Images to download for the press (source: thyssenkrupp):