Nitrogen Capture by Anthony S. Travis

Author:Anthony S. Travis
Language: eng
Format: epub, pdf
Publisher: Springer International Publishing, Cham

9.4 Brunner, Mond Ammonia Research

Following the Oppau visit in 1919, investigations into the technology of ammonia synthesis gathered pace at Brunner, Mond. In the autumn, fifteen engineers were taken on by Humphrey and Cowap and four chemists by Pollitt to work in Brunner, Mond’s new Nitrogen Fixation Department .2

On 13 October 1919 a private house called “Heyeswood ” on the Brunner, Mond estate near the Winnington works in Cheshire was allocated to the ammonia project. Thirteen sketches and drawings, mainly based on information gleaned from the Oppau visit, were transformed into technical drawings and novel designs. There were a number of Brunner, Mond innovations, including the use of heat generated during the process in sustaining the reaction . “It was shown that with the ammonia pass conversion likely to be obtained a heat exchanger of about 80% efficiency would make such a converter autothermic. This was to be the outstanding English contribution to the process. It confined the reaction zone, which contained red hot catalyst, to a central, thin-walled cylinder, surrounded by a well-lagged heat-exchanger.” With catalyst and heat exchanger together in the same vessel, “the design reduced the number of costly forgings for the plant and allowed each catalyst charge to run for a longer time. It provided an internal electric heater for keeping up temperature when the catalyst was losing activity, and for starting up” [35].

In the autumn of 1919, Harold Greenwood joined Brunner, Mond to work on the ammonia synthesis; but he died, suddenly, from blood poisoning at Winnington Hall on November 4. For the future of ammonia in Britain, this was an enormous loss, since not only had he been one of the two leaders in ammonia research at University College , but prior to 1914 he had worked with Fritz Haber on ammonia catalysts. A post mortem was considered, no doubt from concerns of deliberate poisoning by a foreign agent—and should doctors have had any suspicion of foul play “the Ministry are prepared to go to any length in the matter”—such was the strategic importance of the ammonia venture. R. E. Slade replaced Greenwood in February 1920. At this time, Cocksedge was investigating catalysts at Northwich.

In keeping with their original agreements, going back to the end of the previous century, information was exchanged between Brunner, Mond and Solvay Process in America. Solvay was then collaborating closely with General Chemical in ammonia research [36]. On 12 December 1919, Solvay and General Chemical agreed to join forces and establish the Atmospheric Nitrogen Corporation .3

In April 1920, Humphrey and Pollitt visited the United States to investigate progress in the General Chemical process, including the results of wartime work at Sheffield [37]. They brought back samples of catalysts and recipes, and tests were undertaken using the University College wartime synthetic ammonia apparatus. It had been in storage at Woolwich Arsenal and was delivered by horse and cart to the Walsall works of John Thompson (Wolverhampton) Ltd , to join that firm’s experimental ammonia units, located in a ramshackle shed, “[t]he whole…watched over by a miserable, but faithful, one-eyed black tom cat” [38].

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