UniChlor® Systems

UniChlor® Technology represents the integration of chlor-alkali Plants with the Powell Sodium Hypochlorite Wet Chlorine Production System, Sodium Hypochlorite Filter System and a Chlorine Scrubber.

Small chlorine plants that produce sodium hypochlorite and other commodity chemicals downstream of the chlorine/caustic generation process are an attractive alternative to making bleach from chlorine and caustic purchased on the open market. These chlor-alkali plants, which use salt and electricity to make chlorine, caustic soda, and hydrogen on-site, can be used primarily to produce sodium hypochlorite, ferric chloride, calcium hypochlorite, hydrochloric acid, and other chlorine derivatives. It can also be used to produce feedstocks for a variety of other chemicals.

It costs from two to five times as much to purchase chlorine and caustic as it does to make the same amount of chlorine and caustic using UniChlor® Technology.

Since all production requirements of chlorine, caustic, and hydrochloric acid can be supplied with UniChlor® Technology, long-term costs can be controlled. As a result of controlled costs, advantageous long-term customer contracts and competitive pricing can be negotiated and controlled.

The commodities produced by UniChlor® Technology are of very high quality since the best membrane cell technology available today is used in its production.

Since chlorine and/or caustic are produced on-site, associated transportation costs are eliminated, along with contamination or degradation of the chemicals during transportation.

UniChlor® Technology Enhances Site Security and Safety

The use of UniChlor® Technology does not require chemicals to be stored on-site. The chlor-alkali plants use salt and electricity to produce caustic soda and chlorine gas. Downstream, the chlorine gas – either wet or optionally dry – can be reacted in a chemical process to produce bleach, other chlorine derivatives, or chemical feed stocks. As a result, use of liquid chlorine and related storage issues are eliminated. Likewise, compliance requirements for EPA, OSHA, and other international regulations become irrelevant.

Who Can Use UniChlor® Technology?

Optimal candidates for UniChlor® Technology will meet one or more of the criteria below:

• Use chlorine and caustic in quantities above 25 short tons equivalent of chlorine per day.
• Use significant amounts of chlorine and caustic in sodium hypochlorite production for internal consumption.
• Produce ferric chloride, calcium hypochlorite, or other chlorine derivatives.
• Produce feed stocks for the manufacture of other chemicals.
• Produce sodium hydroxide and hydrochloric acid for distribution.

UniChlor® Technology Process Flow

We have developed and maintained an in-depth understanding of the technology needed to produce high-quality bleach. Our complete continuous process systems integrate and interface with all process components including chlorine tank car transfer systems with chlorine detectors, chlorine scrubbers, chlorine tank car padding systems, sodium hypochlorite production systems, sodium hypochlorite filter systems, sodium hypochlorite dilution/blending systems, and all automatic process controls. We can also provide a continuous process that would combine chlorine and caustic which can be connected to a membrane cell plant. The Powell Sodium Hypochlorite Production System and chlorine scrubber can also be integrated into the DCS system of the membrane cell plant.

Modular Chloralkali Plants with UniChlor® Technology

Powell has partnered with Chemetics Inc. (a Worley company) to supply modular chloralkali plants to the global chloralkali market. The two companies have over 100 combined years of experience serving the chloralkali industry. The partnership leverages Chemetics’ design and engineering strength with Powell’s quality fabrication and world leading hypochlorite production systems. Several standard plant sizes are available up to a capacity of about 100 tons (as chlorine)/day. Modularized plant supply has numerous benefits including greater project cost and schedule certainty, reduced onsite construction, and proven design with pre-tested skids.