One example of an industrial chemical facility built by INVAP is theAn Ammonia Absorption Units constructed for the heavy water production plant owned by the Argentine Atomic Energy Commission (CNEA) and operated by Empresa Neuquina de Servicios de Ingeniería (ENSI).

The heavy water Plant PIAP uses NH3 (ammonia) as an intermediate fluid to obtain heavy water. This NH3 is subsequently recovered at the Plant and recycled. ENSI wished to transform its recovery cycle from compression to absorption, in order to reduce production costs by diminishing the power requirements of the Plant.

INVAP carried out the basic and detail engineering and pilot plant experimental validation of the process, and thereafter built two identical Ammonia Absorption Units in accordance with process requirements specified by the client.

The project was carried out in eight months and the Units installed at the PIAP are currently operating to full satisfaction.