LATEST NEWS & PRESS RELEASES
Otto Simon Receives Important Contract in Australia
Otto Simon has received an important contract from OneSteel in Australia for the design, supply, installation supervision and commissioning of a new ammonia stripping plant.

The new ammonia stripping plant is part of an important scheme to reduce marine discharge from the coke oven gas plant in the iron-making area of the Whyalla Steelworks.

This is the fourth major contract that Otto Simon has received in recent months. The three others relate to turnkey projects for design, supply and installation in the UK for coke oven pyrolysis and gas cleaning projects. In addition Otto Simon is carrying out a large number of smaller projects associated with thermal treatment, renewables and energy recovery.

European Process Engineer
An article on Otto Simon appeared in the November 06 edition of European Process Engineer
Office Accommodation
In July 06, Otto Simon announced the purchase and relocation to its own office accommodation.
Gasification, Heat Recovery and Power Generation Facility in Scotland
Otto Simon is the Clients Engineer and is providing specialist process engineering support for the Dargavel Energy from Waste Facility located close to Dumfries in Scotland.

Ascot Environmental are the main contractor for Scotgen (Dumfries) Ltd who own the site. Scotgen intend to install an initial waste fuel capacity of 40,000 tonnes per year but with the technology being modular in nature this can be scaled to the full planning limit of 60,000 tonnes in the future.

The process chosen for the advanced thermal treatment is a sequencing batch gasification system sourced through Planet advantage Ltd. There will be two trains of equipment initially. Each will have 4 primary gasification chambers and one secondary combustion chamber, a boiler and gas cleaning. A common turbine will be used for both streams and will provide approximately 6 Mw of electricity.
Energy Related Projects for the Process Industries
Otto Simon has recently carried out a wide range of thermal treatment and energy related projects for the process industries. A brief overview of many of these projects is provided below.
Construction and Commissioning team for £40 million construction project in South Wales
Otto Simon provided the site manager, safety officer plus key members of the construction and commissioning team for this fast track project which was completed on time.
Gasification Heat Recovery and Power Generation
This was a detailed study to optimise the boiler design and power generation system for the combustion of syngas.
Oil and Gas Separation Facility
To optimise revenue the client wanted this early production facility in the Middle East to be designed and built as quickly as possible. Otto Simon carried out the process review and the piping design for the facility.
New Gas Bleeders and Ignition System
This project covered the design and supply of new gas bleeders and a modern ignition system for the Redcar Coke oven Facility in North East England. The system includes remote ignition by electric arc, steam aspiration for flame stabilization and nitrogen snuffing.
Mechanical Design for Taiwan
Otto Simon has carried out the mechanical and civil design for a temporary bracing system for a coke oven repair contract in Taiwan.
WID Compliance for Fluidised Bed Incineration
This project covered design and commissioning supervision for new gas cleaning facilities at four fluidised bed sewage sludge incineration plants. In addition technical expertise has been provided for the PPC applications.
Rapid Response Following Plant Failure
In response to an urgent request from the client Otto Simon attended site to provide expert assistance following the failure of a gas exhauster. We then provided further support over the Christmas period and installation supervision for the new exhauster.
£100 million energy facility in India
Otto Simon provided senior level coordination for this project and the link between the clients European and Indian design offices.
Treatment of High Strength Ammonia Liquors
This was a two phase study to determine the optimum solution for the treatment of high strength liquors. Otto Simon’s expertise in distillation, incineration, catalytic ammonia destruction and biological effluent treatment was used to evaluate the options and develop a detailed cost estimate for the preferred solution.
Mechanical Design of Coke Oven Doors
Otto Simon has now carried out four contacts during the last year for the detailed mechanical design of coke oven doors for projects in Spain, Argentina and Brazil. The projects represented a particular challenge because of the need to design the equipment to fit within the constraints of the existing facilities.
Review of sludge Drying Technologies
As part of a clients review of suitable technologies for sludge treatment Otto Simon has carried out a detailed evaluation of drying technologies for sewage sludge.
Optimisation of Sewage Sludge Fluidised Bed Combustion Facility
This was a process review of an existing facility to optimise operations and in particular reduce fuel consumption
Technical Expertise for Gasification Plant in London
Otto Simon’s unrivalled expertise has been used to produce the front end design and layout for this prestigious gasification project. In addition we have provided technical support for the successful planning and PPC applications.
Process and Detailed Design for Fluidised Bed Fuel Oil Feed System
To reduce operating costs Otto Simon has taken the lead in a project to use recovered fuel oil to support fluidized bed combustion. Following initial trial work Otto Simon has carried out the process design, detailed design and commissioning for the facility.
Troubleshooting of Drying Plant
The client had been unable to restart their drying facility and was being forced to take very expensive emergency measures. At very short notice Otto Simon sent a process/commissioning engineer to site. Within a few hours of his arrival the problem had been identified and the plant successfully restarted.
Specification for 66 MW Waste Heat Boilers
Otto Simon has developed a detailed specification and ITB document for the retrofitting of waste heat boilers on 66 MW gas turbines at a very large petrochemical facility in the Middle East.
Class A Inspection
This relates to an extensive Class A inspection of the Redcar and South Bank coke making facilities on Teesside. A team of 6 process, mechanical and refractory engineers spent approximately 6 months on site to carry out a detailed review of the existing facilities.
Construction and Commissioning Supervision in Japan, Taiwan, South America and China.
Senior construction and commissioning engineers from Otto Simon are carrying out a wide range of construction and commissioning activities on several coke making projects around the world.
Heat Input Control System
To reduce operating costs and optimise the use of product gas, Otto Simon designed, supplied and installed a heat input control system.
Large Sludge Drying Facility in USA
Otto Simon’s expertise in sludge drying was recognized by the client and we initially provided commissioning advice and confirmation of dryer sizing for a this extremely large sludge drying complex. Now that the project is in the commissioning phase we have engineers on site who are providing expert assistance.
Product Gas Ignition Facility
Following a detailed review of a large gas production facility to overcome operational problems and reduce operating costs Otto Simon is now carrying out the process design and detailed design for a gas ignition system. We are also supplying the key equipment.

This particular project will save the client almost £1 million per year and has a payback of less than 6 months.
Reverse Osmosis for Mine Water
To reduce operating costs, our client wanted to understand the options for reducing water costs. Otto Simon considered the alternatives for treating mine water and ultimately developed a cost estimate for a reverse osmosis plant and associated equipment.
Gasification Plant in South Africa
A process design package for a gasification plant to produce product gas from coal and a valuable char product which can be used in the ferroalloy industry.
Coal Drying Detailed Review
A detailed study of the viability and cost of coal drying. Potential technologies were evaluated plus capital and operating costs for two viable solutions.
Studies to Improve Product Gas Treatment
Otto Simon has carried out studies on several sites with regards to improving the cleaning and treatment of products from coke oven gas. In all cases these studies have resulting in improvements to the existing operation or the development of capital schemes which have been put forward for approval.
Ammonia Distillation Facility in Australia
Following an initial optioneering phase and budget capital cost estimate Otto Simon has carried out the process design and produced a sanction grade estimate for an ammonia distillation facility in Australia. This involved working closely with the client and producing a bill of materials and doing sufficient detailed design work to obtain final quotes for supply and fabrication.
Product Gas Desulphurisation
Otto Simon is working with Uhde for a UK client to evaluate the options and develop capital costs for upgrading a product gas treatment facility and adding desulphurisation. In addition to producing a clean gas which will be used to displace natural gas a useful molten sulphur product will be sold.
Relocation of Tyre Crumbing Facility
Our client has purchased a facility for shredding tyres and producing a valuable crumb product. Otto Simon initially carried out the technical due diligence for the purchase and was subsequently awarded a contract for the upgrade and relocation of the facility.