Kem One entrusts Clemessy with the piping for its electrolysis unit, to reduce its energy bill

By replacing its diaphragm electrolysis process with a membrane electrolysis process, Kem One intends to drastically reduce its electricity (-16%/year) and gas (-36%/year) consumption, while increasing competitiveness. After prefabricating the pipes in their workshops in Vitrolles (13), our specialists will go on site to assemble the piping lines and install the equipment needed for the smooth operation of the two new units.

Zone 10 : the electrolysis process

"Zone 10 is the heart of the electrolysis process. It comprises an indoor and an outdoor area, for which we have to prefabricate 34,000" of carbon steel and stainless-steel piping," said Zone 10 Project Manager Antoine Kaldirimdjian. In view of the limited average diameter of the pipes to be installed, the number of "welded inches" (a unit of measurement used to quantify the work involved) gives an idea of the scale of the task awaiting our experts. Work on Zone 10 was initiated in September 2023 and should be completed in May 2024.

Zone 40: soda concentration

"One of the special features of new soda concentration unit Zone 40 is the creation of 8,000" of carbon steel, stainless steel and nickel piping. Product concentration and the vapours released by the products that will circulate in the pipes mean that the piping has to be made of specific materials", said Zone 40 Project Manager Jeremy Alighieri. In addition to the piping work, our experts will have to install plate heat exchangers, tanks and pumps in this zone: some twenty items of equipment in all. Work on Zone 40 began in November 2023 and is to be completed in February 2024.

At the end of 2024, Kem One plans to stop production in order to connect these two zones to the other process units. This strategic operation should enable the new membrane electrolysis process to be commissioned from 2025.