NICKEL

MAGAZINE
T HE M AG A ZINE DE VOT ED TO NICK EL A ND I T S A PPLIC ATIONS

NICKEL, VOL. 33, NO. 1, 2018

Energy transition:
Nickel helping to combat climate change
The electric Iceland’s advanced Carbon capture storage:
vehicle revolution geothermal deep drilling project an underground solution
 CASE STUDY 12
AURORA WASTE-TO-ENERGY PLANT

Stainless steel – easier to digest the facility annually. The first stand-
When the Millennium drought and alone food waste processing facility
Melbourne Australia’s growing constructed by a water utility in
population put a greater strain Australia, the ReWaste plant is based
on finite resources like water and on the process of anaerobic digestion.
energy, Weltec Biopower, a bioenergy
Eight stainless steel tanks including
producer, and engineers, Aquatec
five pre-storage tanks, two digesters
Maxcon, brought their expertise to
and a large storage tank were put
Yarra Valley Water to build a waste-to-
together on site. Stainless steel was
energy facility. The Aurora waste-to-
an ideal material to withstand the
energy plant processes commercial
corrosive environments created
food waste into clean, renewable
by decaying organic matter which
energy. This in turn generates enough
biogas to run the existing Aurora contains hydrogen sulphide, chlorides
sewage treatment plant and the and organic acids.
new recycled water facility, with the Austenitic stainless steel grade
surplus energy being sold or exported Type 304 (UNS S30400) was used
to the electrical grid. for the tanks. The upper part of the
Rubbish to renewable energy digesters, which are partly in the
Stainless steel tanks ensure long
Operating since May 2017, nearby splash zone and partly in the gas
life in the corrosive environment
markets and food manufacturers phase, were made from the more
caused by the decaying organic
matter. deliver the equivalent of 33,000 highly alloyed grade of austenitic
tonnes of commercial food waste to stainless steel Type 316Ti (S31635).

Download the full case study from [Link]

2 | NICKEL, VOL. 33, NO. 1, 2018

2018
EDITORIAL:
ENERGY TRANSITION
NICKEL’S UNSEEN BUT VITAL ROLE

At the Paris COP21 climate conference in 2015, 195 countries agreed to the
goal of limiting the global average temperature increase to less than 2 °C
above pre-industrial levels. However, with the demand for energy increasing,
related carbon emissions are still on the rise. According to the International
Energy Agency’s Global Energy and CO2 Status Report, global energy
demand rose by 2.1% in 2017 and more than 70% of the growth came from
fossil fuels.

Average annual growth in energy demand by fuel

million tonnes of oil equivalent

160 1.6%

0 0%

-160 -1.6%
2006-2015 2016 2017
OECD/IEA

Coal Oil Gas Nuclear Renewables

Net growth (right axis)

More optimistically, the report noted, “renewables saw the highest growth rate Geothermal energy solutions in
of any energy source in 2017, meeting a quarter of the global energy demand Iceland
growth”. This increase in renewable energy is driven by China and the US,
followed by the EU, India and Japan. In fact, China added as much solar power
during 2017 as the total solar capacity of France and Germany combined.
Nickel plays a part in a range of applications designed to lead to energy
transition and tackle global warming. In this issue, we look at a massive
battery storing wind energy in South Australia; a large-scale carbon capture
We hope you like the new look of
initiative in Canada; the potential of geothermal energy in Iceland; how
Nickel magazine. Now in its 33rd
nickel-containing stainless steel is helping reduce CO2 emissions in India, and
year of publication, we felt it was
more. Each of these approaches represent steps towards achieving the Paris
time for a revamp. Let us know what
targets. To meet the goal of energy transition and to achieve lower greenhouse
gas emissions plus increased energy efficiency, nickel is a vital part of the you think!
equation. communications@[Link]

Clare Richardson
Editor, Nickel Magazine

NICKEL, VOL. 33, NO. 1, 2018 | 3

 NICKEL

NOTABLES
CONTENTS
02 Case study no. 12
food waste-to-energy

03 Editorial
energy transition – nickel’s
unseen but vital role

04-05 Nickel notables

06 The coming EV revolution

increasing nickel use

07 World’s largest Li-ion battery

built by Tesla in South Australia

08 Nickel-energizing batteries
facts and figures

09 Clean cooking in rural India

stainless steel improved cookstove
Converting
10-11 Iceland geothermal methane

XIANMEI XIANG/LANZHOU INSTITUTE OF CHEMICAL PHYSICS

12-13
deep drilling depending on nickel
Carbon capture and storage
more
Shell’s Quest project, Canada
sustainably
14 Serious about climate change
China takes action Bubbling methane gas through
14 Web links a molten bismuth-nickel alloy,
a process developed at the
14-15 New publications
University of California, Santa
15 UNS details
Barbara, is showing promise as
16 A stellar luxury development
designed by Zaha Hadid
a method to make hydrogen.
Traditional steam reforming of
Exciton news!
methane produces carbon dioxide For the first time, Russian scientists
Nickel magazine is published by Nickel Institute as a by-product, whereas in this from Ural Federal University (UrFU),
[Link]
new method the carbon in the together with their colleagues from
David Butler, President; Clare Richardson, Editor
communications@[Link] methane comes out as graphite. Institute of Metal Physics of the Ural
Contributors: David Chen, Parul Chhabra, Gary Coates, The research team is collaborating Department of Russian Academy of
Isaline de Baré, Debbie Govier, Peter Kelly-Detwiler,
Larry Martin, Richard Matheson, Geir Moe, Kim Oakes,
with Shell to see if they can Sciences, have studied fundamental
Lissel Pilcher, Nigel Ward, Odette Ziezold develop this technology further. characteristics of nickel oxide
Design: Constructive Communications
Material has been prepared for the general information
nanocrystals and found excitons
of the reader and should not be used or relied upon for on the light absorption edge. This
specific applications without first securing competent
advice. While the material is believed to be technically may be useful for the development
correct, Nickel Institute, its members, staff and
consultants do not represent or warrant its suitability of next-generation optoelectronic
for any general or specific use and assume no liability
or responsibility of any kind in connection with the
devices. An exciton is an electron-
information herein. ISSN 0829-8351 hole pair bound with electrostatic
Printed in Canada on recycled paper by Hayes Print Group
coupling that migrates in a crystal
Image credits:
Cover iStock [Link]©Andrew_Mayovskyy and transmits energy within it. The
pg 2 [Link]©Andrew_Mayovskyy
pg 4 [Link]©scibak
results of the study were published
BRIAN LONG

pg 6 [Link]©3alexd in Physica B: Physics of Condensed

pg 10,11 Wikimedia Commons
pg 14 [Link]©jacus Matter journal.

4 | NICKEL, VOL. 33, NO. 1, 2018

 Recycled batteries
come to a boil
A new and simpler recycling process for spent lithium-ion batteries has
been developed at the University of California in San Diego. For NMC
batteries containing valuable nickel, manganese and cobalt as well as
lithium, the process involves removing the cathode particles and treat-
ing them in a hot, alkaline solution, and then baking them at 800 °C.
When reused in new batteries, charge storage capacity, charging time
DAVID BAILLOT/UC SAN DIEGO JACOBS SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING

and battery lifetime were all restored to their original levels.

THE LONG NOW FOUNDATION

What makes
Reinventing the wheel 10,000-year
clock tick?
Designing tires for worlds other than Earth? Forget elongation and
rebound and think “stoichiometric” and “shape memory alloys.”
Scientists at NASA’s Glenn Research Center near Cleveland have The Long Now Foundation
developed a non-pneumatic, compliant tire made of a stoichiometric ([Link]) has begun installing
nickel-titanium mesh, envisioning use on a future mission to Mars. a mechanical clock in a West Texas
The innovation, called the Superelastic Tire, is the latest evolution of mountain that will keep time for
the Spring Tire that NASA Glenn and Goodyear developed a few years 10,000 years. The mechanism is made
primarily from Type 316 (UNS S31600)
back, inspired by the Apollo program’s lunar-rover tires.
stainless steel, titanium and dry
“The latest version uses shape memory alloys capable of undergoing running ceramic ball bearings.
high strain as load-bearing components, instead of typical elastic The clock will tick just once a year,
materials”, NASA Glenn said. with a century hand marking every
“The nickel-titanium alloy under- 100 years, and a cuckoo making an
appearance every millennium. With
goes an atomic rearrangement
a specially designed gear system
to accommodate deformation”,
that has precision equal to one day
according to Santo Padula, a
in 20,000 years, it self-corrects by
© IMAGING TECHNOLOGY CENTER, NASA GLENN

materials scientists at NASA

“phase-locking” to the noon sun.
Glenn. “This allows a tire made of Conceived by US engineer and
the alloy to deform up to 30 times entrepreneur Danny Hillis, the clock
more than one made of a more aims to shift humanity’s thinking away
conventional material and recover from the immediate, inspiring people
its original shape without irre- to take a more long-term view of the
versible plastic deformation.” world.

NICKEL,
NICKEL,VOL.
VOL.33,
33,NO.
NO.1,1, 2018 | 5
 NICKEL GROWING INCREASINGLY
IMPORTANT IN THE COMING ELECTRIC
VEHICLE REVOLUTION

A critical part of the strategy to address climate change is to change the way
we move ourselves from point A to point B. The transportation industry
is responsible for an estimated 14% of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emis-
sions. While the solution may take many forms, electric vehicles (EVs) are
expected to play a big role in reducing pollution.
Clearly, since EVs are reliant on New chemistries
electricity, associated emissions Nickel-manganese-cobalt (NMC)
are not zero, unless the grid itself is batteries, currently deployed by many
carbon-free. However, a recent study automakers, use ratios of 33% nickel,
from the National Renewable Energy 33% cobalt, and 33% manganese
Laboratory indicates that even in a (referred to as 1:1:1). Others are
already using 6:2:2 formulas (60%
carbon-intensive power grid, EV use
nickel, 20% manganese, and 20%
results in fewer emissions than con-
cobalt). An effort is now underway
Within less than five years, EVs are ventional alternatives.
to further tweak the NMC chemistry
expected to cost less than internal Until recently, though, EVs were not and create an 8:1:1 cathode using
combustion-driven cars and sales meaningful in the scheme of things. 80% nickel, 10% manganese, and 10%
are set to explode to the tens of 2017 was the first year in which more cobalt. Two Korean manufacturers,
millions. Some estimates place the than one million EVs were sold, com- including LG Chem, have announced
number of EVs on the road by 2035 pared with over 88 million conventional plans to bring these new chemistries
at as high as 350 million. cars and light commercial vehicles sold to market in 2018. And other
globally in 2016, but that’s just the start. companies such as Tesla (which uses
an NCA – nickel-cobalt-aluminum
Nickel use in EVs set to accelerate technology) are also anticipated to be
By 2040, some analysts expect that moving to more nickel.
EV sales will eclipse those of internal
While non-nickel lithium-ion chemis-
combustion engines, displacing eight
tries also exist, nobody has yet devel-
million barrels of oil per day. Those oped a technology that matches nickel
millions of cars, trucks and buses will for its density – the power to weight
require nickel-containing lithium-ion ratio – that is critical in cost-effectively
batteries. Today, according to market moving these vehicles down the road.
analysts Roskill, batteries use an esti- Nickel thus will be a major – and
mated 3% of the world’s nickel supply, growing – player in the massive global
but this number is estimated to rise deployment of electric vehicles in our
rapidly. race to save the planet.

6 | NICKEL, VOL. 33, NO. 1, 2018

 © TESLA
WORLD’S LARGEST LITHIUM-ION
BATTERY – SOUTH AUSTRALIA
In 2016, when 1.7 million residents in the state of South Australia were left
without electricity following storm damage to critical infrastructure, nickel
inadvertently became the quiet achiever in tackling climate change and
addressing political energy policies.
Immediately following the crisis, lithium-ion batteries used at the
which left some residents without reserve has not been communicated,
power for up to two weeks, the Musk has previously said that for
Hornsdale Power Reserve project its grid battery, Tesla would use a
was born off the back of a promise lithium-ion chemistry with a nickel,
by Tesla’s CEO Elon Musk to build the manganese, cobalt oxide cathode.
world’s largest lithium-ion battery in Traditional NMC battery configura-
South Australia in 100 days. tions, as they are known, used one
Tesla has constructed the 129 MWh third equal parts nickel, manganese
and cobalt. However, battery manu-
battery in partnership with the state
facturers are starting to play with the
government and Neoen, the French
relative proportions of nickel, cobalt The scale and use of nickel in
renewable energy company that owns
and manganese, with latest reports this application shouldn’t be
the adjacent Hornsdale Wind Farm.
showing up to 80% nickel use. As underestimated. The battery covers
It’s designed to load balance the
the nickel goes up, the ability of the approximately one hectare of
state’s renewable energy generation
battery to absorb lithium increases land and is capable of providing
and allow for emergency back-up additional peak power for around
so they get higher in capacity, and
power during predicted short falls. 50,000 homes.
cheaper to make. Nickel, cobalt,
Essentially, the battery stores the en-
graphite and lithium serve as the
ergy already being generated by wind
biggest drivers for the overall battery
and solar. cost, which Telsa has managed to
Whilst the exact chemistry of the reduce by 35%.

NICKEL, VOL. 33, NO. 1, 2018 | 7

 NICKEL ENERGIZING BATTERIES Concern over climate change, the drive towards energy
efficiency and the adoption of carbon dioxide emissions
targets by governments are all helping to increase interest in renewable energy technologies involving batteries and energy
storage. While nickel is not always in the name, its presence in many battery technologies is helping to reduce greenhouse gas
emissions - enabling clean energy solutions to be a central part of our effort to tackle global warming.

LI-ION BATTERIES TODAY’S BATTERY OPTIONS

Nickel plays a crucial role in lithium-ion Lithium compounds are combined with other materials in order to create Li-ion batteries.
battery chemistries used to power electric Two of the commonly used Li-ion battery chemistries contain nickel.
vehicles, medical devices and cordless power
tools as well as store renewable energy.
CATHODE COMPOSITION:
ALUMINIUM 5% MANGANESE 33%
NCA* NMC**
NICKEL
NICKEL 80% 33%

COBALT 15% COBALT 33%

*NCA: Nickel Cobalt Aluminium **NMC: Nickel Manganese Cobalt

ADVANTAGES GROWING SHARE OF

NICKEL-CONTAINING
LITHIUM-ION BATTERIES
The lithium-ion battery sector will continue
ENERGY to grow in response to the strong demand
LESS SPACE LONGER LIFE STORAGE LIGHTER for battery powered products. In particular,
demand for energy-dense nickel-containing
batteries will increase for applications such
NICKEL-CONTAINING BATTERIES COME IN MANY CHEMISTRIES as electric vehicles and renewable energy
AND OFFER THE HIGHEST ENERGY DENSITY ON THE MARKET storage. Currently 39% of Li-ion batteries
contain nickel. This is expected to rise to
Wh/kg Increasing Nickel content in NMC
batteries increases energy density around 58% by 2025.
300
250 Non-nickel-containing 2016 2025
200 Nickel-containing
150
100
50
0
Lead NiFe NiCd LTO NMH LFP LMO NMC LCO NCA
Acid Nickel- Nickel- Lithium- Nickel- Lithium Lithium- Lithium- Lithium- Lithium-
Iron Cadmium Titanium- Metal Iron- Maganese Nickel Cobalt Cobalt Nickel Cobalt-
NICKEL- NICKEL-
Oxide Hybride Phosphate Oxide Manganese Oxide Aluminium
CONTAINING 39% CONTAINING 58%
Low-Ni NMC (Nickel LMO (Lithium Manganese Oxide)
POWERING THE FUTURE OF TRANSPORT Mid-Ni NMC
Manganese
Cobalt) LFP (Lithium Iron Phosphate)
Companies and governments around the world are asking for increased capacity and energy High-Ni NMC LTO (Lithium Titanate)
NCA (Nickel Cobalt Aluminium) LCO (Lithium Cobalt Oxide)
at lower cost to achieve greenhouse gas reductions. This is leading to major investment in
R&D and new production facilities in
the lithium battery sector, directly linked
to the development of electric vehicles NICKEL IS PART OF THE SOLUTION
(EVs). Nickel-containing cathodes make FOR A MORE SUSTAINABLE SOCIETY
batteries lighter, smaller and provide hi-
Nickel in the battery provides higher energy
gher energy density, resulting in a more
density and storage at lower cost. And crucially
efficient EV. It’s clear that future
it contributes to a longer drive range. New bat-
EV batteries will employ more nickel.
tery developments are helping to make each
kWh of battery storage more cost competitive
“ Our cells should be called Nickel-Graphite, because primarily the cathode is so that intermittent renewable energy sources
nickel and the anode side is graphite with silicon oxide… [there’s] a little bit such as wind and solar can replace fossil fuels
of lithium in there, but it’s like the salt on the salad ” - Elon Musk, CEO Tesla for energy production.

Sources: Roskill • International Nickel Study Group, Nickel in batteries, 2015 • [Link] • Nickel Institute Member companies

8 | NICKEL, VOL. 33, NO. 1, 2018

NICKEL-CONTAINING STAINLESS
STEEL COOK STOVE PROVIDING CLEAN
COOKING TECHNOLOGY
IN RURAL INDIA

According to estimates from the World Health Organization, exposure to

COPYRIGHT ALL RIGHTS RESERVED BY TERI SRC

smoke from traditional cook stoves burning biomass (wood, animal dung,
crop waste) and coal – the primary means of cooking and heating for nearly
three billion people in the developing world – causes more than four million
premature deaths per year (2012).
India alone accounts for more than are lower and it is more fuel efficient.
1.2 million such deaths annually. The ICS demonstrated a combustion
Traditional cooking practices are also efficiency of 37%. When compared to a
thermally inefficient and contribute traditional mud stove, the tested model
to climate change through emissions showed a reduction of 72% in particu-
of greenhouse gases such as carbon Ensuring universal access to
late matters emission (PM 2.5), 80% in
dioxide and methane, and aerosols clean fuel and technologies is
carbon monoxide emission, and 54% in
such as carbon black. a target of the United Nations’
fuel consumption.
Sustainable Development Goal
Fuel efficient ICS lowers emissions Cooking up cleaner air on energy (SDG 7). If this target
To counter these effects, a New Delhi
The deployment of 20,869 ICS be- is met it could prevent millions of
based non-profit research organisa-
tween 2009 and 2015 has resulted in premature deaths and improve
tion, The Energy Research Institute
43.6% reduction in cooking time and the health and well-being of the
(TERI), designed an energy efficient,
an estimated annual fuel wood saving billions of people relying on
improved cook stove (ICS), TERI
of nearly 24,000 tonnes. Research polluting fuels and technologies for
SPT 0610. The ICS can operate with
conducted by University of California cooking, heating and lighting.
a range of traditional biomass fuels.
at San Diego, TERI and Nexleaf
Made from stainless steel, the inner
Analytics, suggests that switching to
core is fabricated from Type 304
(UNS S30400) where the combustion a clean biomass stove could reduce
takes place, with Type 202 (S20200) approximately five tonnes of carbon
for the outer structure and base as dioxide equivalent emissions per
well as nuts and bolts. household per year and will also
reduce air pollution by 60-70%.
Recent laboratory tests by the Indian
Institute of Technology in Delhi showed Through innovations like ICS, nickel-
that the nickel-containing stainless steel containing stainless steel is contribut-
stove performed significantly better ing to cleaner air and better health in
than traditional cook stoves. Emissions the developing world.

NICKEL, VOL. 33, NO. 1, 2018 | 9

 JOURNEY TO THE CENTRE
OF THE EARTH: NICKEL MAY BE
CRITICAL TO SUCCESS OF ICELAND’S
4.5 KM ADVANCED GEOTHERMAL
DEEP DRILLING PROJECT
The typical conventional geothermal well produces energy from water or
steam in contact with hot rock at 200-325 °C, with wells typically ranging
in depth from 60 to 3,000 m. At this point, the industry has decades of
experience and the technologies are relatively well known. Stainless steel
and other nickel-containing materials are commonly and successfully
employed in these projects on a global basis, with their principal role being
to deal with corrosive brines and chemicals.
Different local conditions call for higher corrosion-resistant alloys are
different alloys often needed. These may include
HANSUELI KRAPF

Geothermal projects have been devel- duplex stainless steel Types 2205
oped widely across the planet from (S32205), 2507 (S32750) or austenitic
Kenya to New Zealand, with well over alloys such as 904L (N08904) or 825
13,000 megawatts (MW) of capacity (N08825). In extremely corrosive
worldwide, and the possibility of environments, more of the highest
reaching as much as 23,000 MW by corrosion-resistant nickel alloys such
2021. Some countries, such as Kenya as Alloy 625 (N06625) and C-276
Finding the right alloy for the job – which at the end of 2016 had about (N10276) may be required.
becomes even more critical as 650 MW of capacity, representing This challenge of finding the right
developers eye a potential major about half of its electricity production alloy for the job becomes even more
new geothermal frontier: deep ad- – rely heavily on the resource. critical as developers eye a poten-
vanced geothermal projects sitting
Geothermal projects are developed tial major new geothermal frontier:
close to the edge of the earth’s
in widely different environments, deep advanced geothermal projects
magma, at pressures as high as
with enormous variations in metal sitting close to the edge of the earth’s
200 atmospheres.
ions, corrosive chlorides and gases magma, at pressures as high as 200
encountered. As a result, a broad atmospheres.
range of stainless steels and nickel A potential new approach to
alloys are deployed in the piping and geothermal in Iceland: exploiting
process equipment. supercritical fluids
For many less corrosive wells, standard The first of these deep drilling
nickel stainless steels including Types projects is taking place in the Krafla
304L (UNS S30403), 316L (S31603) and geothermal field in northeast Iceland.
321 (S32100) are commonly utilised, The potential of a vastly greater geo-
but in chloride- or sulphide-rich wells, thermal resource is being explored

10 | NICKEL, VOL. 33, NO. 1, 2018

 ÁSGEIR EGGERTSSON
here, with the goal of tapping steam contains acidic gases that
supercritical fluids at 400-600 °C. are extremely corrosive, posing Krafla geothermal field in northeast
Supercritical is the point at which, potential challenges to even highly Iceland
under extreme temperature and pres- corrosion-resistant nickel alloys that
sure, distinct phases of gas and liquid are typically used in conventional
do not exist. geothermal applications. Testing
has shown that alloys such as C-276
After 176 days of drilling, the $15 million
and 625 fare relatively well at lower If this resource can be harnessed, the
Iceland project, using stainless steel
temperatures (180 °C), but corrosion potential for additional geothermal
liners to address corrosion, reached the
rates were significantly higher at resources could be enormous in
targeted 4,659 m in January 2017 and
350 °C. It is abundantly clear that the geological areas of the world where
encountered supercritical conditions
deep drilling environment, with its young volcanoes occur and magma
(452 °C – the highest temperature ever
even higher 400 °C temperatures and is relatively close to the surface.
measured in a geothermal well). The highly corrosive environment, has
next steps have been to conduct fur- created new challenges across the
ther testing and research, particularly spectrum of alloys.
flow testing and fluid handling exper-
If this resource can be harnessed,
iments. A final determination on the
the potential for additional geother-
technology and electricity production
mal resources could be enormous in
economics will not be known until
geological areas of the world where
the end of 2018.
young volcanoes occur and magma
With these extreme conditions, is relatively close to the surface. For
corrosion has been a big problem this resource to be cost-effectively
During the drilling, several key engi- developed, the right nickel-containing
BATINTHERAIN

neering challenges have arisen. One alloys necessary for this challenging
big problem is that the superheated task need to be identified.

NICKEL, VOL. 33, NO. 1, 2018 | 11

 SHELL’S QUEST PROJECT
HOW NICKEL-CONTAINING
STAINLESS STEEL CONTRIBUTES
TO BETTER AIR QUALITY
The International Energy Agency (IEA) considers carbon capture and
storage (CCS) to be an important climate mitigation technology in its
Blue Map strategy for reducing carbon dioxide emissions. CCS is needed
to successfully transition to a low-carbon economy and achieve the Paris
‘below 2 degree’ international climate change target.
Nickel-containing Type 304L up to 70% of emissions in Alberta.
CNW GROUP/SHELL CANADA LIMITED

(UNS S30403) is a contributor to the The carbon dioxide is captured from

success of CCS operations where the Scotford steam methane reformer
there are concerns about corrosion units, which produce hydrogen for
from wet liquid carbon dioxide in the upgrading bitumen to lighter oil
process streams. Carbon dioxide dis- products. Captured carbon dioxide is
solved in water forms carbonic acid, transported 65 kilometres from the
a weak acid that can attack carbon facility via underground pipeline to
The CO2 Capture Facilities steels under certain process condi- several wells at a permanent under-
consist of amine absorption units tions. However, Type 304L is typically ground storage site. The nominal
located in each of the Hydrogen resistant to such conditions. design life of the plant is 25 years.
Manufacturing Units, a common
Keeping CO2 out of the atmosphere Reaching targets ahead of time
amine regeneration unit, a CO2
Type 304L played a key role in Shell’s Since commercial operation start up
compression unit and a triethylene
Carbon Capture and Storage Quest almost three years ago, it reached the
glycol dehydration unit.
project, launched in 2015 with the goal milestone of capturing over two mil-
to capture and store up to one million lion tonnes of CO2 ahead of schedule.
tonnes of carbon dioxide per year
from the expanded Scotford Upgrader at Quest is the first application of this tech-
Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta. The facility nology at an oil sands upgrader. From
was built on behalf of the Athabasca a global perspective, it is comparable
Oil Sands Project (AOSP) joint venture to the emissions of approximately
owners (current partners include 250,000 motor vehicles per year.
Shell, Chevron, and Canadian Natural Shell Canada stresses that a key com-
Resources), with support from the ponent to this success has been the
Canadian and Alberta Governments. integration of the newer project with the
Funding was part of the province’s com- existing process units. This facilitated
mitment to reduce emissions from large- the “fine-tuning” and optimisation of
scale industrial sites, which account for the operation, resulting in 99% plant

12 | NICKEL, VOL. 33, NO. 1, 2018

reliability (unplanned downtime of Hydrogen unit

less than 1%) during the first year.

1 SURFACE

Based on Shell Canada’s operating and CEMENT

CASING
INTERMEDIATE
CASING

engineering experience, austenitic TUBING

MAIN
INJECTION
CASING

stainless steel is used in the capture

and compression sections of the H2 CO2

process, as well as for the injection H2

2 3
tubing at the wells.
SALT SEALS
How it works CO2
SHALE
SEALS
PACKER
ASSEMBLY

The capture facility is interconnected AMINE UNIT COMPRESSOR

TARGET
FORMATION

PERFORATIONS

to various process gas streams in the CO2 pipeline

ALLOW CO2 TO
PENETRATE THE
FORMATION
Wellhead
three Hydrogen Manufacturing Units
4
5

CNW GROUP/SHELL CANADA LIMITED

(HMUs) where hydrogen is produced
for the conversion of AOSP bitumen
to crude oil. The carbon dioxide is
removed by contacting the gas stream
of methane, carbon dioxide, carbon
monoxide, and hydrogen with an
amine solution.
The carbon dioxide is separated from
the amine in a regeneration process
that produces 95% carbon dioxide at
a pressure slightly above atmospheric
pressure. The carbon dioxide stream
is then compressed to a supercritical
state and dehydrated by a multi-stage
compressor and transported via pipe-
line for off-site deposition.
The CO2 enters the pipeline at roughly
40 °C and 10 MPa pressure. This is
also sometimes known as a dense-
phase state. It is injected into the wells
at a slightly lower temperature in a
liquid state.
A big step forward for CCS
The successful design, construction,
and operation of this Alberta plant
represents a significant stride forward
using this technology. The Global CCS
Institute’s data shows that there are
“currently 21 large-scale CCS facilities
in operation or under construction
globally; these facilities can remove
37 million tonnes per annum of CO2
that otherwise could have entered the
atmosphere. This is the equivalent to
taking almost eight million passenger
vehicles off our roads.”

NICKEL, VOL. 33, NO. 1, 2018 | 13

 Signs that China is serious about
combatting climate change
At the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland in January 2017,
China’s President Xi Jinping defended the Paris Climate Agreement and
called for stronger international co-operation to meet today’s global Structural case studies
problems. China’s role will be key, as it is currently the largest investor in
sustainable infrastructure.

Three new structural nickel-containing

stainless steel case studies to inspire
architects and engineers are available
for download from the Nickel Institute
website. The case studies were written by
In 2016, China invested $88 billion The plan for more nuclear – To
Nancy Baddoo of the Steel Construction
in renewable energy, the highest in meet future energy demands while
Institute, a leading, independent
the world. Home to five of the top lowering GHG emissions, China
provider of technical expertise and
solar panel manufacturers and five planned to construct 60 nuclear disseminator of best practice to the steel
of the top ten wind turbine makers, reactors by 2020. The 2011 accident construction sector.
China is building capacity at an at the Fukushima nuclear reactor in
astonishing rate, installing on Japan brought a pause, but China

NICKEL
average one new wind turbine every has recommitted and currently has
20 reactors under construction. The

O N L I N E
hour. China has also commenced
primary circuit of a nuclear plant,
other initiatives to reduce carbon
which contains the reactor core, is
dioxide emissions. Many require
almost exclusively nickel-containing
nickel-containing materials.
stainless steels and nickel alloys.
The drive for more electric [Link]
More environmentally
vehicles (EVs) – As the largest SUBSCRIBE to Nickel magazine free of charge and
responsible railway – China’s
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car market in the world, China is Railway Network Plan (2016-2030) a new issue is published. [Link] institute.
providing incentives to buy all- projects that total railway mileage org/Nickel Magazine/Subscription
electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid will reach 175,000 km by 2025. READ Nickel magazine online in several languages.
[Link]/NickelMagazine/
electric vehicles to reduce CO2 Subway and surface rail networks MagazineHome
emissions and help clean up air will also be expanded. This will SEARCH BACK ISSUES of Nickel magazine from
in cities. The goal is to reach five require additional rail cars, which our online archive, going back to July 2009.
[Link]/en/Nickel Magazine/
million EVs by 2020. These vehicles are typically constructed from
MagazineHome/AllArchives
typically utilise nickel-containing nickel-containing Type 304 (UNS
FOLLOW US on Twitter @NickelInstitute
lithium-ion batteries. The Chinese S30400) stainless steel.
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government took a further step in With vast low-lying cities that could visit the Nickel Institute’s page
February 2018, when it ruled that EV be largely underwater in a century WATCH nickel related videos on
manufacturers are to be responsible the Nickel Institute YouTube channel
if climate change is not mitigated,
[Link]/user/NickelInstitute
for establishing battery recycling China is showing that it is serious
channels and service centres. about taking action.

14 | NICKEL, VOL. 33, NO. 1, 2018

 NEW PUBLICATIONS

Stainless steels and specialty alloys for pulp, paper and

biomass conversion mills KNOWLEDGE

Stainless steels and specialty alloys for pulp, paper and biomass conversion mills
FOR A BRIGHTER
FUTURE
The Nickel Institute has published a fully revised second edition
of Stainless Steels and Specialty Alloys for Pulp, Paper and Biomass Stainless steels
and specialty alloys
Conversion Mills, a popular and practical guide for mill and
Nickel Institute
communications@[Link]
[Link]
for pulp, paper and
biomass conversion mills
project engineers within the pulp, paper and biomass sector.
Published 2017

The revision team was headed by senior editor Dr. Andrew A PRACTICAL GUIDE
FOR MILL ENGINEERS

Garner together with ten other materials specialists, and

advice from a task force from the TAPPI Corrosion &
#1 Aguilas Materials Engineering Committee. In addition to covering
footbridge technology changes for pulp and paper mills, the publication
includes new chapters on biomass conversion mills, risk-
#2 Queensway tunnel based inspection techniques and a comprehensive guide to
refurbishment the use of corrosion-resistant fasteners. Of special interest
are details about newer duplex stainless steels – their
NickelPub11025_Covers+[Link] 1 2017-12-01 9:21 AM

#3 Aurora waste-to- applications and why they work.

energy plant This book is available for download free of charge from the Nickel Institute website. Printed
copies can be ordered from communications@[Link]. The guide is an invaluable
addition to a mill engineer’s bookshelf.

UNS DETAILS Chemical compositions (% by weight) of the alloys and stainless steels
mentioned in this issue of Nickel.

UNS Al C Co Cr Cu Fe Mn Mo N Nb Ni P S Si Ti W

S20200 - 0.15 - 17.0- - bal 7.5- - 0.25 - 4.0- 0.060 0.030 1.00 - -
p. 9 max 19.0 10.0 max 6.0 max max max
S30400 - 0.08 - 18.0- - bal 2.00 - 0.10 - 8.0- 0.045 0.030 0.75 - -
p. 2,9,12,14,16 max 20.0 max max 10.0 max max max
S30403 - 0.03 - 18.0- - bal 2.00 - 0.10 - 8.0- 0.045 0.030 0.75 - -
p. 10 max 20.0 max max 12.0 max max max
S31600 - 0.08 - 16.0- - bal 2.00 2.00- 0.10 - 10.0- 0.045 0.030 0.75 - -
p. 5 max 18.0 max. 3.00 max 14.0 max max max
S31603 - 0.03 - 16.0- - bal 2.00 2.00- 0.10 - 10.0- 0.045 0.030 0.75 - -
p. 10 max 18.0 max 3.00 max 14.0 max max max
S31635 - 0.08 - 16.0- - bal 2.00 2.00- - - 10.0- 0.045 0.030 0.75 5x(C+N) -
p. 2 max 18.0 max 3.00 14.0 max max max min 0.70
max
S32100 - 0.08 - 17.0 - bal 2.00 - - - 9.0- 0.045 0.030 0.75 5x(C+N) -
p. 10 max 19.0 max 12.0 max max max min 0.70
max
S32205 - 0.030 - 22.0- - bal 2.00 3.00- 0.14- - 4.50- 0.030 0.020 1.00 -
p. 10 max 23.0 max 3.50 0.20 6.50 max max. max
S32750 - 0.030 - 24.0- 0.50 bal 1.20 3.3- 0.24- - 6.0- 0.35 0.020 0.80 - -
p. 10 max 26.0 max max 5.0 0.32 8.0 max max max
N08904 - 0.020 - 19.0- 1.00- bal 2.00 4.00- - - 23.0- 0.045 0.035 1.00 - -
p. 10 max 23.0 2.00 max 5.00 28.0 max max max
N08825 0.2 0.05 - 19.5- 1.5- 22.0 1.0 2.5- - - 38.0- 0.03 0.03 0.5 0.6- -
p. 10 max max 23.5 3.0 min max 3.5 46.0 max max max 1.2
N06625 0.40 0.10 - 20.0- - 5.0 0.50 8.0- - 3.15- 58.0 0.015 0.015 0.50 0.40 -
p. 10 max max 23.0 max max 10.0 4.15 min max max max max
N10276 - 0.01 2.5 14.5- - 4.0- 1.0 15.0- - - bal 0.025 0.010 0.08 - 3.0-
p. 10 max max 16.5 7.0 max 17.0 max max max 4.5

NICKEL, VOL. 33, NO. 1, 2018 | 15

 STAINLESS STEEL
LEADS A STELLAR
LUXURY DEVELOPMENT
Over 900 pieces of interlacing 520 West 28 th has transformed the architectural landscape in New York’s
continuous panels made West Chelsea with its striking glass and nickel-containing stainless steel
from Type 304 stainless steel façade.
gracefully wrap around the The 11-storey, luxury residential build- based fabrication group, M. Cohen
building’s façade and residential ing was designed by the late British- and Sons. Over 350,000 man hours
balconies in a chevron-like Iraqi and Pritzker Prize winning were invested to produce these and
design, creating a dynamic and architect, Zaha Hadid, known for her bring the architect’s vision to life.
sculptural work of art. abstract and circular form designs.
Stainless steel’s functionality and
Located along High Line Park, the durability provide a long-lasting
surrounding urban landscape was solution. Its aesthetic appeal made it
the main inspiration for the building’s the material of choice to create the
design. Unique to this L-shaped devel- striking visual impact. In addition,
opment is the split-level configuration stainless steel was specified to adapt
and the façade’s curves. it to its historically industrial Chelsea
The Type 304 (UNS 30400) stainless neighbourhood.
steel features a blackened finish The building offers 39 loft-like units
achieved by an antiquing process, with amenities such as automated-

TIM FISHER PHTOTGRAPHY

light orbital brushing and hand tinting. valet car parking, a 23 metre sky lit
The panels were engineered, cut, swimming pool and New York city’s
welded and installed by Philadelphia- only private IMAX theatre.

16 NICKEL,
| NICKEL,
[Link].
33,33,
[Link].
1, 2018
1, 2018