New heating terminal for molten sulphur cargoes

InfraLeuna GmbH, the owner and operator of the Leuna chemical site, has unveiled a new state-of-the-art heating terminal as part of a new central infrastructure facility established at the Leuna chemical site to address the changing demands of the chemical industry’s supply chains.

The new heating terminal is initially designed specifically for heating sulphur delivered by rail in tank cars. This is due to changes in procurement structures and longer transport routes, which often mean that temperature-sensitive materials, such as sulphur, cannot be unloaded immediately upon arrival. Controlled, reproducible processes are required to reliably restore the necessary temperature and pumpability. InfraLeuna says that, via the new facility, it will be possible to centrally heat entire trains of sulphur tank cars. The terminal has two tracks, each with eight parking spaces. Up to 16 tank cars can be heated to temperatures of up to 150°C using steam within a maximum of 48 hours. An integrated steam reduction station ensures precise temperature control, allowing defined heating processes below 150°C to be implemented as well.

“We are creating an infrastructure here for a critical step in the product delivery process that may not be available to unloaders,” explains Sebastian Ludwig, Head of Logistics Services at InfraLeuna. “Especially for sulphur, which is delivered by rail in large quantities over long distances, we enable reliable and predictable temperature control as the basis for safe further processing or distribution.”

In the initial phase, rail-based transport is the primary focus. InfraLeuna takes delivery of the freight cars at the Großkorbetha station and handles the shunting operations to the heating terminal. On-site, the steam lines are connected to and disconnected from the heating coils, the steam supply is regulated, and the entire heating process is continuously monitored. As a registered railway transport company, InfraLeuna is authorised to operate on the Deutsche Bahn network. This allows the company not only to organise delivery but also to transport the heated products further via the national rail network. The heating terminal’s services are not exclusively available to companies at the chemical site; external customers can also use the infrastructure for heating and the subsequent distribution of their products.

The heating terminal has a modular design and provides the foundation for further applications. In addition to sulphur, other raw materials that require a heat supply prior to unloading to restore the products’ pumpability can also be integrated in the future. Technical preparations for additional heating points for road vehicles are also planned. With appropriate modifications, the heating of tank trucks and ISO containers can also be implemented in the future.