Based on Vianode’s experience in their pilot plant and Via ONE facility in Norway, the company envisioned to significantly scale-up capacity at a new facility in Canada, which required important modifications to the process flowsheet and a design based on local code normativity under ambitious cost and schedule requirements.

The process incorporates advanced, enclosed, induction furnace technology for graphitization, a first of its kind in the battery grade graphite space.  The technology has been tested at Vianode’s demonstration facility, but scale up risk still needs to be managed, to ensure the operation is successful.

The process utilizes a significant volume of raw water, to control temperatures in the high-energy operation. Some site locations have limited water supply, and low-water-consumption alternatives needed to be identified.

Vianode relied on Hatch experience in graphite production, coke processing, bulk material handling, automation, and industrial clean technologies—combined with its excellence in project delivery—to develop and advance the FEED for their large-scale project.

The FEED design integrated advanced automation and process control systems to ensure high reliability and safety.

Strategic partnerships were formed with major technology providers and contractors for critical utilities, helping to optimize capital deployment and reduce interface complexity, in an effort to reduce cost and minimize schedule.

Hatch has facilitated the scale up process of the induction furnaces, integrating the technology with the overall facility.

Hatch proposed a hybrid approach for cooling, utilizing air coolers where possible, to minimize fresh water consumption.

Leveraging select OEMs and technology partners for Vianode’s FEED design.

Completion of the site selection in St. Thomas, Ontario, Canada. Hatch considered site limitations such as raw water supply and proposed novel solutions to enable the operation under those restrictions.

Maximizing the planned delivery of equipment and materials while leveraging Vianode’s existing vendor supply chain established during Via One, to improve the overall schedule of the project.