Reducing production lossesIn 2013, the company identified a need in the maintenance and operation of its acid nitric plant to reduce production losses and improve annual production. Vale noticed there was a gap in nitric acid production from 2011 to 2012 and discovered that three pieces of equipment were responsible for the main losses, including two weak acid condensers and a compressor discharge air cooler. The condenser’s losses were due to thickness loss, lack of availability of the spare condenser, and shell cracking.With a production loss above 14,000 tons in 15 months, Vale aimed to reduce annual loss by 10,000 tons by August 2015.