Research on Structural Stability of Prilling Tower in Fertilizer Industry

Prilling tower is the core structure in the technological process of Nitro-compound fertilizer plant, whose safety is directly related to the normal operation of fertilizer production. Prilling tower is a hollow high special structure which is constructed by concrete-filled steel tubular (CFT) columns bonded by annularity truss and widely used in fertilizer plant. The stability study of the tower is still a blank at present as the structure's specific form. In this paper, buckling analysis is used to analyze the structure in order to define the CFT prilling tower's effective length, according to its characteristics. Its effective length is calculated with equivalent negative stiffness method and the stiffness demands of annularity truss are identified. Elastic-plastic stable assessment of structural stability is carried on using advanced analysis method. A new load model and evaluation method (lateral loading method) has been proposed based on advanced analytical results, which is suitable for evaluating elastic-plastic stability of high-rise steel structure. The stability design methods of such structures are also presented according to the analytical results, providing reference for similar structures and projects.