Preliminary commissioning of CNPC’s Guangxi refining and chemical integration transformation project

Thread Content

The pilot operation phase of China National Petroleum Corporation’s Guangxi refining and chemical integration transformation project has entered July. In the Qinzhou Port Economic and Technological Development Zone, the first set of key production facilities under this project, which involves an investment of around 30.5 billion yuan, have been constructed successively. These include a 2-million-ton-per-year diesel adsorption and separation unit, ethylene storage tanks and low-temperature storage systems, as well as a 400,000-ton-per-year aromatic extraction unit. The overall progress of the project exceeds 95%, and it is now in the final stages of construction and pilot operation; full operation is scheduled to begin in October of this year. On June 30, the air load test of the ethylene refrigeration compressor was successful. Thus, with the startup testing of the pyrolysis gas compressor turbine on June 9, the 21-day testing phase for the 1.2 million tons per year ethylene plant’s third unit has been fully completed, laying a solid foundation for the completion of the integrated project. The pyrolysis gas compressor, ethylene refrigeration compressor, and propylene refrigeration compressor, collectively known as the ethylene \"three-compressor set,\" are the core equipment of an ethylene plant with a capacity of 1.2 million tons per year. They perform the key functions of energy conversion throughout the plant’s operations as well as the compression of process gases; these compressors are characterized by complex technology and high requirements for installation precision. In particular, by replacing traditional energy sources with new energy sources, the ethylene refrigeration compressors utilize the world’s first largest motor with dual frequency converters that enable seamless switching, thereby increasing the level of electrification in the project and facilitating technological innovation. During the trial run of these three units, key operational parameters such as shaft vibration, shaft displacement, and bearing temperature were within the design specifications; the mechanical performance was excellent, and the equipment operated smoothly. The trial run was successful, which not only verified the quality of the equipment’s manufacturing and installation but also created the conditions necessary for subsequent operation. Under the coordination of the project construction leadership team, the commissioning task force worked in conjunction with four specialized teams responsible for operation coordination, construction coordination, material supply, and evaluation and acceptance. Through weekly coordination meetings and daily oversight mechanisms, they managed to overcome the impacts of extreme weather conditions such as high temperatures, heavy rains, typhoons, and lightning, thereby ensuring meticulous management in preparation for the project’s commencement. The content of this article is derived from public sources such as Guangxi Cloud and Guangxi Daily; it has been organized and edited by the Process Industry team. The responsible editor is Hu Jing, and the reviewer is Li Zheng.