Zhejiang Yuanjin’s world’s first 900,000-ton propylene dehydrogenation unit PDH project heat integration heat exchanger

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At 1 p.m. on July 11th, the first shipment – the heat integration heat exchanger for the PDH unit manufactured by Wuhan Donghai Petrochemical Heavy Equipment Co., Ltd. for Zhejiang Yuanjin New Materials Co., Ltd. – arrived at the heavy equipment dock in Zhejiang Rixin Technology Park, Shangyu, on the south bank of the Qiantang River, via Jingjiang in Jiangsu. This equipment is the world’s first heat integration reactor for a 900,000-ton propane dehydrogenation plant, developed through a collaboration between Zhejiang Yuanjin New Materials Co., Ltd. and Honeywell UOP of the United States. Each heat exchanger in this system weighs over 400 tons; it represents the largest-scale core heat exchanger currently used in propane dehydrogenation (PDH) plants, with a hydrogen-to-hydrocarbon ratio that is among the best in the world. Their successful delivery marks an important step forward for propane dehydrogenation technology toward higher efficiency and lower energy consumption, while also enhancing China’s position in the global high-end energy and chemical industry in terms of equipment manufacturing. At present, Yuanjin New Materials’ 750,000 tons per year PDH project is under construction. On April 25, 2025, the sixth general meeting of shareholders and the second meeting of the board of directors of Zhejiang Yuanjin New Materials Co., Ltd. were successfully held. At these meetings, Chairman Zhao Jianchang encouraged everyone to work together to advance the project construction, with the goal of completing the first phase of the project by the end of next June. Zhejiang Yuanjin New Materials Co., Ltd.’s integrated project for the comprehensive utilization of hydrocarbon resources is located in the Shangyu Economic and Technological Development Zone of Hangzhou Bay, Shaoxing, Zhejiang. The project plans to build two propane dehydrogenation units with a capacity of 750,000 tons each for the production of propylene, three polypropylene production units with a combined capacity of 1.25 million tons, one hydrogen peroxide production unit with a capacity of 400,000 tons, and one propylene oxide production unit using the direct oxidation method with a capacity of 300,000 tons. Additionally, 80,000 tons of hydrogen will be produced as a by-product. On May 25, 2022, Honeywell announced that the 750,000 tons per year PDH plant of Zhejiang Yuanjin New Materials Co., Ltd. would utilize Honeywell UOP’s next-generation Oleflex propane dehydrogenation technology. Honeywell UOP will provide licensing, process design packages, patented equipment, training for on-site operators, commissioning and ongoing operational technical services, as well as the key catalysts and adsorbents for the project.