【Ten Years of Rapid Development in Chemical Equipment】The first domestically produced polypropylene extrusion granulation unit was successfully tested in its first attempt, between 2036 and 2026

Thread Content

Let’s give praise and encouragement to the achievements made in China’s chemical engineering technology and equipment; your participation in discussions is the greatest encouragement. **********************【Ten Years of Progress in Chemical Engineering Equipment】Continuous updates and summaries are available; feel free to join the discussions: https://bbs.hcbbs.com/thread-3576046-1-1.html ***************** The first domestically produced polypropylene extrusion granulation unit was successfully tested in its first attempt. On April 23rd, good news came from PetroChina’s Dushanzi Petrochemical Company’s Tarim 1.2 million tons/year Phase II ethylene project (hereinafter referred to as “Tarim Phase II”): the first domestically produced 450,000 tons/year polypropylene extrusion granulation unit completed its testing successfully, with all operational parameters meeting the design standards. Subsequent projects will carry out load-increasing tests as planned, marking a significant breakthrough in the localization of key equipment for Phase 2 of the tower, and laying a solid foundation for the full operation of the project by 2026. During the preparation phase for commissioning, the project team from Production Department 3 of the Phase 2 commissioning command strictly followed the commissioning plan, systematically completing tasks such as equipment debugging, safety inspections, and process verification. They identified all potential safety hazards and refined the operating procedures to ensure the safe, orderly, and efficient conduct of the commissioning process. The testing process was smooth and seamless, with all systems working together efficiently. At 17:16 on that day, the unit was officially started up. After a series of adjustments, it quickly reached the operating capacity of 40 t/h; all key parameters were within acceptable ranges, the quality of the particle formation was satisfactory, and the equipment demonstrated excellent stability and reliability in operation. On-site technical personnel remained on duty throughout the process, monitoring the unit’s operating status in real time and accurately recording operational data, thereby accumulating valuable experience for subsequent load-increase tests and long-term stable operation. Next, the project team will focus on the key milestones related to increasing the load, continue to optimize the operating procedures, and at the same time accelerate the commissioning of the remaining equipment, working hard to advance the project construction so as to ensure full operation by the scheduled date. As a model project for the transformation and upgrading of China National Petroleum Corporation’s refining operations as well as for sustainable, low-carbon development, Phase II of the tower facility features a domestic production rate of 99% for its equipment; 9 out of the 11 main production units utilize processing technologies developed by China National Petroleum Corporation itself. The extrusion granulation unit that succeeded in this trial run is precisely the core and iconic equipment for the localization of this project. This unit passed the factory acceptance test at Dalian Rubber and Plastic Machinery Co., Ltd. on July 28, 2025; it is China’s first set of polypropylene co-extrusion granulation equipment with an annual capacity of 450,000 tons. From equipment transportation and on-site installation to successful commissioning, the project team managed to achieve a successful first trial run and the production of qualified products in less than 9 months. The polypropylene extrusion granulation unit is the core equipment in large-scale ethylene production facilities; it is characterized by a complex process flow, high requirements for system integration, as well as difficulties in design, manufacturing, and operation. For a long time, the core technologies and market for such units have been monopolized by foreign companies, severely restricting the independent development of China’s petrochemical industry. To break foreign technological monopolies, units responsible for design, manufacturing, installation, and commissioning worked together closely to overcome difficulties, ensuring that this \"national asset\" completed its testing tasks on schedule and to a high standard. The procurement cost of this unit is significantly lower compared to similar foreign equipment, and the delivery time is reduced by more than half a year. It plays a vital role in promoting the localization and domestic production of high-end polyolefin manufacturing equipment in China. It represents a practical example of implementing the strategy for the domestic production of key technical equipment, and marks a crucial step forward for China in this field, as it shifts from following others to keeping pace with them and eventually taking the lead. At present, the technical parameters of this unit are on par with those of imported units, and its overall performance reaches international advanced levels, serving as strong evidence of China’s success in breaking through technical barriers in the field of high-end manufacturing. The successful completion of this test run represents an important milestone in the construction of Phase II of the tower. It not only fully demonstrates the excellent quality of domestically produced large-scale petrochemical equipment, but also highlights the significant progress achieved in the localization of such equipment in China.