Latest progress on the 1.7 million-ton coal-to-olefins project of Zhongan United Coal Industry & Chemicals

In October 2014, pile driving for the 350,000 tons per year linear low-density polyethylene plant of the Zhongan United Coal Chemical Project began. In December 2014, construction of the project’s core facility officially began. In 2015, due to funding issues for the project, the Zhongan United Coal Chemical Project came to a standstill. On January 20, 2017, with the coordination of Anhui Province, Sinopec, and Huainan City, the project resumed work. Requirement: Complete delivery by the end of 2018, with the goal of having the entire process completed in the first half of 2019.

With 2 months left before the end of the year, can the MTO plant be fully handed over?

Successful Power Supply to the Central Control Room of the Zhong’an United Coal and Chemical Project Author/Source: Date: 2018-10-31 Clicks: 9 At 9 a.m. on October 26, the central control room of the Zhong’an project, constructed by Sijian Company, achieved successful power supply for the first time, laying the foundation for the overall commissioning and operation of the project. The 1.7 million tons per year coal-to-methanol and converted olefins project of Zhongan United Coal Industry & Chemical Co., Ltd. is a key construction project for Sinopec and the Anhui Province. The Fourth Construction Company was responsible for part of the construction work on the facilities as well as the installation of electrical equipment and lighting systems throughout the plant. During the construction of the central control room, the company successfully completed the installation of ultra-large cables with a single-core cross-section of 1,200 square millimeters, as well as the installation of 4 ultra-large transformers with a capacity of 120,000 volts each. To ensure the successful power-up of the DCS system in the central control room, the project team implemented a series of measures to guarantee the proper installation of cabinets, cable laying, wiring adjustments, and a successful final power-up. Firstly, since the civil engineering work around the central control room has not yet been completed, welding operations take place from time to time. To prevent the welding torches from accidentally touching the grounding system, which could lead to a large current flowing into the system’s working ground and causing damage to the components, the electrical and instrumentation company suggested, from a technical perspective, that a temporary independent grounding system be installed in the cabinet room. After obtaining approval from the owner, the general contractor, the supervisor, and other parties, this system was installed promptly, and grounding resistance tests were conducted to ensure that it met the requirements for power supply ； Second, conduct a check on all the wiring in the DCS system’s cabinets, UPS cabinets, as well as power and grounding circuits before powering them on, to ensure that the wiring is correct ； Third, it is necessary to keep proper records and submit reports for material inspection, foundation installation, cabinet installation, grounding resistance testing, etc. Ultimately, under the supervision of the construction unit, power was supplied successfully in one attempt.

The air separation unit of the Zhong’an United coal-to-olefins project is preparing for production trials. Author/Source: Yahuah Coal Chemicals. Date: 2018-11-01. Clicks: 44. One month after the completion of Unit 1 of the air separation unit on September 30, the preparations for its production trials have entered a substantive phase. Focusing on the targets set for the commissioning of the facilities, the Coal Chemicals Branch developed a testing plan for the air separation unit. After addressing any issues with Unit 1, it proceeded with purging the air supply pipelines of its control valves as well as the pipelines of the air cooling towers. It also carried out tasks such as coordinating the operation of the DCS system and testing the lubrication system of the compression units, all in order to ensure that the key goal of producing qualified nitrogen and oxygen by December 30 could be achieved on schedule. It is reported that the Zhongan United air separation unit consists of 3 sets of air separation systems with a capacity of 70,000 standard cubic meters per hour each. Each air separation system comprises a compressor section, a pre-treatment section, a cryogenic tank, and associated pipeline networks. At present, the construction of the 2nd air separation unit is nearing completion, while the construction of the 3rd unit is in its final stages. The SE-Eastern Furnace Gasification Unit of the Zhongan United Coal-to-Olefins Project was successfully handed over. On the morning of October 28th, the site of the Zhongan United gasification unit was filled with colorful flags and lively crowds; this key unit in the coal chemical industry reached an exciting milestone, as the handover ceremony was held there as scheduled. After more than a year of construction, the gasification unit was successfully completed by CCCC. As the core component of coal chemical projects, the coal gasification unit is a key element in Sinochem United’s 1.7 million tons per year coal-to-methanol and olefin conversion project. It utilizes the original patent developed by Sinopec and East China University of Science and Technology, namely the \"single-nozzle cold-wall powder coal pressurized gasification technology\" (SE-Eastern Furnace). Using coal as the raw material, along with oxygen and steam as gasifying agents, this system carries out partial oxidation reactions under high temperature, high pressure, and non-catalytic conditions to produce crude syngas composed primarily of carbon monoxide and hydrogen. This process enables the effective conversion of the raw coal, providing the necessary feedstock for methanol synthesis and ultimately yielding products such as polypropylene and polyethylene.

Handover ceremony for methanol synthesis and sulfur recovery units of the Zhongan United Project carried out by CCCC – Author/Source: Date: 2018-11-02, Clicks: 21. On October 31, the handover ceremony for the methanol synthesis and sulfur recovery units of the Zhongan United Project, constructed by Sinopec Nanjing Engineering Company, was held at the Zhongan project site in Huainan. Representatives from Zhong’an United Company, Nanjing Engineering Company, the Quality Supervision Station, and the supervision team attended the handover ceremony. The Zhong’an United Coal Chemical Project is a key project for Sinopec and Anhui Province. The methanol synthesis unit is the core component of this project, capable of producing 1.8 million tons per year of methanol; it utilizes patented technology from German company Lurgi. Using methanol synthesis gas as raw material, it goes through processes such as synthesis and distillation to produce high-quality MTO-grade methanol in quantities of 1.8 million tons per year, which is then used by olefin production facilities. The sulfur recovery unit employs advanced treatment processes to recover sulfur. The successful commissioning of the two sets of equipment on schedule marks the transition of the project from single-unit testing to joint testing. The construction work for the methanol synthesis and sulfur recovery units began on June 8, 2017. The overall construction period for the project was 16 months. By overcoming various difficulties and through the relentless efforts of all involved parties, the methanol synthesis unit managed to achieve 690,000 hours of continuous safe operation, while the sulfur recovery unit reached 450,000 hours of continuous safe operation. The project achieved the desired results in terms of engineering quality, schedule adherence, and safety management. At present, the construction of the other process units for the project has entered its final phase. The project team will adhere strictly to safety standards, focus on quality control, be ready to face challenges, and make every effort to achieve the target of completing the Zhong’an United project by December 30th.

Handover ceremony for methanol synthesis and sulfur recovery units of the Zhongan United Project carried out by CNOOC Nanjing Engineering Company – Author/Source: Date: 2018-11-02; Clicks: 59. On October 31, the handover ceremony for the methanol synthesis and sulfur recovery units of the Zhongan United Project, constructed by CNOOC Nanjing Engineering Company, was held at the project site in Huainan. Representatives from Zhong’an United Company, Nanjing Engineering Company, the Quality Supervision Station, and the supervision team attended the handover ceremony. The Zhong’an United Coal Chemical Project is a key project for Sinopec and Anhui Province. The methanol synthesis unit is the core component of this project, capable of producing 1.8 million tons per year of methanol; it utilizes patented technology from German company Lurgi. Using methanol synthesis gas as raw material, it goes through processes such as synthesis and distillation to produce high-quality MTO-grade methanol in quantities of 1.8 million tons per year, which is then used by olefin production facilities. The sulfur recovery unit employs advanced treatment processes to recover sulfur. The successful commissioning of the two sets of equipment on schedule marks the transition of the project from single-unit testing to joint testing. The construction work for the methanol synthesis and sulfur recovery units began on June 8, 2017. The overall construction period for the project was 16 months. By overcoming various difficulties and through the relentless efforts of all involved parties, the methanol synthesis unit managed to achieve 690,000 hours of continuous safe operation, while the sulfur recovery unit reached 450,000 hours of continuous safe operation. The project achieved the desired results in terms of engineering quality, schedule adherence, and safety management. At present, the construction of the other process units for the project has entered its final phase. The project team will adhere strictly to safety standards, focus on quality control, be ready to face challenges, and make every effort to achieve the target of completing the Zhong’an United project by December 30th. As the core component of coal chemical projects, the coal gasification unit is a key element in Sinochem United’s 1.7 million tons per year coal-to-methanol and olefin conversion project. It utilizes the original patent developed by Sinopec and East China University of Science and Technology, namely the \"single-nozzle cold-wall powder coal pressurized gasification technology\" (SE-Eastern Furnace). Using coal as the raw material, along with oxygen and steam as gasifying agents, this system carries out partial oxidation reactions under high temperature, high pressure, and non-catalytic conditions to produce crude syngas composed primarily of carbon monoxide and hydrogen. This process enables the effective conversion of the raw coal, providing the necessary feedstock for methanol synthesis and ultimately yielding products such as polypropylene and polyethylene. The coal gasification unit consists of systems such as the coal grinding and drying unit, the pulverized coal pressurization and transportation unit, the gasification and washing unit, the slag removal unit, the ash water treatment unit, and the gasification utility systems; it was constructed by Sinopec Ningbo Engineering Company. The gasification plant project involves a huge volume of work and a long construction period. During the construction, 1,275 pile foundations were installed, 68,140 cubic meters of concrete was used, 18,191 tons of steel structures were installed, 904 pieces of equipment were installed, 750,000 inches of process pipelines were laid, and 1,231 kilometers of electrical and instrumentation cables were installed. The 1.7 million tons per year coal-to-methanol and converted olefins project of Zhongan United Coal Chemical Co., Ltd. is a key construction project of Sinopec and Anhui Province. The core process of the project utilizes S-MTO patented technology owned by Sinopec, while the gasification unit employs SE-Oriental furnace technology also owned by Sinopec. Using coal from the Zhujixi mine as raw material, methanol and converted olefins (LDPE/PP), ethylene glycol (MEG) and other products are produced. Sinopec Engineering Construction Co., Ltd. is responsible for the overall management of the design, procurement, and construction of the MTO/OCC and PP units in this project, as well as six supporting facilities including the control room and 110 kV substation ； Sinopec Ningbo Engineering Co., Ltd. is responsible for the design and construction of the gasification unit for the contracted project ； Design and construction of air separation units, purification units, and circulating water systems for Sinopec’s Nanjing engineering contracting project.

The air separation unit for Zhong’an United Coal Chemical’s 1.7 million tons per year coal-to-olefins project has been completed. Author/Source: Yaha Coal Chemical Industry. Date: November 29, 2018. Clicks: 3. On November 28, more good news came regarding the construction of the Zhong’an United Coal Chemical project – the construction of Air Separation Unit No. 3 was successfully completed. Prior to this, Units 1# and 2# air separation plants were completed at the end of September and the end of October respectively. With this, the air separation unit has been fully constructed, marking the entry of the unit into the phase of joint commissioning and trial operation with feedstock. Shi Huabiao, Li Taiqi, and Zhang Wei, the leaders of the company and its branches, Zhou Yueming, the company’s advisor, Wu Jibo, the Party secretary and deputy general manager of Nanjing Engineering Company, as well as representatives from Sinopec’s inspection team, quality supervision team, the construction unit, and Zhongan Company, attended the handover ceremony for the facility. Liu Hongxu, deputy manager of the Project Management Department, presided over the ceremony. Shi Huabiao pointed out that the completion of the air separation unit is crucial for ensuring the joint commissioning of all the main production units in the plant. He urged the construction party and the production party to attach great importance to safety and quality issues, to uphold the traditions of high-quality project construction, and to take into account the actual conditions of unit startup as well as the relevant regulations regarding safe production during the transition period, so as to complete the remaining construction work and make proper preparations for production and thus ensure safety. The project contracting unit and the production unit must further strengthen their cooperation during the commissioning process to ensure the smooth progress of the large-scale unit testing and the integrated system trials. The gasification department must remain committed to the goal of producing qualified oxygen and nitrogen from the air separation unit by January 15, demonstrate a strong sense of responsibility, ensure the proper and stable operation of the air separation unit, and deliver satisfactory results to the company. The Zhongan United air separation unit consists of 3 sets of air separation systems with a capacity of 70,000 standard cubic meters per hour each; each set includes a compressor section, a pre-treatment section, a cryogenic tank, and associated pipeline networks. Once completed, the air separation unit will be responsible for supplying high and low pressure oxygen, nitrogen, instrument air, and plant air to the various production units and utility auxiliary facilities of the Zhong’an coal chemical project.