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Breakthroughs Achieved in Hubei Fertilizer’s Gasification Unit and Ethylene Glycol Production Facility / Author/Source: Sinopec News Network / Date: June 10, 2019 / Clicks: 30. A few days ago, Hubei Fertilizer Company made breakthroughs in two key areas of improvement: high-load operation of the gasification unit and optimization of the ethylene glycol production process. The gasification unit is the key factor behind the increase in fertilizer production capacity in Hubei. The company has focused on improving the high-load operation of gasification processes, carrying out capacity expansion upgrades and projects to use carbon dioxide instead of nitrogen for transporting coal powder. It has overcome challenges such as abnormal fluctuations in the gasification furnace slag system and high temperatures in the annular spaces. Taking the lead in the industry, it has implemented online heating and purging of air separation expanders, thereby overcoming bottlenecks related to insufficient oxygen supply for raw materials and resulting load limitations. This has enabled an increase in the operational load of the facilities, helping to boost overall production and make better use of existing resources. As of May 29, Unit A of the gasification plant set a new record for its operational performance, with the gasifier load reaching as high as 104%, thereby laying a solid foundation for stable and high-level production downstream, as well as for improving both output and efficiency. Developing technologies for producing ethylene glycol through non-ethylene routes to replace the traditional petroleum-based methods is of great significance for the structural adjustment and transformation of Hubei’s fertilizer industry. Since the beginning of this year, the company has accelerated progress in breaking through key core technologies. With the support of institutions such as the Shanghai Research Institute of Petrochemical Technology, it has continued to work on the application of third-generation low-temperature, high-efficiency hydrogenation catalysts. It has also actively explored new operating modes and implemented more than 10 technical improvement projects, including full hydrogenation with refined product reflux, in order to continuously optimize operations, improve product yields, and achieve significant breakthroughs. From January to April, the company produced a total of 70,800 tons of ethylene glycol, representing a year-on-year increase of 31.8%, with the plant’s operation setting a new record for continuous operation duration.