The Datang SNG catalyst was used for the first time on an industrial scale

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The Datang SNG catalyst was used on an industrial scale for the first time. Author/Source: Sinochem New Network. Date: July 30, 2019. Clicks: 70. It underwent a 313-day long-term operation, and its performance metrics were superior to those of imported catalysts. On July 25, news came from Datang Inner Mongolia Keqi Coal-to-Gas Company stating that China’s first coal-to-gas demonstration project had just completed the planned replacement of its SNG catalysts. This move indicates that, following 313 days of industrial operation as part of a long-term testing period, the SNG catalyst developed independently by Datang Chemical Research Institute has been utilized on a large scale for the first time, with its performance metrics exceeding those of similar imported catalysts. 　　“The performance of the SNG catalyst exceeds expectations, allowing China’s coal-to-natural gas catalyst industry to break free from reliance on foreign sources. This has positive implications for advancing the industrialization of coal-to-natural gas production in China. ”Mei Changsong, chief engineer at the Datang Chemical Research Institute, said. 　　According to Mei Changsong, the industrial-scale testing of the SNG catalyst began on August 27, 2018, when the methanation unit at Datang Keqi Coal-to-Natural Gas Company was filled with catalyst products developed by Datang itself, in an amount of approximately 11.5 tons. This catalyst was in operation for a total of 313 days, with a maximum load of 107.64% and an average load above 90%; it withstood the high-load demands associated with gas supply to Beijing during the winter of 2018, and its performance metrics were superior to those of imported catalysts of the same type. 　　“The SNG catalyst developed by the Datang Chemical Research Institute exhibits better reaction activity and a longer service life. ”Deng Yongbin, the chief engineer of Datang Keqi Coal-to-Gas Company, explained that the catalysts used by Datang SNG have better reaction activity; the feed gas reaches reaction equilibrium at 10.8% of the entire catalyst bed layer, whereas under the same conditions, the catalysts used elsewhere reach reaction equilibrium at 17.6% of the bed layer. The service life of Datang catalysts is also longer than that of imported catalysts. By the time of catalyst removal, the reaction heat equilibrium point of the catalyst bed dropped only from 10.8% to 17.6%, and the rate of shift of the hot spot was 1/3 to 1/2 of that of the catalyst at the inlet under identical conditions. In terms of catalyst strength and resistance to sintering, no significant damage or sintering was observed after the catalyst was removed, which is clearly better than that of imported catalysts; moreover, the rate of increase in pressure drop across the catalyst bed was only 1/2 that of imported catalysts under the same conditions. 　　“The SNG catalyst independently developed by Datang has played a crucial role in helping us achieve stable and high production levels. ”Deng Yongbin said. In 2018, the coal-to-gas project in Keqi produced a total of 1.09 billion cubic meters of natural gas, with the highest daily production reaching 4.098 million standard cubic meters – both figures representing the highest levels ever recorded since the project began operations. In the first half of this year, the project achieved further success: from January to June, a total of 677 million cubic meters of natural gas were produced, representing an increase of 18.74% compared to the previous year. The actual production capacity has now exceeded the designed level of 1.33 billion cubic meters per year. These figures also indicate that China’s first coal-to-natural gas demonstration project has achieved stable, continuous, efficient operation. 　　Wang Heming, deputy general manager of Sino-China New Energy Chemical Technology Co., Ltd. and the person in charge of the industrial application project for Great Tang SNG catalysts, said that coal-to-natural gas production in China, as an emerging industry for the clean utilization of coal to ensure energy strategic security, holds very promising prospects for development. The successful first industrial application of the SNG catalyst independently developed by Datang has enabled China’s coal-to-natural gas industry to completely break free from foreign technological constraints, reduced the procurement costs of SNG catalysts, and improved the economic efficiency of coal-to-natural gas projects. 　　According to data from the Coal Chemicals Committee of the China Petroleum and Chemical Industry Federation, the National Development and Reform Commission has approved a total of 7 coal-to-natural gas projects to date; among these, 4 projects are already in operation, with a combined production capacity of 5.1 billion cubic meters per year. The key core technologies used in the operational projects – namely the SNG technology – are all imported from abroad. On one hand, there is the issue of foreign control over these technologies; on the other hand, their high prices affect the production costs of coal-to-gas conversion. 　　To enable the demonstration operation of coal-to-natural gas projects in China and the domestic substitution of key technologies, China Datang began research on the domestic substitution of SNG processes and catalysts in 2007. In 2010, it received support from a key project under the **\"863\" Program, and in 2014, the SNG processes and catalyst technologies developed independently passed the evaluation of scientific and technological achievements conducted by authoritative institutions. 　　On December 28, 2018, the SNG catalyst developed by Datang Chemical Research Institute passed the expert evaluation organized by the China Petroleum and Chemical Industry Federation after undergoing a period of industrial testing.