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Zhenhai Refining & Chemical’s coal-coke hydrogen production gasifier achieved a disturbance-free switchover. Author/Source: Sinopec Petrochemical News Network. Date: February 25, 2020. Clicks: 80. On February 21, Zhenhai Refining & Chemical’s coal-coke hydrogen production unit successfully completed the switch from Operation using Gasifier No. 1 to Gasifier No. 3; this switchover did not cause any disruptions to the downstream utility systems, resulting in a disturbance-free transition. The coal coke hydrogen production plant is equipped with 3 gasifiers, each having its own independent operating system; during normal operation, two of them are in use while one serves as a backup. To ensure that the system operates in its optimal condition at all times, a standby gasifier will take over from the one in use after a certain period of time to address any issues. During previous switching operations, the total amount of syngas at the outlet of the gasifier fluctuated by around 20%, which affected the operation of the downstream utility systems; further adjustments were necessary. The regional technical team for hydrogen production from coal tar collects data and conducts analyses on the factors affecting fluctuations. By comparing the impact of valve opening degrees and flow rates during the 12 switching processes on the overall switching operation, they adjusted the sequence and magnitude of valve opening and closing, enhanced monitoring of system flow rates, and added an additional DCS display. For the hydrogen entering the system from each gasifier, dual monitoring was implemented, which enabled more timely and accurate operational adjustments and effectively reduced fluctuations in the total amount of syngas at the gasifier outlet. It is estimated that during this switch, the fluctuation in the grid connection of Gasifier No. 3 was less than 5%, and it had no impact on the downstream utility systems; thus, a seamless switch ensured the stability of the company’s hydrogen pipeline network.