The turbine of Unit 1 of the air separation unit in the Shenhua Yulin Circular Economy Coal Comprehensive Utilization Project (Phase I) was successfully started up

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Successful commissioning of the turbine in Unit 1 of the air separation unit for the Shenhua Yulin Circular Economy Coal Comprehensive Utilization Project (Phase 1) Author/Source: Coal Chemical Engineering 114 Forum Date: July 3, 2020 Clicks: 12 On July 1, the turbine in Unit 1 of the air separation unit, part of the Shenhua Yulin Circular Economy Coal Comprehensive Utilization Project (Phase 1) whose EPC contract was awarded to Hualu Technology, was successfully commissioned for the first time. All systems were operating smoothly, and the overspeed shutdown tests were carried out successfully, marking significant progress in the project’s development. . At 5 a.m. today, low-pressure steam was introduced into the air separation unit; subsequently, a two-stage steam ejector was used to evacuate the air cooler system. The leakage rate and vacuum level of the air cooling system met the design and operational requirements, and the waste steam and condensate recovery system was ready for operation. At 10:00 exactly, once the temperature of the high-pressure steam pipeline reached the required level, the turbine’s quick-shut valve was opened and the turbine was started up. After going through procedures such as warming up at a low speed, accelerating for operation, and testing the overspeed protection system, it finally reached an operating speed of 4353 r/min, which triggered the unit’s interlock protection system and caused the turbine to shut down successfully. During the startup process, technical parameters such as the temperature of the turbine oil, bearing displacement, bearing shell vibration, and machine expansion were all within normal ranges; all interlock mechanisms of the unit functioned properly, and the turbine started successfully on the first attempt. The successful startup of the turbine indicates that the core equipment of Shenhua Yulin’s 3*100,000 Nm3/h(O2) air separation plant now has the necessary capacity to provide power for operation, laying a solid foundation for the subsequent testing of the air compressors, boosters, and expanders, as well as for the production of high-quality oxygen and nitrogen products through cryogenic cooling. The first-phase project of the Shenhua Yulin Circular Economy Coal Comprehensive Utilization Project is a preliminary phase of this project (CTC Project). It also serves as a facility for producing methanol raw materials to support the already completed Shenhua Shaanxi Methanol Downstream Processing Project (SSMTO). With a total investment of 13.6 billion yuan, the construction includes facilities for producing 1.8 million tons per year of methanol along with 400,000 tons per year of ethylene glycol. The project comprises processes such as air separation, coal gasification, shift reaction, acidic gas removal, methanol synthesis, sulfur recovery, and ethylene glycol production, along with the necessary utility systems and auxiliary facilities. Once completed, it will enable integrated production and management together with the SSMTO project. It is reported that General Electric (GE)’s high-efficiency water-cooled coal slurry gasification technology has been selected for this project in order to promote the clean, comprehensive, and efficient utilization of coal. The project utilizes 5 gasifiers of the single-series type, with a coal feeding rate of 3,100 tons per day on a dry basis, operating in a slurry-cooled process; the pressure level is 6.5 MPa. These gasifiers are equipped to produce 1.8 million tons of methanol per year (for olefin production), as well as 400,000 tons of ethylene glycol and other high-value downstream products. Methanol synthesis uses the David technology, while ethylene glycol employs the Shanghai Pujing technology. The Shenhua Yulin Circular Economy Coal Comprehensive Utilization Project (hereinafter referred to as the CTC Project) was officially approved by the **National Development and Reform Commission on March 16, 2015 (Document No. FGNY [2015] 508). The total investment in the project amounts to 120 billion yuan.