Commissioning of Xinjiang Xuantai Environmental Protection’s project for the upgrading of 100,000 tons of LNG, 50,000 tons of needle coke, and 500,000 tons of hazardous coal tar

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Trial operation of Xinjiang Xuantai Environmental Protection Energy’s project for the differentiated utilization of low-grade coal, as well as projects for producing 100,000 tons of LNG, 50,000 tons of needle coke, and upgrading 500,000 tons of coal tar derived from hazardous waste. Author/Source: Collaborative Group on Advanced Processing and Hydrogenation of Coal Tar. Date: April 27, 2021. Clicks: 51. At 16:54 on April 24th, the 10KV two-stage busbars in system 061 of the central power distribution room of Xinjiang Xuantai Environmental Protection Energy Co., Ltd.’s project for the differentiated comprehensive utilization of 6 million tons per year of low-grade coal (Phase I) were officially put into trial operation； On April 25, after three impulse tests, the 10/4 transformer in the central switchroom was officially taken offline at 21:56. Simultaneously, the busbars in the third-floor low-voltage room were also officially de-energized ； On April 26, the low-pressure system was connected to the power supply normally, meeting the conditions for transmitting electricity externally ； It also marks the entry of the entire project into the testing phase. The gas holder unit of this project entered the trial operation phase on April 13 ； For auxiliary systems such as the project’s circulating water system, refrigeration station, nitrogen station, and secondary purification units, the \"three inspections and four fixations\" process is being carried out to make the final preparations for meeting the project’s deadline of April 30th. Final push toward Goal 5.30. Project overview: Xinjiang Xuantai Environmental Protection Energy Co., Ltd. was registered with the Market Regulation Bureau of the 13th Division of the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps on January 17, 2020. Its registered capital is 100 million yuan, and it is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Xinjiang Xuanli Environmental Protection Energy Co., Ltd. On April 27, 2020, the phenol-ammonia wastewater treatment project as part of Xinjiang Xuantai Environmental Protection Energy Co., Ltd.’s 6 million tons per year low-grade coal comprehensive utilization project began construction in the industrial cluster park of Naomaohu Farm. At the groundbreaking ceremony, representatives from Xuanli Environmental Protection and Energy, Huaxia Supervision, and CNCEC No. 2 Construction delivered statements of commitment. The main leaders of the production brigade and officials from the Industry and Information Technology Bureau of the 13th Division also gave speeches. This project is the first large-scale wastewater treatment facility in the industrial park. The commencement of construction for the wastewater pretreatment unit marks the official start of this project. The phenol-ammonia wastewater treatment project (Phase I) of Xinjiang Xuantai Environmental Protection Energy Co., Ltd.’s 6 million tons per year low-grade coal comprehensive utilization project is located within the industrial cluster park of Naomaohu Farm, the 13th Division of the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps. The capacity of Phase I of this project is 400,000 tons per year; the wastewater types treated include pipeline condensate, wastewater generated during the production process, coal tar dehydration wastewater, and ammonia water from carbonization processes. According to He Ru, deputy general manager of Xuanli Environmental Protection Energy, compared with traditional processes, this project significantly reduces the investment costs associated with biochemical processes. It offers advantages such as reliable technology, low investment costs, small land footprint, and low operating costs. Project construction content: The project will be constructed in three phases. Phase 1 project: Construct a 6 million tons per year facility for the differentiated utilization of low-grade coal, along with associated utility systems and auxiliary production facilities ； Phase 2 project: Construction of a 500,000 tons/year upgrading facility for hazardous waste coal tar, along with associated utility and auxiliary production facilities ； Phase 3 project: Construction of a 100,000-ton/year LNG plant and a 50,000-ton/year needle coke plant, along with associated utility and auxiliary production facilities. Upon completion of the project, the main products will be 3 million tons per year of upgraded coal, 350,000 tons per year of light coal tar No. 1, 130,000 tons per year of light coal tar No. 2, 100,000 tons per year of LNG, and 50,000 tons per year of needle coke. As by-products, there will be coal dust, liquefied gas, modified asphalt, coking wash oil, coking light oil, sulfur, liquid ammonia, and other products. Process route: Pre-treatment technology with independent intellectual property rights developed by Xinjiang Xuanli Environmental Protection Energy Co., Ltd. + full-range fixed-bed hydrogenation process. Construction location: South area of the industrial cluster park at Naomaohu Farm, 13th Division of the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps. Social benefits: The construction and implementation of this project are in line with the **energy industry policies** regarding the hierarchical and differentiated conversion of coal, such as gasification, coal pyrolysis, hydroliquefaction, and the efficient transformation of tar and semi-coke. It will promote the cleaner and more efficient use of coal, represent an extension of the traditional energy industry toward new forms of coal chemical processing and new energy industries, and give rise to a new framework for clean energy and clean chemical industries based on coal tar as a raw material. Design unit: For the engineering design of the pyrolysis portion of this project, Shaanxi Metallurgical Design and Research Institute Co., Ltd. was entrusted with the task; work commenced in mid-May 2020, and it is currently in the preliminary design stage. Construction contractor: At present, Sinochem Second Construction Group Co., Ltd. is responsible for the construction and installation work of the sewage pretreatment unit (PC contracting), and the work has already begun; the specific construction timeline for the equipment components has not yet been determined. Selection of process packages and process plans: 1. For the pyrolysis process of low-grade coal, the technology for separating different grades of low-grade coal begins with drying and dehydrating the coal. Low-rank coal is dehydrated according to different temperature ranges, starting with the removal of external water, followed by the removal of internal water and the elimination of oxygen-containing functional groups, in order to reduce the oxygen content and reoxygenation capacity of the low-rank coal, until low-temperature carbonization of the coal is carried out. The purpose of upgrading low-rank coal is referred to as low-rank coal pretreatment in the field of coal chemistry. Its main objectives are to reduce the moisture content (especially internal moisture), increase the calorific value and thermal stability, as well as enhance mechanical strength, so that the coal can undergo stable gasification in low-temperature pyrolysis furnaces while reducing energy consumption. 2. Selection of the coal tar upgrading process: The raw materials used in this unit come from the full-range coal tar produced through the classification of low-grade coal upstream, as well as purchased coal tar; these raw materials have a high density and contain high levels of metals, asphaltenes, and resins. To achieve higher economic benefits, the project has decided to adopt the full-range coal tar hydrogenation process, excluding the delayed coking option and the fractionated hydrogenation approach. Additionally, since the suspended-bed hydrogenation process requires high investment, there are few plants in operation using this technology, and the catalysts and heavy-metal-containing oil residues generated are difficult to handle; therefore, this technology is not considered for use in this project. It was ultimately decided that for this project, the \"Xuanli proprietary pre-treatment technology + full-range fixed-bed hydrogenation process\" would be used. 3. Selection of the needle coke production process: Based on the development of existing coal-based needle coke production technologies both domestically and internationally, the production process for this project is divided into three stages: raw material pretreatment, delayed coking, and calcination. Solvent extraction is used for pretreatment, followed by delayed coking and calcination to ultimately produce needle coke.