Breakthrough in new kerosene co-refining process

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Breakthrough in New Process for Co-processing Kerosene Author/Source: Sinochem News Network Date: 2021-09-13 Clicks: 18 Overcoming bottlenecks in the deep hydroprocessing of heavy oil and coal to produce gasoline and diesel On September 10, it was reported from Shaanxi Yanchang Petroleum Group that the key research and development project funded by the Ministry of Science and Technology, which the group is leading – focusing on the key technologies and demonstration facilities for the co-hydroprocessing of coal and heavy oil and the subsequent processing of the resulting products – has successfully passed the evaluation. By improving industrial demonstration units and upgrading process technologies, this project has developed a new process for the co-refining of kerosene, overcoming the technical bottlenecks associated with the deep hydroprocessing of heavy oil and coal to produce gasoline and diesel. It provides a new technical approach for the processing of heavy oil and the efficient conversion of coal. 　　The expert group, headed by Professor Li Wenhong, vice president of the Shaanxi Chemical Industry Society, believes that the co-hydrogenation technology for coal and heavy oil is based on an integrated hydrogenation process using both suspension beds and fixed beds. This approach fully leverages the synergistic effects between coal and heavy oil, improving the lightening of heavy oil and the efficient conversion of coal. It helps to overcome the technical challenges associated with the deep conversion of heavy oil and coal into gasoline and diesel, resulting in a new process technology for such co-hydrogenation. This technology facilitates catalyst development, process optimization, and the creation of new products, and it holds great potential for widespread application. 　　After conducting on-site evaluations of the kerosene co-refining demonstration unit, the expert group found that the overall oil yield increased by 9.45 percentage points compared to before the process optimization upgrades; the oil yield (naphtha + diesel) increased by 9.78 percentage points. The amount of catalyst used was reduced by 20%, while the viscosity of the oil-coal slurry and the content of solid residues were significantly decreased. All the parameters met or exceeded the requirements specified in the project plan, and the operating cycle of the unit was extended. 　　In October 2014, Yanchang Petroleum Group built the world’s first industrial pilot plant for kerosene co-refining in Jingbian, Shaanxi (with a capacity of 450,000 tons per year). This facility enabled the development of a set of industrial technologies for kerosene co-refining that possess independent intellectual property rights, thus opening up a new technical pathway for oil production from coal in China. 　　In May 2018, the key technology project for co-hydrogenation of coal and heavy oil and product processing was listed as a key research and development program by the Ministry of Science and Technology, with the aim of addressing the issues encountered during the operation of the demonstration plant, improving the industrial demonstration facility, and upgrading the process technologies. 　　A responsible official from the Technology Department of Yanchang Petroleum Group explained that the group has joined forces with 13 other organizations, including the Coal Science and Technology Research Institute, East China University of Science and Technology, and Northwest University, to work together on this research project. The research topics include the compatibility and synergistic effects of coal and heavy oil under co-hydrogenation conditions, heavy oil viscosity reduction technologies, new hydroprocessing processes for the co-conversion of kerosene, catalysts and equipment, technologies for producing clean fuels from co-hydrogenated liquid products as well as chemical processing techniques, and technologies for the resource utilization of oil residues with high solid content. 　　Over the past 3 years, they have worked together to upgrade the industrial demonstration facility ； An efficient iron-based catalyst for kerosene co-refining was developed, improving conversion and selectivity while significantly reducing costs ； Significant progress has been made in the resource utilization of oil residues with high solid content; crude gas has been obtained through gasification tests, and the oil residues are used as modifiers for road asphalt. During this period, Yanchang Petroleum upgraded and improved the 450,000 tons per year kerosene co-processing industrial demonstration facility and its process technologies, optimized the vacuum system, achieved localization of the key equipment in the facility, and produced new products such as high-norbornane content distillates, low-sulfur distillates, and high-quality ultra-low-sulfur marine fuel oils.