YNCC has fulfilled its annual methanol production target ahead of schedule

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Yuneng Chemical completed its annual methanol production target ahead of schedule. Author/Source: ChemNet Coal Chemical Industry. Date: December 9, 2021. Page views: 9. As of 7:00 a.m. on December 8, the Methanol Center of Shaanxi Yanchang Zhongmei Yulin Energy & Chemical Co., Ltd. had produced a total of 3.532 million tons of MTO-grade methanol throughout the year. This figure represents 102.68% of the annual production target of 3.44 million tons, thus efficiently fulfilling the yearly production goal. In 2021, the Methanol Center diligently advanced all tasks related to the “Three Comparisons and Three Improvements” initiative, making every effort to successfully carry out key tasks such as production and operations, rectifying deficiencies in equipment throughout the year, achieving Level 1 compliance with safety standardization standards, and ensuring that the capacity expansion and improvement projects reached full production and effectiveness. First, in regard to the production targets for 2021, the Methanol Center planned ahead and made reasonable arrangements, breaking down these targets into more specific tasks, assigning responsibilities at each level, defining action plans, and setting clear requirements ； Secondly, the center conducts summary analysis of the daily production performance, establishes monitoring records for the process parameters and quality-related factors that affect production in each unit, thereby ensuring efficient and stable operation of those units ； Third, it is necessary to fully leverage the advantages of interconnection among large-scale systems in both primary and secondary units, to achieve internal balance among raw natural gas, DCC dry gas, and DCC hydrogen-rich gas, optimize operating conditions, and thereby improve the efficiency of unit operation as well as methanol production. It is anticipated that the Methanol Center will produce 3.76 million tons of methanol throughout the year, achieving 106.4% of its annual production target. The comprehensive energy consumption per ton of methanol is 1,196 kgce/t, which is better than the designed indicator of 1,207 kgce/t ； Fourthly, to address the issue of declining activity in the first-stage synthesis catalysts, a routine monitoring and evaluation system for catalyst performance has been established, allowing for adjustments to the process parameters and operating conditions. It is expected that by the end of December, the cumulative methanol production per catalyst unit will exceed 7.2 million tons, reaching the top level among similar facilities in China. We are making every effort to ensure that the completion and improvement projects reach full production and effectiveness. First, we planned ahead and made meticulous preparations for the maintenance and defect rectification of Line 2. After 18 days and nights of hard work, the maintenance tasks were completed 56 hours ahead of schedule, thus achieving the maintenance objectives of “ensuring five aspects while striving for one additional goal.” The maintenance and defect rectification tasks for Line 2 have been successfully accomplished. During the maintenance process, close cooperation was maintained with the production department, enabling the first time ever that the entire plant was maintained and restarted without the use of externally purchased liquid nitrogen, thus accumulating experience for future maintenance tasks ； Secondly, the methanol department actively organized the commissioning of Unit 3 for air separation; on June 4, qualified oxygen and nitrogen products were produced, achieving this goal 6 days ahead of the company’s schedule. Line 2 of the methanol complex operated at full capacity, laying the foundation for that line to reach its production targets and for the completion of the annual production goals ； Thirdly, the center adopts a strategy of \"using calibration to promote improvements\", carrying out three internal calibrations in June, September, and October. The issues identified through these internal calibrations are promptly addressed in collaboration with patent holders and general contractors, and corrective measures are formulated to achieve continuous optimization and improvement. During the equipment performance calibration carried out by experts from the Petrochemical Federation organized by the company, the output and energy consumption of Line 2 of the methanol complex were both better than the design values, enabling the complex to operate at full capacity and efficiency. On December 31, 2020, the completion and supplementation project of the Yanchang Petroleum Jingbian Comprehensive Utilization Project for coal, oil, and gas resources—which involved a total investment of 14.414 billion yuan and was completed in just 23 months—successfully underwent a full-process trial run on the first attempt. The total production capacity of polyolefins at YNCC is approaching 2 million tons, making it the largest producer of polyolefins in Shaanxi Province. As a key project during Shaanxi Province’s 13th Five-Year Plan period, the Yueneng Chemical Improvement Project makes full use of the advantages in comprehensive resource utilization associated with the first phase of the Yueneng Chemical project, as well as the potential of its existing utility facilities. By optimizing the plant’s equipment and diversifying its product portfolio, it aims to increase production scale and strengthen the polyolefin industry. The project involves the construction of a 1.8 million tons per year methanol complex, a 600,000 tons per year methanol-to-olefins plant, a 300,000 tons per year low-density polyethylene/ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer (LDPE/EVA) integrated plant, a 400,000 tons per year polypropylene (PP) plant, along with the necessary utility and auxiliary facilities.