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Qianyuan Energy & Chemical Company: Substantial progress made in green, energy-saving, and efficient development. Author/Source: Yulin Chemical Company of Shaanxi Coal Group. Date: February 24, 2022. Clicks: 16. At 15:00 on February 15, the 500,000-ton/year Guofu furnace pyrolysis industrial trial project of Qianyuan Energy & Chemical Company – the largest lignite production facility of its kind in the country – successfully completed process optimization after more than a year of research and testing, with a successful first ignition. This marks another substantial breakthrough in the transformation of this device’s technological achievements into practical applications, as well as in its promotion and use on a path toward greener, more energy-efficient, and higher-performance development. In accordance with the requirements of the \"Yulin City Implementation Plan for Promoting the Upgrading and High-Quality Development of the Lignite Industry,\" the company assembled a team of technical experts to conduct joint research, discussions, and repeated experiments. In 2020, it built desulfurization facilities using the \"limestone-gypsum method\" as well as electrostatic precipitators for dust removal, thereby ensuring that waste gases were discharged in compliance with standards and completely eliminating the environmental pollution caused by the uncontrolled emission of waste gases from traditional lignite furnaces ； In accordance with the requirements of the \"Progress Responsibility Letter for Volatile Organic Compound Control Projects,\" the company adopted a \"combustion method\" as a control measure; volatile organic gases from key areas such as ammonia tanks and tar tanks were routed through exhaust ducts to a combustion furnace where they were burned, thereby being converted into carbon dioxide and water. At present, the production facility for Guofu furnaces meets the standards of a fully enclosed, environmentally friendly industrial test setup for the production of semi-coke, with the furnace ensuring that waste gases are emitted in an organized manner and in compliance with regulatory requirements ； At the same time, the company built new coal storage sheds and coke storage sheds covering 7,000 m2, ensuring that raw materials and products are not stored outdoors and thereby effectively reducing environmental pollution. From September 2016 to July 2021, the project underwent three phased renovations and trial productions. Most of the test tasks and activities have been completed, yielding phased results. A total of **18 patents were applied for, including 4 invention patents. In 2018, it passed the technical evaluation conducted by the China Petroleum and Chemical Industry Federation, and was rated as having \"comprehensive performance and indicators at an internationally leading level\". This initiative is aimed at further optimizing the production process and obtaining more accurate data, so as to complete the research on the key technologies related to the pyrolysis of low-grade coal and to build a technical foundation for the differentiated utilization of coal. The company took proactive steps, planned in advance, and made careful arrangements. In the second half of 2021, with a view to technical optimization, it revised various technical documents such as the process flow diagrams for the Guofu furnace units, operating procedures, process cards, and startup plans. Additionally, 26 training sessions were held at the company level, center level, and team level ； For the 82 key tasks, operation tickets were prepared to standardize various operational procedures. Through the joint efforts of multiple parties, issues such as a shortage of funds for project renovation, weak technical capabilities, concerns regarding the disposal of waste gas, shortages in raw coal supply, and insufficient on-site personnel were resolved, providing a solid foundation for the smooth progress of this experimental project. The Guofu Furnace pyrolysis industrial test facility requires 82 employees; prior to starting operation, 34 people were actually on duty. To address this significant staffing gap, the company made coordinated arrangements and sound plans by reassigning experienced workers from various departments in the administrative office as well as from the operation and maintenance center. At the same time, in view of issues such as the short tenure of newly hired employees and varying levels of their overall competence, a training approach that combines theoretical instruction with on-site hands-on guidance is adopted. This approach focuses on training employees in aspects such as the process flow of the Guofu furnace system, the technical specifications of various main and auxiliary equipment, as well as the safety interlock systems. It also covers the working principles, functions, operation procedures, and troubleshooting methods for various equipment and facilities, ensuring that all employees meet the requirements to take up their posts. Starting from January 2021, the company, in collaboration with Beijing Guodian Futong Company, conducted technical research, carried out simulation calculations, and sought advice from industry experts. Based on these efforts, measures such as optimizing the material distribution, increasing the height of the bed layer in the dry distillation section, and prolonging the contact time between the gas heat carrier and the raw coal were implemented to improve the uniformity of heat exchange within the furnace and thereby enhance product quality. During the safety inspection prior to the commissioning of the equipment, 76 potential hazards were identified; 29 of them have been rectified, while temporary preventive measures have been put in place for those that cannot be rectified at the moment. It is necessary to hold regular daily project meetings to summarize and analyze the issues that arise during the day’s project testing as well as the progress made in addressing those issues. Relevant responsible persons are required to keep a close eye on the status of corrective actions on site, and technical personnel from the safety, production, equipment, and electrical instrumentation teams should conduct self-inspections and make necessary corrections in accordance with the safety checklists prior to startup, to ensure that all potential hazards are properly resolved. Moreover, the company invited six functional departments from Yulin Chemical Company, including the Production Department, HSE Management Department, Technical Management Department, Engineering Control Department, Quality Management Department, and the Mechanical, Electrical and Instrumentation Center, to conduct a joint review of this facility. These departments helped the company address various potential safety issues related to personnel and equipment, thereby providing a solid guarantee for the safe and stable operation of the facility during its commissioning. To date, the company has completed the experimental operations of the Guofu furnace industrial test unit under both conditions of having and not having a heating furnace, thus establishing a complete process flow. This lays a solid foundation for further optimizing the process and improving product quality as well as economic efficiency. It is reported that this successful ignition has also verified the feasibility, economic viability, and rationality of the technology behind this device. Next, the company will continue to collect process parameters to develop a complete process package, providing strong support for the transformation of technical achievements and their widespread application.