Domestic production of methanol catalysts for Sichuan Weihua Chemical has been achieved

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Domestic catalysts now used in Sinopec Chuanwei Chemical’s methanol production process Author/Source: Date: 2022-10-29 Clicks: 9 It has been nearly 10 months since the 770,000-ton-per-year methanol production facility operated by Sinopec Chuanwei Chemical began using domestic catalysts; this trial period has been successful to date, with all the pure methanol products meeting high quality standards. This outcome lays a solid foundation for the use of domestic catalysts in this facility. Since the plant started operation with feed in November 2011, imported catalysts have been used. Imported catalysts are not only expensive, but there are only two foreign companies from which to choose, which hinders cost reduction and efficiency improvement in the facilities, while also presenting bottlenecks and challenges related to key core technologies. Chuanwei Chemical Industry makes great efforts to promote technological innovation, tackling challenges head-on and striving for progress in overcoming key core technologies. Through continuous technical efforts and repeated evaluations of the feasibility of using domestic catalysts in the facility as well as its operational safety, close cooperation was established with catalyst manufacturers to develop a detailed plan for testing these domestic catalysts. Strict controls were implemented from the moment the catalysts were installed, and in January 2022, the facility began operating using domestic catalysts. To address issues such as catalyst adaptation that arose during the initial trial period, the facility took measures such as adjusting the production load, further optimizing process parameters, and enhancing real-time data analysis, thereby resolving each of the problems encountered and ensuring the smooth and orderly use of the domestically produced catalysts. At present, the methanol production plant at Chuanwei Chemical, with an annual output of 770,000 tons, is operating safely and stably, and its material and energy consumption remain within controllable levels. The domestically produced catalyst used in the trial showed stable and good performance, with its various technical parameters now reaching the advanced level of similar foreign catalysts. The trial use of domestic catalysts in this project has achieved partial success; it overcame the bottlenecks in the key core technologies of the facility, reduced the production costs associated with its operation, and improved its reliability and economic efficiency. This marked a significant breakthrough in the innovative application of catalysts in this facility, moving from facing challenges to achieving full domestic production.