【HaiChuan’s Best Practices】Tangshan Zhonghao Cyclohexanol Plant Saves Tens of Millions Through Refining System Renovation

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Recently, reporters learned from Tangshan Zhonghao Company of Kailuan Co., Ltd. that the company’s cyclohexanol production plant has, through independent technological research and development and the systematic optimization of distillation processes, managed to save nearly 10 million yuan in steam costs each year. 　　“By adjusting several key parameters and optimizing the manufacturing process, as well as by innovatively applying removal technologies, the steam consumption per unit was reduced by 8.8% compared to the same period last year. ” Zhong Lichao, the manager of the cyclohexanol production plant at Tangshan Zhonghao Company, a subsidiary of Kailuan Group, said. 　　It is reported that the technical team at this branch factory addressed the long-standing issue of high energy consumption in the distillation unit by conducting a thorough analysis of operational data; they identified that trace amounts of ester and alcohol impurities remaining from the extractants were the key factors responsible for reduced separation efficiency and high steam consumption. To this end, the technical team established a database of key parameters for distillation systems to accurately quantify the energy consumption patterns of impurity components, and utilized the miscible azeotropy property of ester-alcohol impurities with the extractant to develop an extractant purification scheme. Through continuous adjustments and experimentation, the average content of ester and alcohol impurities in the distillation system was reduced by 75%. At the same time, by applying new removal techniques to ensure high purity of the extractant, the technical team dynamically optimized the temperature settings related to the extractant, thereby significantly improving the separation efficiency of the distillation system. 　　The success of this effort demonstrates that reducing energy consumption relies not only on large-scale technological upgrades; by gaining a deep understanding of the processes, precisely controlling key factors, and combining innovative minor improvements with lean operational management, it is also possible to achieve significant cost savings.