[Haichuan Chemical News] The core equipment of China Coal Enerchemical’s 1 million-ton methanol project has entered the equipment commissioning phase

The second-phase construction project of China Coal Energetic Chemicals Company, which involves technological upgrades for the production of 1 million tons of methanol per year from syngas, is located in the Tuk Industrial Park in Ordos, Inner Mongolia. Land for this second phase has been reserved next to the facilities from the first phase, covering an area of 25.13 hectares. The project utilizes Zemach BGL fixed-bed slag gasification technology, purification technologies (low-temperature methanol washing + deep cryogenic methane separation), as well as advanced methanol synthesis technologies with low consumption and energy use, to build a facility capable of producing 1 million tons per year of MTO-grade methanol. On September 21, 2018, the groundbreaking ceremony was held for the technical upgrade project at China Coal Ordos Energy Chemical Co., Ltd., aimed at producing 1 million tons of methanol per year from syngas. The main units include: a 1 million tons per year methanol production plant, which comprises an air separation unit, a gasification unit (for gasification, gas-water separation, phenol and ammonia recovery, coal gas compression, shift reaction and cooling, chemical deoxidation station, integrated tank area, gasification slag disposal, gasification flares, etc.), a purification unit (low-temperature methanol washing, RTO system for flue gas combustion), a cryogenic separation unit (for methane cryogenic separation, LNG tank area), a sulfur recovery unit, and a methanol synthesis unit (for syngas compression, methanol synthesis, refrigeration processes, hydrogen recovery, intermediate methanol tank area, and finished methanol tank area).

The Zhongmei Enechemical project, with an annual production capacity of 2 million tons of ammonia and 3.5 million tons of urea, was constructed in two phases. The first phase, which has an annual production capacity of 1 million tons of ammonia and 1.75 million tons of urea, includes two 40,000 Nm3/h air separation units; these units were completed and put into operation in 2013. Meanwhile, some of the public facilities required for the second phase as well as all the office and living facilities have been built. Based on the current market conditions and operational status, Phase II of the project plans to shift from producing synthetic ammonia and urea to manufacturing 1 million tons of methanol, thereby supplying MTO-grade methanol raw materials to the olefin plants of China Coal Mongolia Da Company.

On December 22, 2019, the air compressor unit of the large-scale air separation plant for China Coal Hubei Energy Chemical Co., Ltd.’s 1 million-ton methanol capacity expansion project was successfully hoisted into place. On the 13th, the booster was lifted into place ； The air compressor was lifted into place on the 14th ； On the 18th, the turbine was lifted into place. The successful installation of the above three sets of equipment marks the completion of the installation of the core equipment for the air compression units in the air separation plant, laying a foundation for the subsequent tasks such as the installation of the rest of the units and the sealing of the roof of the unit building.

There were issues with the project planning. Initially, China National Coal Group wanted to build the largest ammonia/sulfuric acid plant in Tucumcari, but due to the continuous decline in the prices of ammonia/sulfuric acid, it became pointless to expand the facility in its second phase. But what sense does it make to switch to producing methanol raw materials? The pricing power for methanol still lies in the hands of downstream olefin producers.