【Ten Years of Rapid Development in Chemical Processing Equipment】Process ball valves for high-temperature use in catalyst pipelines of fluidized-bed residue hydrogenation units, 1987–2023

In May 2018, the Technology Department of Sinopec organized a review meeting in Suzhou to assess the design plan for the development of process ball valves suitable for high-temperature use in catalyst-containing pipelines of fluidized-bed residue hydrogenation units. Representatives from Sinopec Luoyang Engineering Company, Sinopec Zhenhai Refining & Chemical Co., Ltd., and CNNC Su Valve Technology & Industry Co., Ltd. attended the meeting. The expert panel for this review meeting consisted of Lu Yanbo, head of the Science and Technology Department of Sinopec; Ke Songlin, deputy technical director of Sinopec Engineering Construction Co., Ltd.; Wang Jianyu, deputy chief engineer of Sinopec Shanghai Engineering Company; Wang Lanxi, director of Sinopec Ningbo Engineering Company; You Keqin, director of Sinopec Nanjing Engineering Company; Zhang Jiwei, deputy director of Hefei General Machinery Research Institute; and Hu Zengguang, section chief of Sinopec Jinling Branch. The meeting was chaired by Lu Yanbo. The meeting heard reports on the project status from Sinopec Luoyang Engineering Company and a presentation on the prototype design proposal submitted by CNNC Technology, and reviewed the relevant documents. The DN80 CLASS2500 prototype features an integral forging design, a split structure, floating ball mechanism, and dual-sealing functionality. The ball and valve seat are made of INCONEL 718 combined with thermally fused cemented carbide WC, meeting the technical requirements for ball valves in harsh operating conditions in fluidized-bed residue hydrogenation units ； The DN150 CLASS300 prototype features integral forging construction, a split design, floating balls, dual-sealing, and a flushing mechanism. The balls and valve seats are made of F6a CL2+HVOF cemented carbide WC, satisfying the technical requirements for ball valves in harsh operating conditions in fluidized-bed residue hydrogenation units. Following discussions among the experts present, the expert group unanimously agreed that the documents and materials provided for review were complete and detailed, meeting the requirements for evaluation; thus, detailed design and manufacturing of the prototype can proceed based on this design proposal. After the meeting, experts from the participating organizations stated that through CNNCE’s new product development, it will be possible to effectively counter the threat of blockades by similar foreign products in the future, enabling the use of **branded ball valves in high-temperature conditions in catalyst-containing pipelines of fluidized-bed residue hydrogenation units. At the same time, the model of deeper cooperation among research institutes, design firms, petrochemical companies, and valve manufacturing enterprises will accelerate the pace of collaborative innovation and lead to greater achievements. Experts from the participating organizations noted that all member units should seize development opportunities fully, strengthen their sense of responsibility, keep their mission in mind, and strive forward, using new achievements in practical work as a measure of the actual effectiveness of implementing the thought on socialism with Chinese characteristics for a new era and the Party’s relevant guiding principles. (Source: CNNC Technology)