The caprolactam integrated project at Lunan Chemical has begun single-unit testing

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【Multi-nozzle】The caprolactam integrated project of Lunan Chemical has begun single-unit testing, using the world’s first 3,000-ton OMB multi-nozzle opposed coal gasification furnace. On November 7, 2023, the power supply procedures for the caprolactam integrated project of Yankuang Lunan Chemical Co., Ltd. (referred to as “Lunan Chemical”) were completed, and Li Zhiyuan, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee and General Manager of Lunan Chemical, announced that power would be supplied in accordance with the established procedures. The staff pressed the button, and the 6211 switch at the 305 main substation performed a impulse power supply to the incoming line of section 3 at the 316 substation. At 11:46, a successful initial power supply test was carried out at the high-voltage switch station of Substation 316 in the energy-saving and carbon-reduction integrated project related to the caprolactam industry chain in southern Shandong, marking the transition of this integrated project from the installation phase to the individual unit testing stage. The Lunan Chemical caprolactam integrated project for energy savings and carbon reduction includes the construction of two 6kV switch stations. The 316 utility switch station, for which power supply is being established this time, is equipped with 56 high-voltage cabinets and 12 capacitor cabinets. Serving as the power unit for the project, this switch station is the first individual unit to complete successful trial operations, providing the electrical infrastructure and support necessary for the individual trial operations of various equipment and systems in the integrated project. The Lunan Chemical caprolactam industry chain’s energy-saving and carbon-reduction integrated project has recently installed a new OMB multi-nozzle pulverized coal gasifier with a coal feeding capacity of 3,000 tons per day, to replace the existing Texaco gasification unit on site. Additional facilities such as shift reactors, gas purification systems, synthesis units, wet acid production from waste gases, and liquid carbon dioxide production systems have also been built. At the same time, the 300,000-ton caprolactam production facility has been expanded and upgraded, increasing its caprolactam production capacity to 400,000 tons per year. On April 22, the 3,000-ton OMB pressurized coal gasification furnace, a key piece of equipment for the energy-saving and carbon-reduction integrated project in Yankuang Lunan Chemical Co., Ltd. (referred to as “Lunan Chemical”), was successfully lifted into place for the first time. Developed jointly by Shandong Energy Group and East China University of Science and Technology, the world’s first 3,000-ton-class OMB multi-nozzle opposed coal gasification furnace with independent intellectual property rights can increase the carbon conversion rate by over 10% compared to existing coal water slurry gasification technologies. It boasts technical advantages such as wide adaptability to different types of coal, low consumption, and ease of scaling up, enabling further improvement in coal utilization efficiency and reduction of carbon emissions. The equipment was manufactured by Dongfang Boiler of Dongfang Electric Group. On April 9, the gasifier was delivered to the construction site. The 3,000-ton/day new type powder coal gasifier is part of the energy-saving and carbon-reduction integrated project development for Lunan Chemical’s caprolactam production chain. The OMB multi-nozzle pulverized coal gasifier will replace the existing Texaco gasification unit on site, along with supporting facilities for shift conversion, gas purification, synthesis, wet acid production from waste gases, and liquid carbon dioxide production. The integrated project will also carry out expansion and renovation of the 300,000-ton caprolactam plant, increasing its caprolactam production capacity to 400,000 tons per year. The total investment in the integrated energy-saving and carbon-reduction project for the caprolactam industry chain is 2.671 billion yuan. Construction began in May 2022, and it is now in the equipment installation phase, with trials scheduled to take place by the end of the year. This project is a high-chain engineering initiative for caprolactam, and it also serves as an industrial demonstration facility for OMB’s multi-nozzle opposed coal gasification technology. Once completed and put into operation, it will enable the improved utilization of lower-grade coal, filling the gap in China’s field of gasification technology for low-quality feedstocks. It holds great significance as a model for the upgrading of chemical production facilities in regions such as Shaanxi-Mongolia and Xinjiang under Shandong Energy Group, as well as for achieving cleaner and more efficient production processes.