The 300,000-ton/year ethylene oxide plant of Jilin Petrochemical’s refining and chemical transformation project achieved successful power supply for the first time

Thread Content

The 300,000-ton/year ethylene oxide plant as part of Jilin Petrochemical’s refining and chemical industry transformation project was successfully powered up for the first time. On March 12, 2025, the construction of this plant, carried out by Huanqiu Jilin Chemical Construction, was completed, and the plant was successfully powered on for the first time; this lays a solid foundation for carrying out trial operations on the plant in the future. The installation mainly includes 4 10kV transformers, over 100 high and low voltage cabinets, as well as the laying of 50,000 meters of cable. The successful power supply this time is a crucial step in the progress of the entire project, providing the necessary foundation for the comprehensive testing of the subsequent equipment. As power was supplied to part of the common substation in Jilin Petrochemical’s air separation project, and the ethylene oxide plant is a branch facility of that substation, the risk level associated with the construction of this plant increased significantly. When operating, the construction workers must ensure that equipment related to the ethylene oxide plant, such as voltage transformer cabinets, low-current line selection cabinets, and back-office communication systems, are de-energized in order to carry out work safely. Construction workers must first receive professional safety training, and they need to obtain the first type of work permit daily before they can enter the plant area. In addition, safety barriers are installed at the construction site to strictly separate the live areas from the construction zones, thereby minimizing risks and ensuring that the construction proceeds safely and in an orderly manner. Normally, one high-voltage cabinet controls one motor circuit. In the ethylene oxide plant, the 12,500-kilowatt high-voltage variable-frequency motor set is controlled by 18 high-voltage cabinets working together to manage the same motor circuit; it comprises 27 power module units that are organized into 9 groups to adjust the output frequency and control the output speed in order to meet the process requirements. This places extremely high demands on the technical precision of the construction team as well as their ability to install and debug the equipment. To this end, the installation and commissioning team from Huanqiu Jilin Chemical Construction, relying on their extensive experience and skilled techniques, carefully planned and carried out their tasks rigorously, thereby successfully resolving this complex problem. During the construction work, the 9 employees on the team took on multiple roles, working together efficiently thanks to their professional skills. Every step, from equipment transportation and installation to debugging, is strictly controlled. During the power reception process, the technicians followed the procedures outlined in the plan strictly, closely monitoring all relevant data. With limited manpower, they worked together to overcome difficulties and successfully completed all tasks. This not only provided strong momentum for the further construction of the ethylene oxide unit as part of Jilin Petrochemical’s refining and chemical industry transformation project, but it also demonstrated Huanqiu Jilin Chemical Construction’s professional capabilities and technical expertise in managing complex construction projects, earning praise from the project owner.