Entering the phase of installing key equipment, the first batch of large-scale equipment for the Maoming Petrochemical upgrading project – the “four major towers” – has arrived at the port for unloading
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The installation phase of the key equipment has begun; the first batch of large-scale equipment for the Maoming Petrochemical upgrading project arrived at the port and was unloaded. 2025-06-05 00:05 · Southern+ Client. On the 3rd, the first batch of large-scale equipment for the Maoming Petrochemical’s refining transformation and ethylene improvement project was unloaded from the ship, marking the entry of this project into the phase of installing these key pieces of equipment. It is understood that the “four major towers” (ethylene tower, Propylene Tower No. 1, Propylene Tower No. 2, and caustic scrubber tower) that arrived in the port for unloading are key large-scale equipment for Unit 3 of the upgrading project. The No. 3 ethylene plant is the key facility through which Maoming Petrochemical increased the ethylene production capacity from 1 million tons per year to 1.64 million tons per year as part of this project; the arrival of the “four major towers” marked an important milestone in the construction of this facility. “The total carrying capacity of the four giant towers is 3,000 tons; their maximum diameter is 7.8 meters and their length is 68 meters, making their construction and transportation extremely difficult. The Project Management Department of Maoming Petrochemical planned in advance, held multiple meetings to discuss specific plans, organized simulations, clarified the scope of responsibilities, identified the persons responsible for each stage, and structured the entire process of unloading and transporting equipment into a single \"transport package\" for coordinated management, thereby ensuring the smooth unloading of the first shipment of heavy equipment. On May 25, the freight ship carrying the “four major tower devices” set sail from Nanjing. After a 7-day sea journey, it arrived safely at the Shuidong Port of Maoming Petrochemical on May 31. On the 3rd, all four major tower components were brought ashore, and subsequently they will be transported 26 kilometers along the road using axis trucks to the construction site of Unit 3 ethylene plant. A relevant official from Maoming Petrochemical explained that the gradual arrival of these equipment units will mark the transition of Maoming Petrochemical’s refining transformation and upgrading project, as well as its ethylene improvement project, from the stage of underground pipeline construction, which involves mainly civil engineering work, to the phase of equipment installation. This provides valuable time to ensure that the projects are completed and put into operation by 2027, while also creating favorable conditions for subsequent construction work.
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These \"central control equipment\" units, manufactured by Nanjing Yuchuang Petrochemical Engineering Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as \"Nanjing Yuchuang\"), have a total weight of 3,000 tons and a maximum diameter of 7.8 meters. Liu Fei, chairman of Nanjing Yuchuang, said that throughout the transportation process, the company established a \"daily communication and weekly scheduling\" mechanism with Maoming Petrochemical, enabling precise control over the entire process from arrival at the port to unloading at the destination. The shipment was delivered from Nanjing to Guangdong via combined river and sea transport in 7 days. “Behind the successful arrival of the “Four Great Tower Structures” is China’s strong manufacturing capabilities for oversized equipment. The four large towers delivered this time are the core equipment for the 1.64 million tons per year ethylene upgrade project at Maoming Petrochemical. Liu Fei said that in the face of the industry-wide challenges posed by the ultra-large diameter (7.8 meters) and ultra-long distance (1200 nautical miles by sea), Nanjing Yuchuang has developed effective solutions by leveraging its unique geographical location and technical capabilities. The first is the port-based intelligent manufacturing and transportation model. Leveraging the strategic location of its Nanjing Binjiang factory site adjacent to the Yangtze River docks (only 2.6 kilometers away from the large-scale cargo docks), it introduced a combined transportation solution of \"direct installation at the factory site + 10,000-ton roll-on ships\" to overcome the limitations imposed by road transport regarding height and weight restrictions. This plant has successfully achieved the manufacturing of oversized pressure vessels with a diameter of 12 meters and a weight of up to several thousand tons, as well as their direct shipment by ship. The second is the on-site welding experience for large towers. For extra-large equipment that cannot be transported as a whole, Nanjing Yuchuang possesses nearly 20 years of experience in on-site sectional prefabrication and welding techniques. The tower equipment it manufactures constitutes the core structural components of modern petrochemical plants; such equipment has been used in the Saudi sulfuric acid project as well as in the construction of various large-scale refining and chemical complexes in China, and it holds a leading position in the market for large tower equipment with a diameter of over 8 meters. When the 7.8-meter-diameter giant tower was transported over a long distance via river and sea and accurately placed in position, and its unloading from the ship was completed efficiently within 43 minutes, it demonstrated China’s capabilities in integrated manufacturing, transportation, and installation. “Only technological innovation can turn major national assets into the ‘steel links’ that facilitate a smooth dual circulation. ”Liu Fei said. Liu Fei pointed out that continuous R&D investment and process improvements are the foundation for Nanjing Yuchuang to maintain its competitiveness. Since 2018, Nanjing Yuchuang has obtained 4 new core invention patents and 46 utility model patents, establishing a comprehensive intellectual property protection system. Its patented product, the \"flange-connected aluminum-magnesium silo,\" thanks to its ultra-lightweight design, excellent corrosion resistance, and high structural safety, has held the top position in market share for 5 consecutive years. It also won the third prize in the Sinopec Group Science and Technology Progress Award, becoming a \"hidden champion\" in this field. To date, over 300 units of this product have been successfully deployed in various large-scale ethylene projects, including Sinopec Zhenhai Refining & Chemical Complex and Shell’s Huizhou project. Nanjing Yuchuang also possesses extensive engineering experience in the welding, shaping, and heat treatment of materials such as composite panels, low-temperature steel, and special stainless steels, enabling it to meet the stringent requirements of various operating conditions. The composite panel-based equipment it has manufactured, including EO absorption towers and CO₂ absorption towers with a diameter of 9.3 meters, has been deployed at the Zhenhai facility.
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