The catalyst filling work for Yulin Kaiyue’s 500,000 tons per year methanol-to-ethanol project has officially begun

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Recently, at the construction site of the 500,000 tons per year methanol-to-ethanol production facility owned by Shaanxi Yanchang Petroleum Yulin Kaiyue Coal Chemical Co., Ltd., the installation of the RK-07 dimethyl ether catalyst was officially commenced. This marks the entry of this facility into its critical construction phase, laying the foundation for subsequent system testing and long-term stable operation. It is reported that the RK-07 dual-functional composite catalyst serves as the “core engine” in the dimethyl ether synthesis reaction, and its filling quality has a direct impact on the reaction efficiency, product purity, and the overall stability of the plant’s operation. To ensure that the filling process is carried out accurately and in compliance with regulations, the ethanol workshop established a dedicated task force in advance, which developed a scientific working procedure of \"placing magnetic balls first and then filling in the catalyst\", taking into account the characteristics of the catalyst and the requirements of the manufacturing process. Before starting the filling operation, a thorough cleaning of the reactor and nitrogen purging (to ensure an oxygen content of less than 0.5%) were carried out, along with tool calibration and specialized safety training, to ensure efficient and safe construction. After the operation is started, 300-millimeter-high alumina magnetic balls are first laid in an orderly manner at the bottom of the reactor to form a high-temperature resistant and high-strength support filtering layer, which effectively prevents catalyst loss and blockage at the bottom. Subsequently, the operator followed the standards of \"layered feeding, gradual leveling at each layer, and real-time monitoring\" to slowly feed the material through a lifting funnel equipped with a soft cloth cover, thereby minimizing catalyst damage ； Technicians used a laser rangefinder throughout the process to monitor the filling height, with a density detector used to verify the data ； Safety supervisors closely monitor the risks associated with work in confined spaces to ensure that safety is maintained throughout the entire process. At present, the laying of the underlying high-alumina magnetic balls has been successfully completed, and the filling of the RK-07 catalyst is progressing steadily as planned. Recently, the second circulating water station, the first key supporting facility for Kaoyue Coal Chemical’s 500,000 tons per year methanol-to-ethanol project, was successfully commissioned. All operational parameters meet the design requirements, laying a solid foundation for the full completion and operation of the project. As the first utility facility to be put into operation in this project, this circulating water station serves as the \"cooling artery\" that ensures the continuous and stable operation of production. The system is designed to handle a flow rate of 20,000 cubic meters per hour of circulating water, and it is responsible for cooling key units such as those used for gas separation, carbonylation, hydrogenation, and distillation ； At the same time, a well-designed side filtration system along with a chemical dosing system effectively prevent scaling in the pipes and the growth of microorganisms, ensuring the long-term efficient operation of the equipment. The successful operation of this circulating water station demonstrates the project’s significant advantages in terms of resource conservation and environmental protection: through the recycling of water resources, it is estimated that 100,000 to 150,000 tons of fresh water can be saved each year, thereby greatly improving the overall efficiency of water use and effectively reducing production costs. At the same time, the water treatment facilities built into the system enable the pollutant content in the cooling water to be reduced by over 90%, ensuring that the discharged water meets environmental standards and helping the project achieve green and low-carbon production.