Maoming Petrochemical has successfully tested coal-water slurry feedstock for gasifiers made from a mixture of Shenhua and Australian raw coal

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Maoming Petrochemical: Pioneered the use of imported coal as raw material in Sinopec’s operations According to a report from Jinyang Net, on November 17th, with the successful testing of coal slurry feed for the gasifier using a mixture of Shenhua coal and Australian coal in a 1:1 ratio in the last batch, Maoming Petrochemical’s coal-to-hydrogen production facility completed its first-ever trial using Australian coal as a raw material, thus setting a precedent for the use of imported coal in Sinopec’s operations. 　　In response to the reforms in the coal supply side and the shortage of winter coal resources, and to ensure a steady supply of raw materials for coal-to-hydrogen plants, Maoming Petrochemical has officially started purchasing raw coal from Australia. 　　How to make good use of new coal types? The coal-to-hydrogen plant made considerable efforts to fully understand its characteristics. 　　After obtaining various analysis data on the raw coal used in Australia, the coal-to-hydrogen production facility carefully compared these data with the raw material currently used in the plant. A thorough risk analysis was conducted across all aspects of the production process, including coal slurry preparation, combustion temperature in the gasifier, and slag removal from the gasifier. A comprehensive plan was developed, covering everything from the mixing of raw materials at the coal storage area to the monitoring of plant operations. The plant operators were also trained so that they could go from knowing nothing about the new raw coal to understanding its properties, knowing how to operate it properly, and being aware of emergency procedures. 　　To ensure absolute reliability during the trial use of Australian coal, the coal-to-hydrogen plant strengthened its basic management further; by enhancing systematic inspections by operators, it implemented comprehensive and multi-faceted monitoring across the entire \"Australian coal chain\". Not only is a double-check system implemented for key processes such as mixing and transportation, but the quality of the coal slurry in the coal mill discharge trough is also subject to intensified inspection: manual analysis is carried out once per hour, and manual inspections are conducted every 30 minutes, so as to adjust the ratio of coal to water in a timely manner and ensure the quality of the coal slurry. 　　In response to the operational changes caused by differences in raw material properties, the coal-to-hydrogen plant has increased its guidance on operations. Throughout the entire trial period, workshop supervisors were on duty 24/7 to oversee things day by day, and a task force was established. Any change in the data that occurred during operation was promptly communicated to the members of this task force via messages. This frequent exchange of information eliminated barriers related to time and distance, allowing the entire trial process to be under control. 　　Following the successful completion of the 10-day trial period for blending Shenhua coal with Australian raw coal, more than 4,300 tons of imported coal were used for the first time in Maoming Petrochemical’s coal-to-hydrogen facility. The collection of various data during this usage period provided a basis for in-depth analysis and offered reliable data support for the long-term use of this imported coal. (Zhong Dahai, Zhang Wenwei)