At the just-concluded 2020 National Science and Technology Award Conference, Tianhua Institute, a subsidiary of China National Chemical Equipment Corporation, won the first prize of national science and technology award for the “Complete Technology and Industrial Application of Megaton Ethylene Made of Complex Raw Materials”.
The petrochemical industry serves as the pillar of the national economy. The ethylene industry is the cornerstone of the petrochemical industry. The ethylene plant is the core of the ethylene industry. Almost 70% of the world’s basic organic chemical raw materials are sourced from ethylene plants. Triene and by-product tribenzene produced by it are the most important basic organic chemical raw materials. Their derivatives are widely used in various industries, playing an essential role in the economy and people’s livelihood.
Ethylene raw materials can be selected from diversified sources thanks to their diversification and lightweight across the world, especially the successful development of shale gas. At present, a host of refining & chemical integration, coal/methanol-to-olefin projects and light hydrocarbon utilization projects have been gradually implemented, further diversifying ethylene raw materials. The demand of various industries for ethylene remains stable. Therefore, the petrochemical industry requires a higher capacity of ethylene cracking plant, while the ethylene capacity has represented an indicator of petrochemical development.
The ethylene cracking furnace is an essential part of the ethylene plant, while the quenching heat exchanger system and combustion system are the key equipment in the ethylene cracking furnace. To build an ethylene industry chain with advanced technology, complete supporting facilities and competitive edge and continuously improve domestic ethylene production capacity, Tianhua Institute has been deeply involved in the Sinopec-led project of “Complete Technology and Industrial Application of Megaton Ethylene Made of Complex Raw Materials” by establishing an R&D group with nine other research institutes.
Tianhua Institute undertook the development and design of quenching heat exchanger system and "combustion system" for cracking furnaces. Regarding R&D and design, the personnel of Tianhua Institute has given full play to the technical advantages of Tianhua Institute in the research and development of quenching systems and combustion systems for cracking furnaces. By using the most advanced linear structure, the quenching heat exchanger has the advantages of large heat exchange pipe diameter, low mass flow rate, low resistance, low outlet temperature, high steam production, and long operating cycle. Using the fuel classification and flue gas recirculation technology, the low-NOx burner developed through CFD analysis and thermal state experiment can meet the requirements of cracking furnace technology and environmental protection.
Up to now, Tianhua Institute has developed 500-plus advanced linear quenching heat exchangers, 100-odd new large-capacity quenching heat exchangers, and over 2,000 low-NOx burners, all of which have been put into operation and widely praised by users.
The ethylene cracking furnace is equipped with quenching heat exchangers and burners designed by Tianhua Institute
This outcome is a new type of technology that has achieved comprehensive innovation in applied basic research, highly selective cracking technology, efficient separation technology, efficient catalyst technology, green and efficient special technology, and major equipment design and manufacturing technology. Using this technology, Tianhua Institute has established an R&D platform, model and database for the entire ethylene process. It has developed supporting technologies for cracking, high-efficiency separation, new catalysts, and energy-saving and emission reduction. It has also designed and developed major equipment such as a large cracking gas compressor and propylene refrigeration compressor.
The technological achievements have epitomized the continuous innovation of ethylene technology and promoted the rapid development of the ethylene industry and downstream sectors, yielding remarkable economic and social benefits.