The 20 kt/a Hexene-1 Package Technology Passed Acceptance Inspection at PetroChina

The first commercial test project of the package technology for production of 20 kt/a of hexane-1 has passed the acceptance inspection of the PetroChina Science and Technology Division.

It is learned that this project sponsored by the PetroChina Science and Technology Division is jointly undertaken by the Dushanzi Petrochemical Company, the Petrochemical Research Institute, the Kunlun Engineering Company, the Daqing Petrochemical Complex, and the Eastern China and Southern China Chemicals Sales Company. Propped up by the operating experience and the associated technical study on the operation of 5 kt/a hexane-1 unit at the Daqing Petrochemical Complex, the 20 kt/a commercial test unit for manufacture of hexane-1 at the Dushanzi Petrochemical Company was constructed in 2014, with the purity of the delivered product reaching 99.6% to exceed that of the imported ones. At present this unit after having experienced four startups and three times of technical modification and parameters optimization has been realizing a safe, smooth and long-cycle operation to reach an internationally advanced level.

This technology has made innovations in four areas as

shown below: (1) Application of the quantum dynamic study has verified the route for evolution of catalytic active sites in order to develop the novel ligand and electron donor, resulting in the innovation of catalytic materials; (2) By taking into account the fast ethylene trimerization reaction and low mass transfer rate,the research staffs have developed a heterogeneous high mass-transfer kettle-type reactor with forced internal circulation of gas and liquid streams; (3) An innovative technology for inhibition of low polymers and the technique for quick removal of resins without shutdown of process units has been developed; and (4)The technology for stabilization and storage of water and oxygen-sensitive catalysts has been developed to meet the needs for long-distance transportation and lowtemperature storage of catalysts.

In the next phase the PetroChina management plans to construct respectively in the Northeast and Northwest the 50 kt/a hexane-1 units, coupled with concurrent development of the PDP for manufacturing 50 thousand tons of hexane-1 per annum in order to actively disseminate the package technology for manufacture of hexane-1.