Clariant’s technology delivers strong performance at Chinese petrochem plant
Clariant has revealed that its MegaZonE technology is delivering excellent performance on the methanol plant of CNOOC’s China Blue Chemical.
The innovative system uses several layers of methanol catalysts with different activity levels to optimize heat management and overall catalyst performance.
MegaZonE was installed at CNOOC’s methanol production plant in Hainan, China, in April 2021.
A joint venture with the KB Group, the CNOOC plant produces 600 KTA methanol from natural gas using Air Liquide’s Lurgi process and Clariant’s MegaMax® catalysts.
Since MegaZonE was implemented at the CNOOC plant, carbon conversion efficiency has improved considerably, with average makeup gas consumption decreased by 67 Nm3 per metric ton of methanol compared with the previous charge.
Pressure drop has also decreased significantly, eliminating the risk of bottlenecks on high pressure drop in the reactor. Furthermore, the plant is benefitting from a 20% reduction in by-product formation, which has greatly improved methanol quality. These factors combined have resulted in substantial economic benefits.
Georg Anfang, vice-president syngas and fuels at Clariant Catalysts, commented: “Clariant’s efforts to continuously improve methanol production are not limited to catalyst formulation.
“We also focus on the overall process and how our catalysts can be optimally used in the complete reactor system. MegaZonE is a perfect example and has proven to be a major breakthrough for the methanol industry.”
China BlueChemical, a division of China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC), is a modern, large-scale enterprise engaged in deep processing of natural gas, manufacturing mineral fertilizers and chemical products.
Its annual production capacity totals to 1.84 million tons of urea, 1 million tons of phosphate and compound fertilisers, as well as 1.4 million tons of methanol and 270 kilo tons of acrylonitrile.
The innovative system uses several layers of methanol catalysts with different activity levels to optimize heat management and overall catalyst performance.
MegaZonE was installed at CNOOC’s methanol production plant in Hainan, China, in April 2021.
A joint venture with the KB Group, the CNOOC plant produces 600 KTA methanol from natural gas using Air Liquide’s Lurgi process and Clariant’s MegaMax® catalysts.
Since MegaZonE was implemented at the CNOOC plant, carbon conversion efficiency has improved considerably, with average makeup gas consumption decreased by 67 Nm3 per metric ton of methanol compared with the previous charge.
Pressure drop has also decreased significantly, eliminating the risk of bottlenecks on high pressure drop in the reactor. Furthermore, the plant is benefitting from a 20% reduction in by-product formation, which has greatly improved methanol quality. These factors combined have resulted in substantial economic benefits.
Georg Anfang, vice-president syngas and fuels at Clariant Catalysts, commented: “Clariant’s efforts to continuously improve methanol production are not limited to catalyst formulation.
“We also focus on the overall process and how our catalysts can be optimally used in the complete reactor system. MegaZonE is a perfect example and has proven to be a major breakthrough for the methanol industry.”
China BlueChemical, a division of China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC), is a modern, large-scale enterprise engaged in deep processing of natural gas, manufacturing mineral fertilizers and chemical products.
Its annual production capacity totals to 1.84 million tons of urea, 1 million tons of phosphate and compound fertilisers, as well as 1.4 million tons of methanol and 270 kilo tons of acrylonitrile.
