Recently, Shenyang Chemical, a Bluestar subsidiary, launched an overhaul of its 500,000-ton catalytic pyrolysis process (CPP) unit, which, as of March 5, 2014, has been running steadily for 318 days nonstop, a new record among similar domestic units and the longest time worldwide. The previous record was 134 days, set by Shenyang Chemical as well. Since 2010, when it started to run, the unit’s team has continued to optimize the unit and tap into its potential, paving the way for the record.
The CPP applies heavy raw materials to produce low-carbon olefin, which has broadened the scope of raw materials for ethylene and propylene production. It doesn’t require demanding operating conditions, equipment and materials, or a big investment. The main raw material atmospheric pressure residual oil is priced lower than light naphtha involved in existing domestic ethylene units, thereby slashing costs for ethylene and propylene production significantly.