Nantong Weizhuo Environmental Protection Equipment Co.,Ltd , https://www.cwznts.com
Ethylene is the leader in petrochemical production and is a symbol of a country's petrochemical production. It is understood that China currently has 20 sets of large and medium sized ethylene plants with an ethylene production capacity of 17 million tons and a production volume of around 14 million tons, ranking third in the world. Prior to this, only three companies in Germany and Japan had the design and manufacturing capabilities of large-scale twin-screw extrusion granulation units. As the world’s third largest ethylene producer, China’s large-scale ethylene key equipment can only rely on imports for a long time because it does not have its own core technology. This provides conditions for foreign companies to monopolize the market and jointly raise prices.
According to Zhong Weimin of the Development and Planning Department of Yanshan Petrochemical Company, the introduction of a twin-screw extrusion granulator with a capacity of 350,000 tons/year will require approximately US$12 million. According to China’s current ethylene production capacity, it is necessary to introduce about 28 sets of large twin-screw extrusion granulation units with a capacity of 350,000 tons/year, which will cost about US$450 million.
Zhong Weimin said that the development of a large twin-screw extrusion granulation unit reflects the latest achievements and comprehensive strengths of a country in the field of polymer blending processing technology and equipment research. In order to achieve the rapid development of the petrochemical industry, advanced technology and equipment must be used as support. The real advanced technology and equipment can't be purchased, and the only way is to take the path of self-reliance and independent innovation.
In 2007, the National Development and Reform Commission formulated the “Special Plan for the Medium and Long-Term Development of the Ethylene Industryâ€, which calls for accelerating the localization and industrialization of the major technical equipment in the ethylene industry and striving to achieve key breakthroughs and development across key technologies and equipment. The “Key Equipment Manufacturing Technology Development and Equipment Manufacturing of Ethylene Plants†has been listed in the current industry, product and technology catalogue that the country has focused on encouraging development. As the core equipment in the downstream process of ethylene production process, the large twin-screw extrusion granulation unit is an important part of the realization of the domestic production of “large-scale ethylene key equipmentâ€.
For many years, the leaders of Sinopec have been very concerned about the localization of large twin-screw extrusion granulation units, and held several related technical exchanges and localization demonstration meetings to explore the possibility of realizing the domesticization of large twin screw extrusion granulation units in China. And the implementation plan put forward the strategic goal of implementing the localization of 200,000-ton-grade polypropylene large extrusion granulation units. In 2007, Sinopec commissioned the joint development of six units including Beijing Chemical Industry University, Sinopec Engineering Construction Company, Yanshan Petrochemical Company, Dalian Rubber & Plastics Co., Ltd., Tianhua Chemical Machinery & Automation Design and Research Institute, and Zhejiang Zhongkong Control Technology Co., Ltd. After more than three years of joint efforts, the large-scale twin-screw extrusion granulator made a localized project successful, filling the gap in the country.
Cheng Weijun said that the effective integration of domestic material resources and human technical resources and the effective formation of strong R&D forces are the key to the success of this project.
Domestic production of large twin screw extrusion granulation units
On April 21, a good news came from Yanshan Petrochemical. The self-developed 200,000-ton polypropylene twin-screw extrusion granulation unit was successfully driven by the company at one time. The test results of the unit showed that the indicators met the production requirements. Cheng Weijun, deputy director of Yanshan Petrochemical Chemical Plant No.2, said that as a key equipment for ethylene, it is the first time that large twin-screw extrusion granulation units have achieved localization.