DuPont Clean Technologies announces that an IsoTherming hydrotreating unit installed at the CNOOC Huizhou Refinery in Guangdong Province, China has successfully completed its performance test, certifying that the unit is meeting performance guarantees. The IsoTherming VGO hydrotreater at CNOOC is designed to process 51,419 bpsd (2,600 kmta) of a vacuum gasoil feedstock as feed for the FCC unit. The IsoTherming hydrotreater was designed for output of <1000 wppm sulfur and <600 wppm nitrogen.
The VGO hydrotreater was initially commissioned in late September 2017 but, due to the market-driven, reduced refinery throughput, the IsoTherming VGO hydrotreater ran at various lower rates until recently. The performance test results highlight the IsoTherming technology’s ability to sustain catalyst activity over a long period of time with the unit still satisfying performance guarantees, according to DuPont. CNOOC indicates the IsoTherming VGO hydrotreater had a lower investment cost and offered greater than $4,000,000 per year savings in utility costs compared to conventional trickle bed technology, according to DuPont.
Operating costs savings in the form of reduced consumption of utilities, as well as capital cost advantages when compared to conventional technologies were reportedly key drivers for CNOOC to select the IsoTherming technology for this project. CNOOC also chose the IsoTherming technology for a 71,637 bpsd (3,400 kmta) ULSD hydrotreating unit (again at the Huizhou refinery), which was also commissioned in September 2017 after passing its performance test in 2018.
IsoTherming hydroprocessing technology utilizes a novel liquid phase reactor system that reportedly uses the hydrogen and catalyst more efficiently. It also offers lower capital and operating costs compared to conventional hydroprocessing technologies in achieving the desired product quality, according to DuPont. This technology is suitable for a wide range of applications including kerosene hydrotreating, transmix hydrotreating, diesel hydrotreating, FCC feed hydrotreating (VGO hydrotreating), mild hydrocracking, dewaxing, gas-to-liquid (GTL) upgrading and heavy oil upgrading for both grassroots and revamp configurations.
For more information, visit: www.cleantechnologies.dupont.com
