Clariant, CB&I win design work for huge Chinese dehydrogenation unit

Clariant has been awarded a contract by Hengli Petrochemical (Dalian) Refinery Co. to develop an extensive propane and butane dehydrogenation unit in cooperation with CB&I, the companies announced on Thursday.

The project includes the license and engineering design of the co-processing unit, which is to be built in Dalian, Liaoning Province, China.

The design will be based on CB&I’s Catofin catalytic dehydrogenation technology using Clariant’s tailor-made Catofin catalyst and Heat Generating Material (HGM) to process feedstock containing 300,000 tpy of propane and 600,000 tpy of isobutane for the joint production of propylene and isobutylene. 

When completed, it will be the largest single-train co-processing dehydrogenation unit in the world, and will play a key role in Hengli’s expansion plans.

“We are very pleased to be part of this groundbreaking project for Hengli Petrochemical Refinery," said Stefan Heuser, senior vice president and general manager for Clariant's catalysts business. "The contract is further proof that our customers recognize and demand the technological and economical advantages of Catofin and HGM.”

The Catofin process is recognized as a highly reliable and efficient technology for producing propylene from propane, and isobutylene from isobutane. The process operates at optimum reactor pressure and temperature to maximize conversion of propane and isobutene for a high yield of propylene and isobutylene, and correspondingly low investment and operating costs. 

"Catofin technology provides our customers with proven reliability and the flexibility to co-process multiple feed compositions at world scale capacities," said Daniel McCarthy, president of CB&I’s technology operating group.

These performance advantages are now further enhanced through the inclusion of HGM in the Catofin process, the companies say.

HGM is an innovative metal-oxide material which is designed to significantly increase selectivity and yield of Catofin units. The material is loaded into the catalyst bed with the catalyst, where it undergoes oxidation and reduction during the operating cycle, producing heat and driving the dehydrogenation reaction. 

This not only boosts yields and saves energy, but also reduces emissions. In recognition of its significant step-change contribution to feedstock utilization efficiency, HGM was awarded a special mention by the ICIS Innovation Awards in 2014.

HGM demonstrated excellent performance at the propane dehydrogenation plant of Ningbo Haiyue New Material Co. in Ningbo City, China, according to Clariant officials. Hengli will be the second co-processing plant in China to utilize HGM, following the successful unit designed for Shandong Sincier Petrochemical Co. in Dongying, Shandong Province.