Photo courtesy of Shanghai Petrochemical
"Ice and snow as the medium, go to the Covenant of the Winter Olympics", on the evening of February 4, the opening ceremony of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics was held in Beijing Bird's Nest. The world's first Winter Olympic torch made of carbon fiber composite materials "flying" has become the focus of everyone's attention.
From February 2 to 4, 2022, Shanghai Petrochemical Torch Assembly Team and Torch Service Support Team provided on-site service support for the torch relay and successfully completed the mass production of the Winter Olympic torch. The surging news (www.thepaper.cn) reporter learned on the 5th that after successfully completing the first phase of the task, Shanghai Petrochemical will immediately organize forces to put into the mass production, reloading, testing and on-site service of the winter Paralympic torch.
The appearance rotates and rises like a ribbon fluttering, with both dynamic and vitality, with the characteristics of "light, solid and beautiful"; the internal use of hydrogen combustion system, zero carbon emissions in the combustion process, reflecting the green Olympic and scientific and technological Olympic concept - behind the "flying" torch shining in the world, is the story of Shanghai Petrochemical's team responsible for the research and development of the torch shell and the mass production of the torch.
In order to create the world's first carbon fiber torch, Sinopec took the initiative to ask for help, and with the strong support of the Beijing Winter Olympic Organizing Committee, the relevant team led by its subsidiary Shanghai Petrochemical co., Ltd. launched the development of carbon fiber torch shell in June 2020.
At the end of September 2020, with the official release of the Winter Olympic torch sample named "Feiyang", the torch containing high technology also contains worldwide problems: the shape of the outer streamer is irregular, and how is the carbon fiber woven and formed? Ordinary resin materials are burned to ashes at a temperature of 500 ° C, how to withstand hydrogen flames at 800 ° C? The inner and outer streamers of the torch are exquisitely structured, how to place a combustion system fueled by hydrogen energy?
In the face of these challenges, the two roads set off on the battlefield.
Along the way, led by Shanghai Petrochemical General, the cooperative team was organized to carry out research, forming a one-stop solution from carbon fiber production, composite material preparation to product terminal application, solving the problem of high temperature resistance and combustion resistance of carbon fiber composite materials; on the other hand, the internal research and development units of the group were drawn by China Aerospace Science and Technology Group and Aerospace Science and Industry Group to solve the problem of combustion system.
Experts and practice have identified that the carbon fiber hydrogen energy torch has high safety and reliability, can resist 10 winds and rainstorms, can be used in extremely cold weather, and the pressure reduction ratio is up to hundreds of times. While solving complex problems, it also takes into account the requirements of lightweighting, miniaturization, and shape matching.
On February 4, 2021, the Winter Olympic torch "Flying", which combines the traditional characteristics of the Chinese nation and the content of modern science and technology, won the world's attention as soon as it was unveiled. Subsequently, the torch entered the mass production stage.
Under the leadership of Shanghai Petrochemical, a total process integrating torch shell - inner streamer - combustion system - tinder lamp - terminal detection - delivery of products was quickly established and quickly operated in five major bases such as Shanghai, Beijing, Jiangsu, Guangdong and Hebei. By the end of December 2021, the mass production of 1,200 torches will be completed on schedule.
In early January 2022, 1,200 Winter Olympic torches were assembled at Shanghai Petrochemical and arrived in Beijing on the 18th. On January 21, Sinopec Shanghai Petrochemical Torch Assembly and Relay Support Team went to Beijing to carry out torch hydrogen filling, testing and assembly, and provide on-site service support for torch relay. On the 27th, 1200 carbon fiber torches of the Winter Olympic Games were officially delivered to the Beijing Winter Olympic Organizing Committee.