Text丨Sun Danning, trainee reporter of China Science News
alkene
It can be seen everywhere in daily life
Such as plastic bags, mask meltblown cloth, special clothing fabrics, etc
The mainstream method of producing olefins internationally is to use petroleum as a raw material
However, the mainland has always been rich in coal and poor in oil and gas
If it is possible to use coal instead of oil to produce olefins
It will be necessary to ease the tight situation of oil supply
It is of great significance to ensure the mainland's energy security
In order to realize this vision
Dalian Chemical Institute has gone through three generations and 40 years
Finally from the laboratory to the modern factory
It has achieved a breakthrough in the industrialization of coal-to-olefins in the world
▲The world's first 10,000-ton methanol-to-olefin technology industrial test device.
70s of the last century
The world stage is changing
The global economic system has been hit hard by two oil crises in a row
Oil, known as the "blood of industry".
Prices at the time skyrocketed
It soared from $1.2 a barrel to nearly $40
This has led many countries to worry about the sustainability of olefin feedstock sources
And gradually explore the feasibility of coal-to-olefins
Coal-to-olefins are generally divided into "two steps"
The first step is to synthesize methanol from coal
There is already a relatively mature industrial technology
The second step is to produce olefins from methanol
The whole world is stuck in the exploration phase
In 1981, the production of olefins from methanol was listed as a key project of the Chinese Academy of Sciences
The Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics undertook this important task
Two research groups led by Chen Guoquan and Liang Juan
Conduct joint research
It was found that the olefin yield could be greatly improved with SAPO-34 zeolite catalyst
Potential for industrial applications
In 1995, the team started using syngas, which was developed in-house
A new process method for producing olefins from dimethyl ether
Completed the 100-ton pilot test
It's also the year
Liu Zhongmin, who was still an associate researcher at the time, became the team leader
When scientific researchers are struggling to tackle key problems
The international situation has undergone earth-shaking changes
The price of a barrel of crude oil has fallen to around $10 again
At that time, coal-to-olefins faced a situation of "no account to calculate".
Most companies are not motivated by related projects
Sichuan, Gansu, Heilongjiang, Shanghai......
As long as there is hope, the team runs all over the country
Only seek cooperation, not returns
But in the end, it all fell into the sea
Should it still be continued?
Liu Zhongmin thought deeply
It is believed that technology diffusion and industrial testing will be a protracted battle
No matter how difficult it is, we must never give up
"It's like a marathon that tests endurance. ”
In 2004, international oil prices rebounded
The development of methanol to olefins has once again ushered in opportunities
Shaanxi Province is rich in coal resources and is suitable for the development of coal instead of oil industry
So he found the Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics to cooperate to promote industrialization
In August of the same year, the total investment was 86.1 million yuan
It is an industrial test plant with an annual methanol processing capacity of 16,700 tons
Construction started in Huaxian County, Shaanxi Province (now Huazhou District, Weinan City).
The team "set up camp" at a chemical plant
Crucial industrial trials began
After more than 700 days and nights of hard work
They finally had an exciting time
May 2006
The industrial test of methanol to olefins was declared successful
Soon, the team reached a cooperation intention with Shenhua Group
2010
Shenhua Baotou 1.8 million tons/year methanol to olefins industrial plant
The feeding test was successful at one time
It is the first in the world to industrialize coal-to-olefins
▲Shenhua Baotou 1.8 million tons of coal-based methanol to 600,000 tons of olefin project.
At the celebration, many comrades of the team burst into tears
From the industrial test site to the industrial field
After 6 years of wind and rain
The bitterness behind it
Everyone knows it
After the successful realization of industrial production
The team didn't stop there
"Transformation Generation, Development Generation, Forward-looking Generation"
This is the strategic deployment of Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics for the research of methanol to olefin technology
Liu Zhongmin described the work as like a relay race
As the inheritor of the previous and the next
He has an obligation and responsibility to lead the team forward
2015
The world's first second-generation industrial demonstration plant for methanol to olefins was successfully started
In this year, the technology of methanol production of low carbon olefins from Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics
Won the first prize of National Technological Invention Award
Liu Zhongmin is well aware of the weight of this national honor
"This is the country's recognition of the direction of coal chemical industry
Recognition of the technological progress we have made
Something that the country needs
We have to keep doing it. ”
2020
A major breakthrough has been made in the research and development of the third-generation technology of methanol to olefins
Doubling the amount of methanol processed in a single industrial unit
to 3.6 million tonnes per year
At present, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics methanol to olefins series technology
Licensing contracts for the technical implementation of 32 units have been signed
The olefins production capacity is 21.6 million tons per year
It accounts for one-third of the continent's current olefins production capacity
17 sets of industrial plants have been put into operation
The olefins production capacity is more than 10 million tons per year
▲The scientific research team is at the construction site of the Shenhua Baotou project. (All photos in this article are provided by Dalian Chemical Institute)
In Liu Zhongmin's opinion
The prospects for methanol to olefins go far beyond that
He believes that with the development of the economy and society
The country's demand for olefins will further increase
After the young members of the team took over the "baton".
The technical roadmap will continue to be optimized
Carry out large-scale industrial application
Promote the coal chemical industry in mainland China
Develop towards high-end, diversified and low-carbon
It is for the upgrading of the mainland's energy and chemical industry and the realization of the "double carbon" goal
Make a bigger difference
Full text published by China Science News:
Industrialization of coal-to-olefins: from a breakthrough of "zero" to an emerging strategic industry