18-05-2021

North Huajin Refining and Petrochemical Company selects IsoTherming®

North Huajin Refining and Petrochemical Company, LTD. (North Huajin) has signed contracts with Refining Technology Solutions, LLC, a subsidiary of DuPont Clean Technologies (DuPont) for the license, basic engineering, and technical services for a new combined IsoTherming® kerosene/diesel hydrotreater (KDHT). The grassroots hydrotreater is one of many units included as part of the greenfield fully integrated refining and petrochemical complex that will be located in Liaodong Bay New Area, Panjin, Liaoning Province, China.  North Huajin commissioned DuPont for an IsoTherming® KDHT unit with a nameplate capacity of 1,600 kmta (37,000 bpd), capable of producing fuels compliant with both Jet 3 fuel standard and China VI diesel.

IsoTherming® hydrotreaters enable refiners to produce high-quality, low-sulfur fuels that comply with increasingly stringent environmental requirements, but at lower energy consumption rates and operating costs than trickle bed hydroprocessing units. The IsoTherming® technology is commercially proven to process a wide range of feedstocks, from kerosene to vacuum gas oil, including 100 percent light cycle oil. The units are designed to provide refiners with consistent savings on utilities in the magnitude of 30-60 percent compared to trickle bed technologies and the potential of 30 percent capital cost savings or more.

“We are very grateful to have the opportunity to provide the combined kerosene/diesel hydrotreater to North Huajin for their Fine Chemicals and Raw Materials Project,” said Kevin Bockwinkel, global business manager, IsoTherming® Hydroprocessing Technology. “The IsoTherming® technology provides them an attractive low capital cost option to make fully compliant fuels in an energy efficient manner. We look forward to continuing to build a solid relationship with North Huajin.”  

The greenfield complex is a key part of the revitalization of the rustbelt region of northeast China. In addition, by selecting the IsoTherming® technology for this hydrotreater, the refinery will minimize CO2 emissions due to lower energy requirement within the unit in comparison to trickle bed technologies. This decrease in emissions will further assist China in its goal to become carbon neutral by 2060.
Startup of the IsoTherming® KDHT unit at the Panjin site is expected to take place by the end of 2023.

The IsoTherming® hydroprocessing technology utilizes a novel liquid-phase reactor system offering distinct advantages over conventional hydroprocessing technologies in that it uses hydrogen and catalyst more efficiently. The IsoTherming® hydroprocessing technology is suitable for a wide range of applications, including 100% kerosene hydrotreating, 100% light cycle oil (LCO) 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.  Licensed and marketed by DuPont as part of its Clean Technologies portfolio, the IsoTherming® technology has been licensed in 28 refineries worldwide with capacities ranging from 1,500 bpd (82 kmta) to 80,000 bpd (3,900 kmta), offering refiners a lower CAPEX and OPEX solution than conventional hydroprocessing options.