Page 17 - Plastics News August 2020

Mammoet delivers C3 splitter to new Borealis Hengli Petrochemical starts alkylation unit
site
uPont Clean Technologies (DuPont) is pleased to
ammoet has announced that it has safely Dannounce the successful startup and performance
Mdelivered a 1400 t C3 splitter column to the new test of a STRATCO® alkylation unit licensed by DuPont
Borealis propane dehydrogenation (PDH) site in Kallo, at the Hengli Petrochemical Co. (Hengli) new refinery
Belgium. The 109 m long and 10 m wide propylene complex, Changxing Island Harbor Industrial Zone,
splitter is one of the largest items ever delivered in a China. The new alkylation unit enables Hengli to
single piece to the Port of Antwerp. Mammoet's produce high-quality alkylate, a key component for
expertise delivering end-to-end solutions for projects cleaner, high octane gasoline, from a 100% isobutylene
of this scale led to Borealis and Tecnimont, the plant's
engineering, procurement and construction feed stream. This first-of-a-kind unit was developed
through DuPont research into the best ways to
management (EPCM) partner, awarding it the contract
for the transportation and installation of the site's 35
heaviest pieces of equipment in late 2019. The
successful transportation of the plant's largest
component signals the first major milestone during the
plant's two-year construction phase. Having consulted
Borealis on the most efficient delivery timetable,
Mammoet's team of experienced engineers and field

maximise product octane and minimise end point with
this feedstock. Hengli had awarded DuPont the
contract for the new alkylation unit as well as a MECS®
Sulfuric Acid Regeneration unit in 2015. The alkylation
unit uses the latest innovative patented XP2
technology by DuPont in the STRATCO® Contactor™
reactor. The reactor enhancement is designed to
improve the acid/hydrocarbon emulsion flow path
near the tube bundle heat transfer area of the reactor
in order to realise significant process benefits and
workers started preparing the quay for the load-out achieve optimal alkylate product quality. “DuPont
four days prior to the transportation date. The splitter Clean Technologies could not be happier with its
arrived on a barge from Spain, and once the barge was ability to enable Hengli Petrochemical Co. to meet
equipped with ballast pumps and winches, the load-
performance guarantees while processing a feed
out and transportation operation was executed. To
never before processed in an alkylation unit,” said Eli
minimise disruption to both the project's schedule and
Ben-Shoshan, Global Business Leader, DuPont Clean
the port, transportation of the splitter occurred
Technologies. “It's a groundbreaking achievement and
overnight, after Mammoet had arranged short-term
road closures with local authorities. 84 axle lines of we're very pleased to provide innovative technology
and services that support the operational and business
SPMT were mobilised to transport the splitter across
the 1500 m stretch from the Port of Antwerp to the goals of Hengli.” “We're delighted that the new
Borealis production site in Kallo. “Safety is our alkylation unit is performing to design specifications,”
greatest priority in every operation we deliver. The size said a unit manager at the Hengli Petrochemical Co.
of the C3 splitter did not make this job any different,” “The fact that we're able to produce high-quality
explains Mammoet Project Manager, Stefan Bostelaar. alkylate with high-octane values from isobutylene by
“We've been planning this operation since the contract using the STRATCO® alkylation technology benefits
was signed last year. our refinery's overall gasoline pool.”

August 2020 15 Plastics News