On November 6, 2020, Donghua Energy Co., Ltd. ("Donghua Energy") will adopt HoneywellUOP's C3 Oleflex™ propane dehydrogenation technology to meet the needs of its expanding polymer-grade propylene production. The new Oleflex propane dehydrogenation unit will be put into operation in 2022 at Donghua Energy's plant in Maoming, Guangdong Province.
HoneywellUOP will be responsible for providing a package of services, equipment, catalysts and adsorbents for Donghua Energy's Maoming plant. This is the fourth C3 Oleflex propane dehydrogenation unit invested by Donghua Energy and the 44th unit built in China to meet the growing demand for propylene. Propylene is the main raw material for making plastic resins, films, and fibers.
Since 2011, 68 of the world's 92 dehydrogenated items are based on UOP technology, including several Chinese items. To date, the annual production of propylene using Oleflex technology is as high as 7.9 million tons worldwide.
"HoneywellUOP's Oleflex propane dehydrogenation technology continues to be favored by long-term customers such as Donghua Energy because of its excellent operational reliability and cost effectiveness," said Mr. Lei Xiang, Vice President and General Manager of HoneywellUOP China. "There is a huge demand for propylene in the Chinese market, and we continue to be optimistic about its growth prospects. ”
HoneywellUOP's C3 Oleflex technology converts propane to propylene through the use of catalytic dehydrogenation, offering a lower cash production cost and higher return on investment than comparable technologies. Oleflex technology is based on a platinum-containing catalyst system based on alumina, which has the characteristics of low energy consumption, low emissions, safe and recyclable, and can minimize the impact on the environment. In addition, Oleflex technology's relatively independent reaction and regeneration systems increase operational flexibility and online reliability.
Headquartered in Nanjing, Donghua Energy Co., Ltd. is a leading propylene producer and LPG distributor in China, and one of the first companies in China to adopt dedicated propylene technology. Its three C3 Oleflex propane dehydrogenation units have an annual output of 660,000 tons each, and two units are currently in operation, one of which will be put into operation this year. In addition to the fourth set of units announced to be built at the Maoming plant, two other sets are being promoted simultaneously.