DuPont Clean Technologies has announced the successful startup of the STRATCO alkylation units at the Zhongke Refinery and Petrochemical Company LTC refinery in Zhejiang, China and the Sinopec Shanghai Company (SPC) refinery in Jinshan, Shanghai, China. Both alkylation units at Sinopec Zhongke and Sinopec Shanghai are designed to process methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) raffinate feedstock and produce 9,240 barrels per day (360,000 metric tons per year; m.t./yr) and 10,240 bbl/d (400,000 m.t./yr) of alkylate, respectively.
The generation of low-sulfur, high-octane, low-Rvp alkylate with zero olefins enables Sinopec to meet the criteria of the China VI standard at these two refineries.
“In the last few years, DuPont and Sinopec have had the opportunity to start up several STRATCO alkylation units together, providing DuPont with the opportunity to develop a strong relationship with each refinery. The success in both startup and operation continues to meet and exceed expectations, enabling the Sinopec organization to make a vast amount of high quality alkylate to improve the overall quality of their gasoline pool. We are very appreciative for the experience we’ve had with each of these refineries,” said Kevin Bockwinkel, global business manager, STRATCO Alkylation Technology.
The startup of the units brings the number of STRATCO alkylation units in operation at the Sinopec organization to six, with a seventh unit being readied to come online this year.
The Sinopec Shanghai refinery is the second commercialization of the innovative Model 74 Contactor reactor. The Model 74 Contactor reactor reduces the number of total reactors and plot space required, but also results in an overall lower capital cost for the alkylation unit. The Model 74 Contactor reactor includes the latest reactor improvements and has a volume of 68.1 m3 (18,000 gallons), an increase in volume from the standard size Contactor (Model 63) of 43.5 m3 (11,500 gallons) per reactor.