In July 2024, Lanzhou Petrochemical launched a thermal integration optimization project for refining area units, aiming to achieve efficient energy utilization through technical transformations.
The project plans to utilize equipment from the heavy catalytic cracking line of the 5 mt/a atmospheric and vacuum distillation unit and residual shutdown/startup water coolers of the 5.5 mt/a atmospheric and vacuum distillation unit. Heat discharge control valves and cross-line pipelines for the second, third, and fourth vacuum lines will be added to the 5 mt/a atmospheric and vacuum distillation unit to enable direct wax oil transfer to the 3 mt/a heavy catalytic cracking unit.
After system commissioning, operations have proceeded smoothly, with the catalytic unit demonstrating improved steam generation capacity and more stable production processes.