The PDH plant is a joint project between SK Gas Corporation Ltd and Advanced Petrochemical Company. It is using Chicago Bridge & Iron Company’s (CB&I) Catofin catalytic dehydrogenation technology, which is based on Clariant's Catofin catalyst.
MUNICH, GERMANY: Clariant International Ltd has announced the excellent performance of its Catofin catalysts during the successful start-up of the largest propane dehydrogenation (PDH) unit in Ulsan, South Korea.
The PDH plant is a joint project between SK Gas Corporation Ltd and Advanced Petrochemical Company. The facility is designed to produce 600,000 tonnes of propylene annually using Chicago Bridge & Iron Company’s (CB&I) Catofin catalytic dehydrogenation technology, which is based on Clariant's Catofin catalyst.
The Catofin process is recognized as a highly reliable and efficient technology for producing propylene from propane. The process operates at optimum reactor pressure and temperature to maximize conversion of propane for a high yield of propylene and correspondingly low investment and operating costs.
These performance benefits were confirmed by the successful start-up of the PDH plant in Ulsan. The unit has achieved a fast start-up time with on-spec propylene produced within one day of propane feed introduction. 100 percent of design capacity was available in less than 15 days, and the plant is currently operating slightly above 100 percent capacity. Design conversion rate has already been reached at lower than expected temperatures. These highly favourable start-up results mirror those achieved in previous start-ups.
"The completion of the new PDH plant is an important milestone for our company and, indeed, for the Korean petrochemical industry. We are very pleased with the smooth start-up and the initial performance of the Catofin catalyst technology," said CJ Kim, CEO of SK Advanced.
"We are proud to share the success of this major PDH project in South Korea. Together with our engineering partner, CB&I, we continue to prove the commercial strength and performance benefits of Catofin for customers around the world," said Stefan Heuser, senior VP of business unit catalysts at Clariant.
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