China: design and construction of four new oxygen units

In China, the Coal-to-Chemicals (CTC) industry is developing rapidly, and large quantities of oxygen are required to meet demand related to the Coal-to-Chemicals transformation process.

Air Liquide has just signed two contracts in China supplying four Air Separation Units (ASUs) for new clients in the coal-to-chemical industry. Air Liquide Hangzhou, the Engineering & Construction center in China, will design, manufacture and build:
- two ASUs, each with a production capacity of 1,400 tonnes of oxygen per day, for the Yulin Energy and Chemical Corporation of Shaanxi Yanchang Petroleum Group
- two ASUs, each with a production capacity of 2,100 tonnes of oxygen per day for the Shandong Hualu Hengsheng Group.

The Shaanxi Yanchang Petroleum Group is one of four enterprises qualified by the government for petroleum and natural gas exploration in China. The two ASUs will be installed at its Jingbian Energy and Chemical Integration Industry Park project, which is located in Yulin region, Shaanxi province. This complex will be a key project for the utilization of coal, refinery residue and associated dissolved natural gas to produce polyethylene and polypropylene. These new ASUs will supply oxygen for a new clean coal technology.

The Shandong Hualu Hengsheng Group, a Chinese petroleum and chemical enterprise located in Dezhou, Shandong province, is one of the large-scale national chemical fertilizer manufacturers. The new ASUs will be installed to supply oxygen to coal gasification units of its new acetic acid plant.

These four ASUs will offer the advantage of high safety, efficiency and reliability contributing positively to energy savings and lower CO₂ emissions of the overall projects.

François Darchis, Senior Vice-President, Air Liquide Group, in charge of R&D, Advanced Technologies and Engineering & Construction, noted, "With the signature of these two contracts, Air Liquide strengthens its presence in China, especially in the Coal Triangle Region. Numerous successes in coal conversion, in addition to our recent contracts in the iron and steel industry in China, demonstrate the competitive edge of our teams. We are delighted to have been chosen by these new customers in China where the Group is developing its activities at a rapid pace. Emerging economies are a growth driver for the Group.”