Zhejiang Satellite Petrochemical’s second Honeywell C3 OLEFLEX™ unit was successfully put into operation

Most propane dehydrogenation projects in China prefer Oleflex technology to meet the growing domestic demand for propylene

Des Plaines, Illinois, USA, September 11, 2019 – Honeywell announced today that Zhejiang Satellite Petrochemical Co., Ltd. Honeywell UOP’s C3 Oleflex^TM technology was successfully run on a product complex to produce polymer-grade propylene. The annual output of the device is as high as 450,000 tons. This is the second C3 Oleflex unit jointly constructed by Honeywell and Zhejiang Satellite Petrochemical. Honeywell UOP is a leading technology supplier in the oil and gas industry and delivered the first Oleflex unit to Zhejiang Satellite Petrochemical in 2014.

Zhejiang Satellite Petrochemical successfully runs Honeywell UOP’s Oleflex technology on its new petrochemical complex to produce polymer grade propylene

Oleflex technology helps it meet China Growing demand for propylene, a key ingredient in making plastics. Since 2011, Oleflex technology has been used in most dehydrogenation projects worldwide, including propane, isobutane and propane/isobutane mixed feeds. In addition to technology licensing and basic engineering, Honeywell provided technical services, equipment, catalysts and adsorbents for the plant.

“The first Oleflex unit of Zhejiang Satellite Petrochemical has been running successfully for five years. The reason why Zhejiang Satellite Petrochemical decided to purchase the second Oleflex unit is largely based on the success of the first unit Operating experience.” Liu Maoshu, vice president and general manager of Honeywell UOP China, said, “The second unit was put into operation quickly and reached the design capacity, so that the propylene design capacity of Satellite Petrochemical reached 900,000 tons.”

Honeywell UOP’s C3 Oleflex technology converts propane to propylene, the main component of polypropylene, through catalytic dehydrogenation. Compared with similar technologies, this technology helps to reduce cash production costs and improve return on investment.

Its platinum-alumina-based catalyst system has the characteristics of low energy consumption, low emission, and complete recyclability, which can minimize environmental impact. In addition, the Oleflex technology independent reaction and regeneration system enables steady-state operation, increasing operational flexibility, availability and reliability.

Propylene has always been a by-product of refined oil, but the demand for propylene has exceeded the supply. The propane dehydrogenation process represented by the Oleflex process can produce propylene from propane derived from natural gas or by-product propane in the refining process to make up for the gap between supply and demand.

Zhejiang Satellite Petrochemical Co., Ltd. is a leading manufacturer of acrylic acid and acrylate in China and even in the world. The company is an integrated manufacturer of propylene and propylene derivatives. Its products cover more than 10 categories of products, from propylene, polypropylene, acrylic acid, high-purity acrylic acid, to acrylates, polymer emulsions, and superabsorbent resins.