DuPont Clean Technologies’ largest IsoTherming unit has successfully completed the performance test, certifying that the unit is meeting performance guarantees. The IsoTherming hydrotreater at Sinochem’s Quanzhou Petrochemical (SQP) refinery is designed to process 78 Mbpd of a variety of cracked feedstocks to produce diesel with less than 10 ppm sulfur.
Capital cost advantages, as well as the need for reduced utility requirements, were key drivers for SinoChem’s selection of IsoTherming technology for this project. The project also improves the quality of SQP’s diesel output from Euro IV to Euro V.
IsoTherming hydroprocessing technology employs a novel reactor system that is superior to conventional hydroprocessing technologies because it uses the hydrogen and catalyst more efficiently. IsoTherming technology offers lower capital and operating costs while significantly reducing sulfur content in the finished diesel product. Today, DuPont has 25 IsoTherming licenses globally, with 11 of these in commercial operation. IsoTherming technology is suitable for a wide range of applications, including kerosene hydrotreating, transmix hydrotreating, diesel hydrotreating, FCC feed hydrotreating, mild hydrocracking, dewaxing, gas-to-liquid (GTL) upgrading and heavy oil upgrading for both grassroots and revamp configurations. IsoTherming capacities range from 1,500 bpd up to 80 Mbpd processing feedstocks such as 100% kerosene, 100% light-cycle oil (LCO) and various mixtures of distillates and heavy gas oils, including coker blends.
Growing global demand for transportation fuel continues to drive refiners toward operations that maximize hydroprocessing capacity and capability either through unit debottlenecks or new unit construction. More stringent environmental regulations and the processing of cost-advantaged sour and heavy feed stocks make meeting this demand even more challenging. Typical hydroprocessing techniques use hydrogen in contact with a solid catalyst to remove sulfur and other contaminants from petroleum liquids. IsoTherming hydroprocessing technology is licensed and marketed by DuPont as part of its Clean Technologies portfolio in Overland Park, Kansas.