LUXI Chemical Group has selected Honeywell's process technology and automation controls to convert coal to olefins in China, officials announced on Tuesday.

LUXI will use Honeywell UOP's advanced methanol-to-olefins (MTO) process to convert methanol derived from gasified coal into 293,000 tpy of ethylene and propylene at its facility in Liaocheng, Shandong Province, China. 

The operations will be managed by a suite of automation and control technologies from Honeywell Process Solutions (HPS).

Global demand for ethylene and propylene is growing 4% to 5% each year, Honeywell explained. Traditionally, these petrochemicals are produced from crude oil. However, the MTO process allows producers in regions without abundant domestic supplies of crude to produce key plastic ingredients from natural gas or coal, which are often more abundant and cheaper.

"The technology to turn methanol from coal into plastics has been well-proven in China, which is expected to invest more than $100 billion in coal-to-chemicals technology in the next five years," said Mike Millard, vice president and general manager of UOP's process technology and equipment business. 

"Eight companies in China have chosen UOP's Advanced MTO technology, representing a total capacity of nearly 3.2 million metric tons per year."

The automation and control systems at the plant, which will be supplied by HPS, contain proprietary UOP operating models to improve operating efficiency. The suite of solutions includes the Experion Process Knowledge System (PKS) and Safety Manager.

"Combining UOP process technology with HPS automation and controls will help LUXI maximize its return on investment for the entire project lifecycle – from startup to reaching and maintaining peak performance," said Aldous Wong, vice president for the Greater China region at HPS. "As competition continues to grow, it is critical that facilities maximize production while lowering total cost of ownership."