Two Technologies for Hydrogenation and Upgrading of Coal-Based Crude Liquid Developed by SINOPEC's Research Institute of Petroleum Processing Passed Technical Appraisal

On January 15, 2019 two projects, namely: “The development and application of CFHL technology for hydro-upgrading of coal-based crude products obtained from low-temperature Fischer-Tropsch synthesis in slurry bed” and “The development and application of RCHU technology for hydro-upgrading of direct coal liquefaction syncrude”, performed by RIPP as the leading institution,has passed the technical appraisal organized by the China Petroleum and Chemical Industry Association. The Appraisal Committee was composed of the academician Cao Xianghong and experts of China's petrochemical and coal chemical circles. After review and assessments, the experts attending the appraisal meeting have unanimously admitted that the two projects have demonstrated their prolific nature with independent intellectual property rights to reach the internationally advanced level.Especially, the development and application of RCHU technology for hydro-upgrading of direct coal liquefaction syncrude has spearheaded an international initiative.

The project—“Development and application of CFHL technology for hydro-upgrading of coalbased crude products obtained from low-temperature Fischer-Tropsch synthesis in slurry bed”— is jointly undertaken by RIPP, the Shanghai Yankuang Energy Technology Development Co., Ltd., and other institutions. This technology has developed a hydrotreating catalyst with better hydrothermal stability and a noble metal-free isomerizationhydrocracking catalyst coupled with the two-stage and two-separators specified in the process scheme that can integrate the stable hydrotreating reaction with the isomeric hydrocracking reaction in order to transform the Fischer-Tropsch syncrude into a highquality diesel fuel, leading to a process capable of producing diesel fuel product from indirect coal liquefaction raw products.

The project, “Development and application of RCHU technology for hydro-upgrading of direct coal liquefaction syncrude”, has been jointly undertaken by RIPP and the Ordos Coal-to-Oil Branch Company under China Shenhua Coal-to-Oil Company, Ltd. This technology adopts direct coal liquefaction via a singlestage process using two catalyst systems connected in series for hydro-upgrading of coal liquefaction syncrude.Upon taking into consideration the specific property of the feedstock, the technical team has developed a unique hydrotreating catalyst with high denitrification and high de-aromatization activity and a specific hydroupgrading catalyst with high selectivity for ring-opening performance. In comparison with the cetane rating of the feedstock, the cetane number of the hydrotreated diesel fuel product can be increased by 19 units along with the capability for manufacture of high-density jet fuel,featuring its flexible product slate.

The successful development and application of the abovementioned two technologies have carved their way to the clean and high-efficiency utilization of coal through direct and indirect routes for liquefaction of coal to produce clean oil products, which would have an important strategic and practical significance for securing China's energy safety.