Sinopec Hainan — HDPE (2021) — Brine Chiller

Sinopec Hainan Refining & Chemical Co., Ltd. is a key refinery and petrochemical base of China Petrochemical Corporation (Sinopec) in southern China. The HDPE (high-density polyethylene) plant produces pipeline-grade, blow-moulding, and film-grade resins, all of which require precise reactor-temperature control during the slurry or gas-phase polymerisation process.

Client	Sinopec Hainan — HDPE (2021)
EPC / Design Institute	SEI (Sinopec Engineering Inc.)
Equipment	Brine Chiller × 1 set
Design Code	GB
Cooling Capacity	1,192 kW
Motor Power	630 kW
Refrigerant	R1270 (propylene)
Coolant	Ethylene glycol

Customer Background

Sinopec Hainan Refining & Chemical Co., Ltd. is a key refinery and petrochemical base of China Petrochemical Corporation (Sinopec) in southern China. The HDPE (high-density polyethylene) plant produces pipeline-grade, blow-moulding, and film-grade resins, all of which require precise reactor-temperature control during the slurry or gas-phase polymerisation process.

Challenges and Engineering Requirements

Process Temperature Control in petrochemical processing

Sinopec Hainan required precise low-temperature cooling for Brine Chiller × 1 set service in the petrochemical processing sector. The brine chiller system must maintain stable outlet temperatures within narrow tolerances despite variable process heat loads. Fluctuations in feed composition, ambient temperature swings, and seasonal load variations all affect the refrigeration duty — the system must respond to these changes while protecting compressor operation from surge and liquid carryover.

Refrigerant Selection and Safety

The choice of R1270 (propylene) reflects the balance between thermodynamic efficiency at the target evaporating temperature, compatibility with the plant’s existing refrigerant infrastructure, and safety classification under the applicable code. Each refrigerant brings specific considerations: flammability limits for hydrocarbon refrigerants, operating pressure ranges that affect component sizing, and oil miscibility that influences compressor lubrication system design.

Integration with EPC Engineering

The chiller packages were specified and documented by SEI (Sinopec Engineering Inc.) as part of a larger process unit. This means every interface — brine supply/return connections, electrical load requirements, control signal protocols, and physical footprint — must match the EPC’s plot plan and P&ID exactly. Any deviation requires formal design change management, adding time and cost to the project.

Why Sinopec Hainan Selected Lmart

Integrated refrigeration package capability. Lmart designs and manufactures complete refrigeration systems — compressor selection, heat exchanger sizing, piping layout, control logic, and skid-frame engineering — as a single-source supplier. This eliminates the interface risks that arise when the chiller vendor, vessel fabricator, and system integrator are separate companies.

Process refrigerant experience. Lmart has delivered refrigeration packages using propylene, propane, ammonia, R134a, and other process refrigerants across petrochemical, chemical, and marine applications. This experience base means the engineering team understands the specific requirements of each refrigerant — safety classifications, oil management, capacity control methods — without a learning curve.

Repeat performance. Lmart has delivered equipment to Sinopec Hainan and similar clients in the petrochemical processing sector, demonstrating consistent quality and on-time delivery performance across multiple projects.

Equipment & Scope of Supply

Lmart supplied one (1) brine chiller package rated at 1,192 kW for the HDPE unit. The system uses R1270 (propylene) as refrigerant to cool an ethylene glycol secondary loop that serves reactor jackets and downstream quench-cooling exchangers. The compressor is driven by a 630 kW motor, and the equipment was designed to GB standards.

SEI (Sinopec Engineering Inc.) served as the EPC contractor and design institute for the project.

Quality Control and Project Execution

All equipment was manufactured under Lmart’s ISO 9001-certified quality management system with the following key inspection milestones:

• Material verification: Incoming inspection of all plates, forgings, and fittings against mill certificates; PMI spot checks on alloy materials
• Welding quality: All welding performed by qualified welders using approved WPS/PQR; NDE per GB requirements including RT/UT on pressure-retaining welds
• Dimensional inspection: In-process dimensional checks at shell rolling, head forming, and final assembly stages
• Pressure testing: Hydrostatic test to GB requirements, witnessed by the authorized inspector and/or client representative
• Documentation package: Complete data book including material certificates, weld maps, NDE reports, dimensional records, and test certificates

Equipment was delivered to Sinopec Hainan’s project site in China, meeting the project schedule requirements.

Results and Business Impact

Lmart successfully delivered 1 units of Brine Chiller × 1 set to Sinopec Hainan, meeting the project’s quality, schedule, and documentation requirements. The equipment was manufactured to GB standards, with full documentation packages accepted by the client and applicable inspection authorities.

This project reinforces Lmart’s position as a qualified manufacturer for petrochemical processing applications, demonstrating the company’s ability to deliver equipment that meets international quality and certification standards.

Customer Voice

“The equipment was delivered on schedule and the documentation package was complete. The quality of fabrication met our inspection requirements.”

— Sinopec Hainan project team (paraphrased from project review)

Note: Lmart respects client confidentiality. Specific contact references are available upon request during the qualification process.