Zhejiang Petrochemical — Acrylonitrile (2019) — 14,400 kW Brine Chiller for Acrylonitrile Production
By Qiangbin Chu · Sales Manager & Operations Lead
Zhejiang Petroleum & Chemical operates its integrated petrochemical complex on Yushan Island, Zhoushan. The acrylonitrile unit produces a key monomer for ABS plastics, acrylic fibers, and nitrile rubber — high-demand materials across automotive, textile, and consumer goods industries.
| Customer | Zhejiang Petroleum & Chemical Co., Ltd. |
| Plant / Unit | Acrylonitrile |
| Equipment | Brine Chiller Package |
| Design Institute | Shanghai Lanke Electric Limited Company |
| Design Code | GB |
| Cooling Capacity | 14,400 kW |
| Motor Power | 3,500 kW |
| Refrigerant | R1270 (Propylene) |
| Coolant | Ethylene glycol |
| Quantity | 1 set |
Customer Background
Zhejiang Petroleum & Chemical operates its integrated petrochemical complex on Yushan Island, Zhoushan. The acrylonitrile unit produces a key monomer for ABS plastics, acrylic fibers, and nitrile rubber — high-demand materials across automotive, textile, and consumer goods industries.
Acrylonitrile production via the Sohio process (propylene ammoxidation) generates highly exothermic reactions at 400–500 °C. The reactor effluent must be rapidly quenched and cooled to condense acrylonitrile from the mixed-gas stream. Insufficient cooling capacity or temperature instability directly reduces product yield and increases the formation of unwanted byproducts (acetonitrile, HCN). The refrigeration system is therefore not merely a utility — it is integral to the reaction selectivity and product quality of the entire unit.
Challenges and Engineering Requirements
Process Temperature Control in petrochemical processing
Zhejiang Petroleum & Chemical Co., Ltd. required precise low-temperature cooling for Brine Chiller Package 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 Shanghai Lanke Electric Limited Company 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 Zhejiang Petroleum & Chemical Co., Ltd. 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 Zhejiang Petroleum & Chemical Co., Ltd. and similar clients in the petrochemical processing sector, demonstrating consistent quality and on-time delivery performance across multiple projects.
Engineering and Manufacturing Solution
Lmart engineered and fabricated Brine Chiller Package for Zhejiang Petroleum & Chemical Co., Ltd. to GB. The scope of supply included complete detail design, material procurement, fabrication, inspection, testing, and documentation.
Key engineering considerations for this project included thermal-hydraulic performance optimization, material selection for the specific process environment, and compliance with GB requirements for design, fabrication, and inspection.
The equipment was manufactured at Lmart’s Zhangjiagang facility, which provides full-cycle fabrication capabilities including plate rolling, head forming, machining, welding (SAW, GTAW, SMAW), post-weld heat treatment, and NDE — all under a single quality management system.
Delivery and Outcome
The complete package was factory-assembled, performance-tested, and shipped to the Zhoushan site via oversize transport. Commissioning was coordinated with the acrylonitrile unit’s overall startup schedule. The project demonstrated Lmart’s capability to deliver single-unit refrigeration packages at capacities exceeding 14 MW — a benchmark that supported subsequent orders from the same client and a similar 11,849 kW acrylonitrile chiller order from Shandong Yulong in 2022.
Results and Business Impact
Lmart successfully delivered Brine Chiller Package to Zhejiang Petroleum & Chemical Co., Ltd., 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.
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Customer Voice
“The equipment was delivered on schedule and the documentation package was complete. The quality of fabrication met our inspection requirements.”
— Zhejiang Petroleum & Chemical Co., Ltd. project team (paraphrased from project review)
Note: Lmart respects client confidentiality. Specific contact references are available upon request during the qualification process.