Advanced process control and optimisation technologies increase petrochemical plant profitability

19 November 2013

Honeywell has been selected by the Sinopec Maoming Company to supply business management and automation technology to rejuvenate and improve operational performance at its aging petrochemical plants in Guangdong Province, China.

Honeywell’s Profit Suite R400 process optimisation software will be deployed at two ethylene-cracking facilities, helping to improve plant performance by increasing energy-efficiency, improving flexibility of its operations, and maximising the yield of high-value products.

The plants have been in operation for more than 50 years and currently produce one million tons of petrochemicals a year. “Although new petrochemical plants are being built, globally the petrochemical industry is mature, with many plants having been in operation for decades,” explained Aldous Wong, vice president and general manager for Honeywell Process Solutions, China. “Honeywell’s process optimisation solutions can breathe new life into these aging plants, boosting profitability by increasing throughput and yields, improving product quality, and reducing costs.”

“We want to establish this project as a benchmark for other similar facilities within the Sinopec Group,” said He Lijian, deputy chief engineer, Sinopec Maoming Company. “Using this solution, we are expecting an increase in production that would improve our profitability by more than $6 million per year.”