METHANOL REACTOR DELIVERED IN THE SAILBOAT CO₂ TO METHANOL PROJECT

CRI has successfully delivered the methanol reactor for its second commercial scale project in China. The ETL reactor is the core equipment needed for the the conversion of carbon dioxide and hydrogen gas streams - sourced from other onsite chemical processes - into methanol. This is a major milestone in the construction of the 100.000 t/y methanol plant for the client Jiangsu Sailboat Petrochemicals.

The project has progressed well so far and is on track for commissioning and plant start-up during the second half of this year. The next phase of the project includes operator training and mechanical completion of all remaining equipment.

The project is located at Shenghong petrochemical industrial park, one of the largest petrochemical facilities in China. The site hosts the world’s largest Methanol-to-Olefins (MTO) process plant supporting production of a wide product range of polymers and plastics using methanol as a key raw material.

An example of a downstream derivatives produced is ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer or EVA for short. It is an elastic and tough thermoplastic used to encapsulate photovoltaics. Once the CO₂-to-Methanol plant becomes operational it will allow switching out a part of the external coal-based methanol supply to the own produced methanol from locally recycled carbon emissions. This will result in a lower carbon footprint of the materials used to make photovoltaics and other end-products derived from methanol.

See below pictures from the on site equipment erection.